With the litchi harvest in full swing in Shenzhen this month, the city's major litchi growing areas are ready to receive people on DIY tours. People visiting an orchard can pick and eat the fruit to their hearts' content.

Luohu Nurseries and Orchard

Adjacent to the Fairy Lake Botanical Garden in the east and Shenzhen Reservoir in the west, the orchard is in a unique and picturesque location in Luohu District.

Established in 1986 with about 2,500 mu (170 hectares) of nuomici (glutinous rice) and guiwei (scent of laurel), it is one of the city's 10 export-oriented litchi orchards. This year's harvest is expected to yield 150 tons.

The best time for a DIY tour of the orchard is during the nuomici harvest in the last ten days of June. Tours will cost 30 yuan each.

People driving to the orchard will not need to pay admission to the Fairy Lake Botanical Garden if they call the orchard and book ahead.

Buses: 220, 218

Minibuses: 450, 468, 438

Tel.: 2548-5669, 2571-3332

Guangming Nurseries and Orchard Company

Located in Bao'an District, the company has six orchards with more than l0,000 mu for litchi farming. The litchi harvest this year is expected to exceed 1,000 tons.

The company's eco-agri tourism has been warmly welcomed by visitors from home and abroad.

The company's litchi research institute in Biyan Village is a must for those who want to try a variety of fresh fruits.

The orchard produces 17 varieties of litchi, of which edan (goose egg) and mitangcheng (honey-like orange) are the rarest.

Individual visitors on a DIY tour will be charged 50 yuan each person and receive 5 jin (2.5 kilograms) litchi as a gift when they leave.

Buses: 301B, 325, 622

Minibus: 788

Tel.: 2740-4633, 2740-0082

Xili Orchard

Established in 1989 on the northwest side of Xili Lake, the orchard is one of the most important state-owned orchards in Shenzhen.

It has more than 3,000 mu of litchis planted and the harvest this year is expected to yield about 200 tons.

To develop tourism, the orchard has established an agricultural holiday resort, called "Litchi World," with litchi trees, a restaurant and a litchi museum.

From June 19 through July 5, the orchard will host a series of programs, including a litchi picking competition, a litchi eating competition, a litchi quiz and a beauty pageant, to celebrate its 15th anniversary and the second Nanshan Litchi Festival.

Visitors will be charged 40 yuan (US$4.8) per person for admission.

There is no charge for a child under 140 centimeters if accompanied by the parents on a DIY tour.

An overnight stay for a couple will cost 288 yuan and will include a standard double-bed room, supper and breakfast plus a DIY tour around the orchard.

People on a group tour of 15 people or more will be charged 30 yuan per person for a tour of the orchard.

Buses: 326, 332, 16

Minibuses: 435, 532

Tel.: 2662-5835, 2662-5842

Travel Tips

-- Wear light-colored, long-sleeved clothes to protect yourself from the sun and mosquito bites.

-- Wear a hat and apply sunblock cream to avoid overexposure to the sun.

-- Although very nutritious, eating too many litchis can lead to low blood sugar in your body. The early symptoms include dizziness, fatigue, cold sweat and diarrhea. The symptoms can be eased by taking some sugar water to adjust the sugar level in the blood. Seriously affected people may fall into a coma, accompanied by tic, irregular breathing and plunging blood pressure. They should be taken to hospital as soon as possible. Experts suggest people eat litchi after a meal and not eat more than 300 grams in a day.

-- According to traditional Chinese medicine, litchi is a kind of "hot" fruit, which increases the internal body heat. After eating too much litchi, people are prone to a sore throat and small swellings on the face. Green bean congee or salt water is recommended to lower body heat.

-- Litchis should be washed or immersed in salt water to eliminate pesticide residue.

-- To preserve the original appearance and flavor, litchis can be sealed in plastic bags and stored in the refrigerator. This will keep the fruit fresh for at least a week.

-- Don't litter the orchard when picking and eating litchis.

 (Shenzhen Daily June 22, 2004)