Mat-Su-Take, a species so precious, also known to the world as pine mushroom, botanical name Tricholoma, Mandarin - Songrong, was only discovered in 1998 by Japanese Fungi Man (a mycologist) visiting Norht-West Yunan. In 1990s it became evident that South-West China and especially the Tibetan areas of Ning-ti possesses vast resources of this culinary mushroom highly prized in Japan. In the areas with ever green oak or pine forests.

Since its discovery, great economic importance of matsutake mushroom collection and trade for local people in Southwest Tibetan region have become well known. Local cultures have a long-standing tradition of mushroom use and trade; the century-old tradition of collecting Caterpillar fungus (Cordyceps sinensis, Yartsa Gunbu, Chongcao, in spring often contributes 50% - 80% of the annual cash income of poor rural households in Tibetan livestock herding areas. In the months of July and August anyone capable of searching the steep slopes is out in the woods hunting `songrong' (There is no common Tibetan name, since it was not a commonly collected mushroom in the past but today Tibetan called them Bheya-Shya).

The total of matsutake annually dealt in the Southeastern Tibetan Plateau of Yunnan and Sichuan probably figures several 1,000 t, generating over 100 million Yuan ($12.5 million) for rural households alone. The whole industry is generating over 1 billion Yuan annually. Hence, contributing an extended source of rural economy of these regions. As such, it is proven that the development of the matsutake resources has been extremely positive for the rural population and the region as a whole.