Which Han Dynasty Emperor demanded lychees as tribute, leading to
Chapter 1

The secret life of the alligator strawberry

Chapter 2

Imperial drama and high speed fruit

Chapter 3

Global voyages and the dark side of the seed

Chapter 4

Culinary quirks and peeling hacks

YOUR GOAL

Master of Secrets of the alligator strawberry

Ch 2 · Imperial drama and high speed fruit
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futura Imperial Lychee Relay

Speeding for lychees! Speeding for lychees! Racing to the palace, speeding for lychees!

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An entire system can be exhausted to satisfy a single fleeting whim.

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The poetic obsession of Su Shi

futura Exiled to Huizhou in 1094 CE, poet Su Shi fell in love with lychees, writing a poem that

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The tax paid in sweet fruit

futura A glowing neon infographic displays facts about the imperial lychee fruit tax.

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Fun Fact

Royal delivery: The fast-horse relay for Yang Guifei's lychees was so intense that many horses and riders collapsed from exhaustion along the way.

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Glossary
courier (noun)
A messenger who transports goods, documents, or messages. During the Tang dynasty, imperial couriers rode exhausted horses to deliver fresh lychees to consort Yang Guifei.

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Gossip

Would you ride 600 miles for your favorite snack?

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Quiz

Who was the imperial consort famous for her love of fresh lychees?

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Quiz

Which Chinese dynasty is famous for the high-speed lychee delivery service?

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Quiz

Which Han Dynasty Emperor demanded lychees as tribute, leading to local rebellions?

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Quiz

How far did the imperial couriers travel to deliver fresh lychees to the capital?

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Quiz

Why did the Chinese imperial court set up a high-speed horse relay for lychees?

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Quiz

In what year was the world's first book dedicated entirely to the lychee published?

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Quiz

How many lychees did the poet Su Shi claim he could eat every day?

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Quiz

Who wrote Lizhi Pu, the world's first scientific guide to lychees?

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