Exploring the Museum of Materia Medica in South Yunnan

In Xiaoxiao, Kunming Airport Economic Zone, there is a little-known museum-China's first folk museum of Materia Medica. Here, you can see not only 13 species of plants that have changed the course of history, but also some native herbal plant specimens from Yunnan.

"if we don't have enough love, we won't build this museum. After building this museum, we find that the herbal industry in the future is full of bright prospects." Su Yijiang, curator of the South Yunnan Materia Medica Museum, said that the South Yunnan Materia Medica Museum belongs not only to Yunnan, but also to the world, and will have good economic benefits in the future.

What are you looking at?

More than 600 kinds of herbal specimens

What can you see in this museum? on May 25, the reporter went to the South Yunnan Materia Medica Museum for an interview. Tao Mei, the commentator of the South Yunnan Materia Medica Museum, gave an introduction.

On the first floor is the Science Popularization Museum. Here, people can see 13 kinds of plants that have changed the course of history. Here, you can learn about the "Boston Tea pouring incident" caused by tea, which led to the outbreak of the American War of Independence and finally established the United States; citrus defeated septicaemia, guaranteed a long voyage at sea, and connected the East and the West through the sea; the sericulture and silk industry supported by mulberry trees led to the birth of the Silk Road. Fresh orange juice is not only delicious and refreshing, but also helps people start a new day, and is also a nutritious drink to supplement the vitamin C needed by the body.

The specimen museum is on the second floor. You can see more than 600 kinds of herbs, as well as pictures. In addition, we can also learn about the herbs in life: in the long picture of human history, plants have always been an indispensable element in this picture. With the passage of time, the application of plants has not been lost. On the contrary, it has been better applied with the development of society. From the clothes made by plants in primitive society to cover their shame and keep warm, to the coir coat straw hat we saw later, to today's cotton and linen fabric; from the thatched huts at the beginning to the beautiful wooden houses today; from the simple production tools at the beginning to the exquisite handicrafts at present. The application of herbal plants is more and more closely related to our lives.

In addition, you can also see the 2017 edition of the red list of biological species in Yunnan Province, with macrofungi, ferns, fish, birds, lichens, gymnosperms, amphibians, mammalian bryophytes, angiosperms, reptiles and so on. These are in urgent need of human protection. There is also an experience area where you can participate in the production of Materia Medica.

What's the point?

Guarding Materia Medica as well as Hope

Su Yijiang said: "Baicao Manor has preserved the original landscape pattern, topography and vegetation to the maximum extent from planning to design." The use of building materials refer more to the characteristics of ethnic minority houses in Yunnan, and choose natural stone slices, earth bricks and other simple materials. In order to preserve the historical features of the original site as much as possible, an agricultural irrigation pump house built in the 1950s in the park was transformed into a coffee hut, Wanghu Yazu, to retain the pumping function. The South Yunnan Materia Medica Museum is located in the core area of Baicao Garden, which is also the biggest attraction and highlight here. "

With regard to the original idea of establishing the "Museum of Materia Medica Museum in Southern Yunnan," Su Yijiang said: "the first is to love, we have been doing ecological restoration, and in the process we found some endangered species, so we wanted to keep their genes; the second is to like. I work in nature, like to deal with all kinds of plants, see good and rare species, and want to keep them. In addition, Yunnan is a rich kingdom of animals and plants, and the relationship between plants and people can be displayed through museums. With the recognition of the Ming Dynasty pharmacist Lanmao (Songming Yang Lin people) and his special affection for the herbal plants, let us build the South Yunnan Materia Medica Museum. "

Su Yijiang said: "Guardian Materia Medica also guards hope." Originally, we only wanted to protect and display Materia Medica, but now we find that its brilliant industrial future will also benefit mankind. "

It is understood that at present, the construction and exhibition arrangement of the Materia Medica Museum in southern Yunnan have been basically completed, and the reception and explanation work has entered the stage of training and commissioning, and will be officially opened when all the work is perfect. At present, members of the public can only make an appointment if they want to visit.