15 October 2014

NINGXIA WOLFBERRIES MUSEUM

Ningxia, capital of Yinchuan is China biggest cultivator of wolfberry due to its weather.  Cultivated along the fertile aggradational floodplain of the Yellow River for more than 700 years, Ningxia wolfberries have earned a reputation throughout Asia for premium quality sometimes described commercially as "red diamonds".

The museum showcases Chinese wolfberry in Ningxia history, culture, health, wolfberry industry distribution, the development status of Chinese wolfberry, scientific research, ancient Chinese  farming equipment, products exhibition and sale of Ningxia wolfberry.





On entering the museum we were greeted by a large gourd in the centre of the hall.  The symbol of the museum is a gourd of treasure standing in a pool of water.  Cast in bronze, the gourd stands three meters, with the width measured at two meters and weighs 2.5 tons. On it are carved with magpies, Chinese wolfberry fruit, and growers of such fruit. It signifies that Ningxia's Chinese wolfberry has become so well known in the world for its unique geographical locations by the Yellow River.




We were served wolfberry tea as we entered the inner hall.  The staff explained that the wolfberry leaves tea possesses rich elements like calcium, iron, zinc and selenium which has obvious function in reducing blood pressure and strengthening the human immune system.  The progesterone material in the product is also effective in treating cough and asthma, expanding artery, reducing cholesterol, treating arteriosclerosis, indigestion and neurasthenia.  The carotene can be transformed into vitamin A inside the human body.





We were led to various sections of the museum and given talks on the health benefits of wolfberries.  There are varieties of wolfberries products in the form of dried fruits, tea, juices and sweets for sale in the museum, which are not cheap.





The wolfberry bush is about six feet high and were laden with the little bright orange berry planted along the road outside the museum.

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