Chenghai Spirulina in Yongsheng County, Lijiang

Chenghai Spirulina, a precious microalgae belonging to the phylum Cyanobacteria, is one of the earliest photosynthetic organisms on Earth and holds extraordinary significance. Chenghai Lake, located in the middle of Yongsheng County (永胜县), Yunnan Province (云南省), is one of the three major natural habitats for spirulina in the world. Chenghai Spirulina has gained a global reputation for its unique growing environment and extremely high nutritional value.

Chenghai Spirulina mainly grows in Chenghai Lake, a graben lake formed by the tectonic movements of the Himalayas in ancient times. The water quality of Chenghai Lake is of high-quality sodium-magnesium bicarbonate type, with a mineralization degree of 9.1 and a pH value between 9 and 9.3. The lake is rich in planktonic plants and animals, making it an ideal home for the growth of spirulina. The region where Chenghai Lake is located is a highland arid and hot area, belonging to the Jinsha River (金沙江) water system and the subtropical climate type of Central Asia. The area is abundant in geothermal resources, with a warm and dry climate. The average annual precipitation is 731 millimeters, while the average annual evaporation is as high as 2251 millimeters. The sunshine is extremely abundant, and the average temperature from March to October is above 20°C, with no frost throughout the year. Moreover, Chenghai Lake is a natural alkaline lake with clear water, no industrial pollution sources, and rich carbon sources. This unique and superior natural ecological environment has created the pure quality of Chenghai Spirulina.

Chenghai Spirulina is rich in a variety of nutrients. Its protein content is as high as 65% – 71%, and its amino acid composition is very similar to human blood protein, making it easily absorbed by the human body. One gram of spirulina powder contains nutrients equivalent to the total nutrients of 1000 grams of various vegetables and fruits. In addition, it also contains a variety of vitamins, minerals, and bioactive substances such as γ-linolenic acid and phycocyanin. Chenghai Spirulina has many health benefits, such as lowering cholesterol, enhancing immunity, and promoting metabolism. Its γ-linolenic acid is particularly precious and plays an important role in regulating human functions, such as lowering blood sugar and lipid levels, softening blood vessels, and regulating blood pressure. The rich β-carotene content is more than ten times that of carrots, effectively inhibiting the activity of free radicals and having anti-cancer, anti-tumor, and anti-aging functions. It is also the main source of the essential vitamin A for the human body, which can promote the function of the lymphatic system and comprehensively enhance human immunity. Phycocyanin is of great significance for the recovery and improvement of hematopoietic cell function, and it has a significant auxiliary therapeutic effect on functional anemia, post-chemotherapy, and post-surgical leukopenia. It also has a noticeable effect on the treatment of atherosclerosis. Spirulina polysaccharides can regulate the body’s balance, enhance immunity, and improve disease resistance. They also have anti-radiation and detoxification effects.

Several spirulina breeding bases have been established around Chenghai Lake. Among them, Yongsheng County Chenghai Blue Treasure Industry Co., Ltd. (永胜县程海蓝宝实业股份有限公司) is the largest spirulina breeding base in the world. These bases use advanced spray-drying technology to maximize the retention of the nutritional components and bioactive substances of spirulina. Chenghai Spirulina products come in various forms, including spirulina powder and tablets, and are widely used in the health care and food industries. Tests have shown that Chenghai Spirulina powder is significantly superior to algae powder produced by many manufacturers in Fujian, Hainan, Jiangxi, and other places in China in terms of protein, total carotenoids, zinc, and other quality indicators. In terms of appearance, pure 100% spirulina is blue-green or dark green, with a special algal or sea smell. It tastes fresh, similar to monosodium glutamate, with a slight alkaline taste. Under the microscope, there are no foreign matters.

In 1940, French pharmacologist Gritch discovered the blue-green floating objects (“Daihei”) consumed by the indigenous people of Lake Chad during an expedition in Africa, which were later identified as mainly composed of Arthrospira platensis. From 1984 to 1985, the Department of Biology at Yunnan University found that Chenghai Lake was rich in algae resources, with a large proliferation of blue algae forming “water bloom” during the spring and summer, known locally as “fragrant noodle water.” After investigation and research by the Wuhan Botanical Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, it was determined that the lake contained spirulina with excellent nutritional components and no toxicity. In 1986, the initial measurement showed that the yield of “fragrant noodle water” bloom in Chenghai Lake was at least 100 tons of dry powder. In 1988, artificial cultivation of spirulina was successfully carried out on the lakeshore of Chenghai Lake, and in 1990, the first pilot base for artificial spirulina cultivation in China was built and accepted. Since then, Chenghai Lake has gradually developed into the world’s largest spirulina breeding base. In 2010, the comprehensive output value of Chenghai Spirulina reached 1 billion yuan, with a production capacity accounting for 80% of China’s total. By 2012, the actual annual output value was about 400 million yuan. Chenghai Spirulina has received many honors, such as the National New Product title in 1993; listed in the National “Torch” Program in 1994 and won two national-level top awards at the “China Social Achievement Exhibition”; won the Gold Award at the “China Kunming Science and Technology Achievements and New Technologies and Products Exhibition” in 1995, etc. In 2006, it was awarded the titles of “Top Ten Famous Brands in Yunnan” and “China Health Care Product Public Trust Brand.” The geographical indication product protection area is the current administrative regions of Chenghai Town (程海镇) and Yongbei Town (永北镇) in Yongsheng County, Yunnan Province.

Chenghai Spirulina and local tourism in Yongsheng County, Lijiang, promote each other. As one of the only three natural lakes in the world where spirulina grows, Chenghai Lake itself is an extremely attractive tourist resource. Many characteristic tourism projects have been developed around Chenghai Spirulina, such as visiting spirulina breeding bases, where tourists can witness the growth state of spirulina and understand the entire process from breeding to processing. Chenghai Spirulina has also given rise to a variety of tourism products, such as health care products and skin care products, which are very popular among tourists and have formed a unique consumer industry chain. The local area holds various characteristic spirulina tourism activities, such as the Spirulina Culture Festival, which includes popular science lectures, cooking contests, and other activities. There are also wellness tourism projects like spirulina hot spring baths, which have improved the quality and fame of Yongsheng County’s tourism. In tourism publicity and promotion, efforts have been made to create the “Chenghai Spirulina Tourism Destination” brand, highlighting its uniqueness and value to attract more domestic and international tourists and promote the local tourism industry. Today, Chenghai Spirulina has become a characteristic and valuable product of Yongsheng County, Lijiang, and is widely used in functional foods, efficient feed, pharmaceutical health care, and fine chemical fields.