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In recent years, the activity of "hunting" for wild mushrooms in China has become an emerging trend, attracting a large number of young people, especially in the southwestern regions of the country such as Yunnan and Sichuan.
Mushroom hunting is not a new activity, but recently it has unexpectedly become a new trend in China. According to SCMP, Moral mushrooms, black tiger claw mushrooms, milk cap mushrooms, black crunchy mushrooms, termite mushrooms, and matsutake mushrooms are among the rare mushrooms that people are flocking to find, especially young people living in Yunnan and Sichuan provinces.
Instead of staying confined to the virtual world, young people are seeking real-world experiences, exploring nature, and learning about unique mushroom species.
After luckily finding rare mushroom "gems" in the forest, young people not only brought them home but also wanted to share their joy of discovery with the online community. With boundless creativity, they created incredibly unique and impressive "check-in" photos. The mushrooms, with their diverse colors—from the mysterious dark brown of black tiger claw mushrooms, the alluring crimson of black crunch mushrooms, to the enigmatic blue of green-headed mushrooms—became perfect props for creating artistic frames. Finally, they posted them on the social media platform Xiaohongshu—the Chinese version of Instagram.
Numerous social media posts documenting exciting mushroom-hunting trips quickly went viral, transforming what was once a local pastime into a trend that attracts thousands of tourists each season.
This mushroom hunting process could potentially stimulate tourism growth for the country with over a billion people.
Yunnan, nicknamed the "kingdom of plants," is renowned not only for its biodiversity but also as a vast treasure trove of mushrooms. It boasts approximately 900 mushroom species, accounting for 36% of the world's edible mushrooms. Beyond being a valuable food source, Yunnan contributes 90% of China's domestic mushroom production. The abundance and diversity of its mushroom species have made Yunnan an attractive destination for scientists, chefs, and food enthusiasts.
Some types of mushrooms, such as termite mushrooms, chicken mushrooms, and black crunchy mushrooms, are quite expensive, potentially reaching $17 per 0.45 kg. Among them, ganba mushrooms – the king of mushrooms – cost around $30 per 0.45 kg, while Matsutake mushrooms, or pine mushrooms, are the most expensive at around $70 per 0.45 kg. These mushrooms are so expensive because of their high nutritional value and the fact that they grow in high mountains, making harvesting and processing costly.
These valuable mushrooms are being eagerly sought after by young people.
This mushroom hunting activity has become a trend, not only contributing to increased local income but also providing tourism companies with new products such as mushroom hunting tours, mushroom-themed travel packages, and mushroom-based meals. A 5-6 hour mushroom hunting trip costs around $42 per person, including a mushroom meal.
Nelson Wong, CEO of Luen Kee Hoo, a mushroom import company, said: "Young people with high levels of education often enjoy exploring new things and having unique travel experiences."
He said this was completely different from their previous travel habits. "Young Chinese people today want something different. However, tourists should be careful because there are many types of poisonous mushrooms in the wild that are very difficult to identify."
Local authorities have issued warnings, advising residents and tourists to only eat mushrooms that have been classified as safe by local mycologists.
