Money grows on trees in China's walnut farms

Laishui, China

GRINNING with pride, a Chinese farmer held out two precious walnuts - globes so precisely symmetrical that consumers in search of hand massages value them more highly than gold.

"Prices have skyrocketed," said Li Zhanhua, standing in the shade of the leafy green walnut trees which have made him a small fortune. "Years ago, we could never have imagined this."

Rolling a pair of walnuts between palm and fingers - believed to improve circulation - has been a Chinese pastime for hundreds of years. "Mainly the walnuts are good for the body, that's why people play with them," Mr Li said.

Walnuts were used as toys in China's imperial courts as early as 220 AD but were championed by officials during the Q…