Fungus is peak prize for alpine herders

Gatherers scour mountains to harvest precious medical ingredient

In the high-altitude valleys of Nagchu, Xizang autonomous region, the first light of summer reveals a scene unchanged for generations: herders traversing snow-flecked slopes, their eyes trained to spot the precious medical ingredient of the plateau — caterpillar fungus (cordyceps sinensis). Known for its rarity and medicinal value, this prized organism thrives in the thin air of the Himalayas, with altitudes between 3,500 and 5,000 meters.

Now, as Nagchu implemented its first local regulations to protect and manage the caterpillar fungus sector on May 1, this year's harvest season in Sog county is balancing age-old traditions with modern ecological stewardship.

The city is a key site for the expensive ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine. The harvest season lasts 45 days. For local herdsmen, collecting this precious fungus offers them seasonal jobs and increases their income.