Since the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), Jiuhua Mountain in southern Anhui province has been famous for its treasures of unique teas, foods, flowers and crafts. Hundreds of years ago, even royal courts found it difficult to obtain these treasures. Today, tourists from around the world come to Jiuhua Mountain to shop for treasures to take home. For hundreds of years, Jiuhua Mountain also has been a sacred place for Buddhist pilgrims.

Jiuhua Ice Ginger is a treat popular among tourists and has recently been introduced to the global market. Fragrant Jiuhua Yunwu tea includes the varieties Jiuhua Maofeng, Dizang Queshe and Dongya Queshe. The Jiuhua folding fan has been popular since first offered to emperors in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Currently, there are more than 20 kinds of fans available for sale.

Other native and specialty goods in Jiuhua Mountain include Jindi tea, rock tripe (Shipi), sealwort bamboo shoots and buds of bamboo shoots. Bamboo-woven handicrafts, porcelain, jade articles and copper ware are also cherished by tourists.

Buddhist articles such as sachets, bowls, beads, scripture and music also are popular. Favorite Buddhist recordings include Wuhuinianfo, Dizang King, Mercy Buddha, Sakyamuni Buddha and Buddhist Feeling of Affinity.

Where to shop

Jiuhua Street has served pilgrims and Buddhist monks since the Qing Dynasty. You can buy native and specialty goods, and souvenirs at the Zhiyuan Bazaar or Furongzhuang bazaar, as well as at native and specialty goods booths, shops and markets. Taibai Learning House is a place to buy painting and calligraphy work.

What to buy

Yunwu fragrant tea

Fragrant tea from Minyuan or Tiantai in Jiuhua Mountain is considered a high-quality purchase. A tea called Huangshixi Maofeng was awarded the Gold Prize at the 1915 Panama World Expo. It grows in the valley on the east side of Tiantai Peak (1,300 meters above the sea level) at Jiuhua Mountain. The finished products feature neat and well spaced shapes, jade green color, visible tea leaf hairs, clear tea soup and a bright and tender leaf base. Also, in recent years, Jiuhua Maofeng, Dizang Queshe and Dongya Queshe teas have been judged outstanding at the provincial and national level. The three varieties are from Minyuan and characterized by their tender and swathed shape. The tea is yellow-green and clear. When brewed in the cup, the tea leaf resembles an orchid in full bloom.

Jiuhua folding fans

Jiuhua folding fan uses mao bamboo to make the fan framework and black paper to form the fan sector. Gold paint is used to draw the panoramagram of Jiuhua Mountain. Sometimes famous poems are written on the back of the folding fan. During the Qing Dynasty, it was written that: "In my lord's sleeve when in or out he goes, you wave and shake and a light wind blows". Since 1981, Jiuhua folding fans have won three awards at the national and provincial level.

Sealwort

A perennial bunchflower, sealwort is found on Jiuhua Mountain. It grows on the dark, damp mountain slopes. According to the Qingyang County Annals, though sealwort can be found elsewhere, the sealwort in Jiuhua Mountain enjoys a high quality. Sealwort is edible, so it has been collected and processed by people at Jiuhua Mountain for hundreds of years. Some people thought that Jin Qiaojue became the Bodhisattva and a Wuxia monk had the immortal body after eating sealwort. Although these are fables, sealwort today is still believed to have beneficial health effects.

Jiuhua Ice Ginger

This traditional product is made from fresh ginger found in Tongling. It is processed, sweetened and salted. It, too, has been said to have beneficial health effects.

Rock tripe (Shipi)

Rock tripe, also called Shipi, is a plant that grows on rocks at Jiuhua Mountain. It is risky to find among the jagged rocks and peaks, as is evident by its high cost. Boiling it in a clear soup is said to produce beneficial health effects.

Bamboo shoots

Jiuhua Mountain teems with mao bamboo and yuan bamboo. At the end of winter and in early spring, the buds of bamboo shoots are collected, cooked and air-dried to become a popular food.