10-hr work: Picking water shields in West Lake

Villagers living near the West Lake spent around ten hours picking water shields while laying on their stomaches on a boat on April 18, 2017. [Photo: zjol.com.cn]

In a 100-acre pond, women who were picking water shields lay on the narrow boats and put rubber mats under their chests. [Photo: zjol.com.cn]

A 56-year-old villager surnamed Tang told reporters that she was picking water shields from 6 am to 5 pm. Most young people in the village were choosing work away from home, and most of the picking jobs are done by elder women aged between 50 and 70. [Photo: zjol.com.cn]

Water shield is a unique delicacy in Zhejiang Province, and it is also the main ingredient for the water shield soup, which is famous in the West Lake district. [Photo: zjol.com.cn]

It is reported that the quality of water shield has four levels, and the purchasing price of the best quality is 20 yuan per kilogram, and the water shield can be exported to Japan and other overseas markets after it is processed. [Photo: zjol.com.cn]