Zongzi Leaves Symbolize Prosperity and Cultural Heritage During Festival Season
Yashipu Village farmers gear up to harvest fragrant zongzi leaves for the upcoming Dragon Boat Festival.
Across Yashipu Village in Tunchang County, Hainan Province, the landscape is alive with activity as locals begin harvesting zongzi leaves in anticipation of the Dragon Boat Festival. This seasonal tradition has blossomed into a lucrative industry for the community, earning Yashipu national recognition as the "Zongzi Leaf Village." The village currently cultivates approximately 45 hectares of zongzi leaves, interplanted beneath towering rubber trees. Each year, this effort yields a remarkable total of around six million leaves, which are distributed to markets across the country.
The zongzi leaves grown in Yashipu Village are prized for their exceptional quality—characterized by their size, flexibility, and distinctive fragrance. While demand for these leaves remains steady throughout the year, it soars during the Dragon Boat Festival, a time when families across China prepare zongzi, the traditional sticky rice dumplings wrapped in leaves. As this major holiday approaches, local farmers work overtime to fulfill surging orders, often finding that supply can scarcely keep pace with demand.
In recent years, Yashipu’s focus on zongzi leaf cultivation has transformed the economic outlook for its residents. By tailoring their farming techniques to local environmental conditions and diversifying crops under the shade of rubber plantations, villagers have created a sustainable and highly profitable enterprise. The impact on livelihoods has been significant: average annual incomes in the village have multiplied sixfold over the last decade.
This agricultural success story has not only improved the living standards of Yashipu’s farming families but also drawn attention to the potential of crop diversification in rural China. Many hope that the prosperity witnessed here will serve as a model for other villages seeking new avenues for growth and stability. As the scent of freshly harvested leaves fills the air, there is a sense of pride and optimism that the traditions of the Dragon Boat Festival continue to nurture both culture and community wealth in Yashipu Village.
