A recent drama series in China has sparked interest in lychees. The historical drama, "The Lychee Road" (2025), follows a low-ranked official tasked with transporting fresh lychees from southern China to Chang'an for Consort Yang's birthday. The series, based on a Chinese novel, combines historical elements and humor, contributing to the lychee's prominence this summer.
Situated in Guangdong Province, Maoming City, known for producing a substantial portion of the world's lychees, has seen increased tourism with lychee-themed campaigns gaining traction. According to Huo Wu, deputy director of the Maoming Culture and Tourism Bureau, "In this year's lychee season, the number of tourists is expected to surge more than 150 percent compared to the same period last year."
A lychee-themed service area near an expressway offers travelers lychee coffee, a lychee post office for postcards, and lychee-themed souvenirs for an immersive experience. The lychee, a native of southern China, is appreciated for its sweet, floral flavor and vitamin-rich content, providing antioxidants and hydration.
In the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, the lychee season is active, featuring the "Feizixiao" variety. Online platforms report over 300,000 orders, with producers preparing for domestic promotions and potential international exports. Chen Huang, tech director of Lingshan Agricultural Company, stated, "We're collecting 50,000 kilograms of lychee per day. Our e-commerce orders alone are between 10,000 and 20,000 packages daily."
Lychee is also a popular ingredient in summer beverages. Lychee-flavored teas and juices are in high demand. Consumer Mr. Xu remarked, "I used to think fruit juice never tasted like the real thing. But this one is different -- it's like biting into a fresh lychee. So juicy and sweet." Bakeries and coffee shops have embraced the trend, offering lychee mousse cakes and innovative beverages like lychee lattes and Americanos.
Source: Bastille Post