"Water Eight Immortals" refers to eight kinds of vegetables, such as Zizania latifolia, lotus root, Oenanthe javanica, Euryale ferox, sagittaria sagittata, water chestnut and water chestnut, which are traditionally cultivated aquatic vegetables, mainly distributed in Wuzhong District, Wujiang, Changshu, Taicang, Zhangjiagang, Kunshan and other places in Suzhou. At one time, it formed distinctive local characteristics and enjoyed a good reputation at home and abroad, so it was called "Eight Immortals of Water".
Wumen water town is rich in aquatic crops, with the largest variety in China:
Since ancient times, lotus roots in Hengshan Lotus Pond, Euryale ferox in the south, Lvgongling in Meiwan, Eleocharis tuberosa and lotus roots in Huangtiandang outside Fenmen have all been famous far and wide, and these aquatic cash crops, such as arrowhead mushroom, Zizania caduciflora, Oenanthe javanica and taro, which have various nutritional and economic values, have been merged by people. "Water chestnut in spring and lotus root in summer, arrowhead mushroom and celery in winter in late autumn, fresh water bamboo in March and October, and vegetables in aquatic seasons" is a true portrayal of aquatic vegetables in Suzhou, a land of plenty.
Chefang Town, which is known as "six lakes and one river" in the suburbs of Suzhou, has the advantage of planting aquatic vegetables because of its low terrain and many lakes and fields. Those farmers who live by the "Eight Immortals of Water" live in small buildings built by themselves, and their lives are full of flavor. For them, land is not the only source of life, but it is the foundation of their lives. They can forget other things, but they won't forget to plant cress after harvesting a crop of "chicken's head rice". However, the increasingly tense land has forced them to feel nervous inside.