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Mushroom-themed tours emerge as popular summer-vacation option in southwest China's Yunnan

Mushroom-themed tours have emerged as a popular summer-vacation option in southwest China's mountainous Yunnan Province, attracting many tourists to enjoy the delight of foraging for wild fungi.

This type of one-day foraging tour has become a burgeoning trend in Yunnan's summer tourism sector so far this year. Many visitors make a special journey to Yunnan to partake in such tours, as the province's abundant rainfall and moderate temperatures usher in a prime season for wild fungi each summer.

Known as China's "kingdom of plants," Yunnan boasts unparalleled biodiversity due to its unique natural conditions. It is home to approximately 900 varieties of edible wild mushrooms, representing over 90 percent of the country's total. These fungi are cherished seasonal delicacies for the locals across Yunnan.

"I hike and then pick mushrooms. What is more, I enjoy intimate contact with nature," said a tourist.

For safety reasons, tourists are not allowed to take the picked mushrooms for personal processing. Instead, the mushrooms must be collectively prepared and cooked on the same day.

"For mushrooms that I do not recognize or I am not familiar with, I make sure not to eat or pick them. I let them grow on their own," said Bi Dongqiong, a tour guide.

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