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High prices for persimmon pickers in Shaanxi

The popular drama series The Longest Day in Chang'an, set in the Tang Dynasty (618-907) has tempted numerous Chinese viewers with ancient delicacies. One of them is fire crystal persimmon. In a recent job post, a company in Xi'an, Shaanxi province, offered a salary of 1,000 yuan ($142) a day for a persimmon picker who is good at climbing trees. The job requires pickers to pick at least 300 kilograms of persimmons per day. The fire crystal persimmon featured in the drama series is known as huojing in China and grows in Lintong, Shaanxi. This special cultivar is as shiny red as a fireball yet clear as crystal, hence the name fire crystal. The fire crystal persimmon is small, soft, smooth and juicy.

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