30 tons of wild mushrooms sold daily at Yunnan market

Bargain on wild mushrooms goes on at the Mushuihua market in central Yunnan’s Kunming city.

With the arrival of the rainy season, wild mushrooms in Yunnan province are hitting the market in bulk. The sales volume at Yunnan Mushuihua Wild Mushroom Trading Center—the largest Chinese wild mushroom market located in central Yunnan’s Kunming city—has surged from around 10 tons daily to 30 tons within a week.

Upon entering Mushuihua, visitors are greeted by the wild mushrooms of boletes, collybias, matsutakes and others. The affordable prices have attracted crowds of local residents and tourists, who are eager to taste Yunnan’s unique mushroom dishes.

 

Matsutakes are on sale at the Mushuihua market in central Yunnan’s Kunming city.

 

Wild mushrooms in Yunnan province hit the market in bulk.

"This is my first time in Yunnan, and I think it’s amazing! I’ve never seen so many varieties of wild mushrooms," said a German tourist who visited the market shortly after arriving in Yunnan. The incredible diversity of mushrooms kept him snapping photos with his phone.

The market has become a national distribution hub for wild mushrooms, with annual sales sum exceeding 10 billion yuan. During peak periods, trading amount can reach over 600 tons daily. The market houses more than 1,200 businesses that employs around 10,000 workers.

 

Bargain on wild mushrooms goes on at the Mushuihua market in central Yunnan’s Kunming city.

Collybias are on sale at the Mushuihua market in central Yunnan’s Kunming city.

 

Wild mushrooms in Yunnan province hit the market in bulk.

Reporting by Zhang Yanqun and Guo Wuhui; Trans-editing by Wang Shixue