Baoying is famous throughout the country as the hometown of lotus root. There is a dense network of rivers here, the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal runs from north to south, and the five lakes are like nine pearls embedded in this fertile land. Every midsummer, dense lotus leaves spread out from near to all directions, until the sky and the earth meet and become one color, forming a rather spectacular scenery of "hundred miles of lotus fragrance".
As early as the Sui and Tang Dynasties, Baoying began to cultivate lotus roots artificially. During the history of more than a thousand years, Baoying lotus root farmers passed it down from generation to generation, making the lotus roots grow more prosperous and better. The specialty lotus root powder has the characteristics of "pure, white, thin and large". It was used as an imperial meal item in the Ming and Qing Dynasties and has the reputation of "goose feather snow flakes".
Thousands of years of lotus root planting history have also created Baoying's long-standing and colorful lotus culture. Many celebrities in ancient and modern times have left many masterpieces praising lotus and lotus root. Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty visited Baoying five times during his six trips to the south of the Yangtze River. He stopped his boat and rode his horse in Baoying, reciting poems and composing poems while marveling at the scenery of the lotus countryside, where "the lotus leaves touching the sky are infinitely green, and the lotus flowers reflecting the sun are uniquely red." He left many good stories throughout the ages. Lotus root is becoming more and more popular among people at home and abroad because of its rich nutrition, crisp, sweet and refreshing taste. The main body of lotus root, lotus root, contains a variety of nutrients and can be eaten raw or cooked. Young lotus roots are eaten raw to cool down and relieve heat; old lotus roots are steamed to nourish the body and replenish qi. In addition, lotus flowers are good for coloring the skin, nourishing the heart and calming the mind. Lotus leaves can clear away heat and relieve summer heat. Lotus seeds are excellent health products. Lotus stems, lotus stems and lotus root joints also have high medicinal value. It is said, "Lotus root is full of treasures all over its body."
Baoying is truly the number one lotus root county in China. Its lotus root production, processing volume and export volume all rank first in the country. Through exploration over the generations, Baoying lotus root farmers have mastered the secrets of lotus root cultivation such as thin rotation, three-dimensional planting, multi-ripening cultivation, seedling diagnosis, rational use of fertilizers, and scientific field management. The lotus root planting area continues to expand, with more than 100,000 acres of lotus root planted in the county.
With the tide of market economy, the integration of trade, industry, agriculture, production, processing and marketing of lotus roots in Baoying County has gradually accelerated. The lotus root wholesale market wholesales more than 200,000 kilograms of lotus roots to other provinces and cities every day during the lotus root season. Lotus root trading markets have been established in all lotus root-producing towns and villages in the county. There are more than 20,000 people engaged in the purchase, sale and transportation of lotus roots all year round. Baoying has become the largest lotus root wholesale center in the country. The processing of lotus root has also achieved new breakthroughs. There are currently 11 lotus root product processing enterprises of a certain scale in the county, including 3 provincial-level groups.