The forests around Nyingchi in the Xizang autonomous region are once again filled with the earthy aroma of matsutake mushrooms as the short annual harvesting season begins.

Matsutake mushrooms are prized for their flavor and rarity. They only grow in undisturbed forests at least 20 years old. They form a symbiotic relationship with tree roots, a condition that cannot be artificially replicated, making cultivation impossible, according to a report from the Xizang Radio and TV Station.