Tibetans searching for medicinal fungus

A Tibetan girl picks up a cordyceps sinensis, colloquially known as caterpillar fungus, in Longbao town, Yushu county in Qinghai province in this photo taken on May 25, 2010. The price of the fungus, used to treat fatigue, fight cancer and boost sex drive, has risen because of its scarcity. Schools in the Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture give students a one-month "fungus leave" between May and June every year to help with their families. Many Tibetans moved to remote areas in the wild at altitudes of between 3,000 and 5,000 m on mountains in search of more caterpillar fungus. "It's quite cloudy on mountains and bears come often. One Tibetan left his motorbike in a valley to search for fungus, but found his bike destroyed by bears after he came back," a Tibetan said. Usually, people have to hike a long way and rest several times to reach the destination where they will leave no stone unturned to find the rare plants, which are their main incomes for a whole year. [Photo/Liu Feiyue/CFP]