Taishan

Taishan, also known as Taishan City, is a coastal region located in the southwestern Pearl River Delta of Guangdong Province, China. Characterized by a subtropical monsoon climate and diverse mountainous terrain, the area is a significant center for Cantonese culture. The region is notable for its demographic homogeneity, with a population that is 99.07% Han, and its deep historical and social ties to overseas Chinese communities. This global connection is physically manifested in landmarks such as the Southeast Asian-themed park in Haiyan Town, which was constructed by diaspora groups from 13 different countries and is locally referred to as the "mini United Nations."

A defining feature of Taishan’s cultural identity is its rich tradition of ethnobotanical knowledge, specifically the utilization of wild edible plants (WEPs). Recent research, including a 2025 study published in *Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems*, has documented 131 WEP species across 59 families within the region documented biodiversity of 131 species ethnobotanical study paper. These plants are central to the local philosophy of "Medicinal and Edible Homology," where dietary choices are inextricably linked to health maintenance traditions of medicinal and edible homology.

The region’s hot and humid climate has fostered a reliance on medicinal plants to address "damp-heat" conditions dependence on medicinal plants. Consequently, the most common application for these plants is as tea substitutes, with over 100 species utilized in this capacity. Preparation methods are highly specialized, often involving the simmering of roots and stems to create bitter tonics or the brewing of delicate flowers and leaves. Techniques such as blanching are frequently employed to mitigate bitterness blanching to reduce bitterness, while stir-frying and soup stewing remain the primary culinary preparation methods primary culinary preparation techniques. Species such as *Portulaca oleracea* L., *Houttuynia cordata* Thunb., and *Centella asiatica* (L.) Urb. are recognized for their high cultural significance high cultural significance of Portulaca oleracea.

Despite the importance of these practices to local identity, the transmission of this knowledge is currently under threat. Expertise is primarily concentrated among an aging rural population, with an identified intergenerational gap as younger residents show diminished interest in the complex preparation methods required youth lack interest in preparation intergenerational knowledge gap. Rapid urbanization and migration to urban centers further exacerbate the erosion of these traditional practices.

Furthermore, while these plants are central to the regional diet, there is a noted lack of validated pharmacological data for many of the species used in local teas and soups lack of validated pharmacological data. The preservation of this botanical knowledge remains a significant concern for the region, as it represents a unique intersection of biodiversity, traditional medicine, and cultural heritage that is increasingly vulnerable to the pressures of modernization.