Tour Shopping Guide

Tangxi Loquat

　　Tangxi loquat, mainly grown in Tangnan, Dongtang and Gujiaqiao in Tangxi in Yuhang, one of the four major loquat growing areas in China, matures every year from the end of May to the beginning of June. It has a long planting history of over 1300 years starting from the Sui Dynasty (581-618) and boomed in the Tang Dynasty (618-907). According to Geographical Book of Tang History compiled in the reign of Wude Calendar Years of the Tang Dynasty: Yuhang county presented loquat to the emperor every year as tribute. Loquat here is of high quality.
　　 It has more than 10 species, generally includes:
　　 Ping Tou Da Hong Pao, or Red Species The fruit of this kind of loquat is comparatively big, round, and easy to peel off. The pulp looks orange and strong, tastes sweet rather than sour and is of high quality.
　　 Jia Jiao Zhong alias Cut-Feet Species The name comes from the shape of the loquat tree that is like a wine glass with such a narrow crotch that one can not put his foot on. This species is easy to grow and bears a large number of fruit year in year out. The fruit is big and easy to peel off. The pulp is thick, and tastes sweet and sour.
　　 Ruan Tiao Bai Sha or Real White Sand It is the very top class of various loquat species. The fruit looks pinky white and a little yellowish; the side facing the sun is dotted with light purple or brown dots. The skin is extremely thin covered short and thick tomenta, and rolls after peeling off. Pulp is pure white, juicy and tastes wonderful. This kind is hard to cultivate.
　　 Bao Zhu alias Red Hair Girl The fruit is ellipse-shaped with a long stem and covered with short tomenta. It's easy to peel off and tastes sweet.

Chao Hill Green Plum

　　Plum is grown chiefly in areas around Chao Hill and Congxian town. Its planting history dates back to the Later Jin Dynasty (936-946), one of the Five Dynasties (907-923). At one time, this area was described as "plum sea". Plum planted here is green, of big scale, crisp, and tastes sour but juicy. It is one of the best of plums. Furthermore, preserved plums of various kinds, such as meigan, chengpimei, huamei, tangqingmei, are welcomed by customers and are exported to Hong Kong, Macao and other south-east Asian countries.
　　 Plum in Chao Hill has 16 species, among which kai luo di and ruan tiao hong mei are the best.

Sugarcane in Linping Town

　　 Crisp, juicy, sweet, with skin extremely thin, Linping sugarcane was an officially designated tribute to the emperor in the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279). Local farmers have grown sugarcane for over one thousand years.
　　 After being stewed over firewood, it can be used to cure whooping cough. Divided according to the skin color, Sugarcane produced in Linping area falls into two categories, the green skin and the purple skin. The stem of the former is thin but the cane is long and crisp with sweet taste; the latter has thick shaft and thin skin, contains more sugar and is very juicy. If you eat it in Pure Brightness day after it is kept in the basement for a whole winter, you will find it more fresh and sweet.
　　 Sugarcane belongs to the grass family. It is suited to be grown in hot and humid climate, and no draught. Soil should be loose and fertile. Thanks to the local unique natural environment, the mild climate, crossed rivers and brooks, and together with the traditional planting technology and experience, sugarcane yields in this area are enormous and of high quality.



Xiaoling Yellow Ginger

　　Xiaolin and Qianyuan in Yuhang are two areas famous for their local produce of ginger. Hard and strong in shape, close in texture, with taste extremely hot, and useful as seasoning and medicine, it gained its fame in Kangding Year in the Song Dynasty (1040).
　　 Red Paw Ginger is the major local species and widely grown. Its tuber root grows very big. The appearance is yellow, sprouts light pink, pulp yellowish and not so many fiber.
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