Lotus growers pick lotus buds to sell at the Shili Lotus Species Garden in Liucheng town in Wuyi county, Jinhua, East China's Zhejiang province, on June 26. [Photo/IC]
Selling lotus buds on online e-commerce platforms is becoming a popular way to earn a living for lotus farmers in Liucheng town, home to the She ethinic minority in Wuyi county, Jinhua, East China's Zhejiang province.
The town is known as the birthplace of Xuanlian, one of the three most famous types of lotus in China. The lotus pods are large, round, plump and thick, and the lotus roots are crispy, delicious, and rich in nutrients.
Over 900 kinds of lotus flowers grow at the Shili Lotus Species Garden, covering a total area of about 5,000 mu (333.33 hectares). The flowers usually start blooming in mid-May and enter full bloom after mid-June. The blooming period for lotuses in the garden can run until the end of October, with the flowers being large, colorful and long-lasting.
After opening online stores, the garden is able to receive orders of over 1,000 lotus buds each day, making it a new method for rural vitalization in addition to rural tourism.
People wearing traditional clothes of She ethnic minority pick lotus buds to sell at the Shili Lotus Species Garden on June 26. [Photo/IC]
Farmers prune freshly-picked lotus buds and add preservatives to the stems to deliver them to buyers all over the country. [Photo/IC]
