A relatively large wild truffle cluster has been discovered in Labagoumen Manchu township, Beijing's Huairou district, local authorities announced on May 16. On the same day, a pilot conservation and propagation base for truffles was officially unveiled in the township.
Located in northern Huairou, Labagoumen is known as the "northern gateway of the capital". The area has a forest coverage rate of 84 percent and vegetation coverage of 92 percent, and is home to Beijing's only primitive forest ecological zone.
In 2025, local researchers discovered patches of wild truffles in chestnut forests and in the rhizosphere soil of fagaceae and pine trees. Following on-site surveys and assessments by experts from the Chinese Academy of Engineering, the Chinese Academy of Forestry, the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the truffle resources were recognized as having important scientific and ecological value and as an indicator of a healthy forest ecosystem.
Known as the "diamond on the dining table", truffles are prized for their rarity and distinctive flavor, and are often listed alongside caviar and foie gras among the world's most sought-after delicacies. In China, wild truffles are mainly found in the country's southwestern regions, particularly Yunnan and Sichuan provinces. Large-scale wild truffle discoveries outside Southwest China remain relatively rare.
Experts said the discovery in Labagoumen not only offers valuable material for scientific research, but also provides a new sample for the study of rare fungi in northern China.
According to local authorities, Labagoumen plans to develop a full industrial chain around truffle resources, including wild fungi conservation and propagation, mycorrhizal seedling cultivation and wild-simulated cultivation. The township also aims to promote truffle processing, regional branding and integration with forest wellness and educational tourism programs.
The township will further strengthen cooperation with research institutions and enterprises to build a coordinated development model involving government, researchers, companies, cooperatives and farmers, in a bid to foster new growth drivers for the forest economy and promote coordinated ecological protection and rural revitalization.
