CHAPTER VII 



SOME IMPORTANT L1X(J NAN LYCIIEE CENTERS 



In the Ling Nan v$M) region there are many places famous 

 for lychee and lungan production. Interesting customs and history 

 are in many cases connected with the lychee and lungan industry of 

 these places. The districts of Nan Hai (Nam Hoi rtf&), Pan Yu 

 (P'un U $-^3), Tung Kuan (Tung Kun >fi^), and Tseng Ch'ing 

 (Tsang Shiny: &*$) are especially noted in this connection. 



[A CHIH WAN (2ifc$f) : CANTON'S PUBLIC FRUIT PARK 



Fruit parks near some of our large western cities might 

 prove profitable or philanthropic investments for those interested in 

 public welfare. The city of Canton has such an open-air resort, 

 privately managed by individual landholders as a commercial proposi- 

 tion. Li Chih Wan (Lai Chi Wan IfciJg), ideally located in. P'an 

 T'ang (P'un T'ong /'^;, at the extreme northwest of Canton city, 

 provides an ideal pleasure place for the people of this city, especially 

 for those of Si Kuan (Sai Kwan pj),. the aristrocratic western 

 suburb. P'an T'ang (P'un T'ong vt^) is low and abounds in quiet 

 streams which are particularly adapted to boating. Throughout Li 

 Chih Wan ( Lai Chi Wan '%,'%$%} the banks and dykes of these streams 

 are planted with lychee. Owners of the different sections vie .with 

 one another in securing trees of the best varieties and types. Li Chih 

 Wan (Lai Chi Wan ^,^M] is a favorite rowing park and when these 

 trees are in fruit it is visited by thousands who glide up and down the 

 streams in little boats, purchasing from care-takers the fresh fruits of 

 these trees. Sometimes special parties will procure in advance the 

 privilege of securing all the fruit of one tree and will on some special 

 occasion repair to its shade for a family picnic. These trees are 

 given the best cultural attention possible, resulting in some magnificent 

 specimens (figures 19 and 20). The dykes are carefully maintained 

 and the trees, when in fruit, are protected from the ravages of birds 

 by meshed wire stretched across high poles which have been placed 

 about the trees (figure 21 ). Rustic stone steps lead from the streams 

 to the paths of these dykes (figure 21). Here and there along the 

 banks small bamboo structures are provided during the fruiting season 



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