Chen Hui, chairman of Alphay, addresses the opening ceremony for the Lingzhi Mushroom Festival in the Nantong Economic and Technological Development Area on July 17. [Photo/ntfabu.com]

The Lingzhi Mushroom Festival, hosted by Alphay, a national-level high-tech company dedicated to the research, development, production, and sale of edible mushrooms products, kicked off on July 17 in the company's bio-tech industrial park in Nantong, Jiangsu province.

Lingzhi, also known as ganoderma lucidem, is a rare ingredient that has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for more than 2,000 years. It is hailed as the "king of mushrooms" and is believed to be able to restore and enhance people's wellbeing.

The festival, running from July 18 to Sept 28, is meant to teach people about the medical herb, boost the edible mushroom industry, and speed up the recovery of culture and tourism industries in Nantong.

During this period, an array of activities themed around mushrooms, including a calligraphy and painting exhibition, a food gala, an expenditure, and a creative cultural workshop, will be held to promote the mushrooms.

A summer camp themed around mushrooms was also launched that same day, allowing children to learn more about them.