It was first mentioned in Shiji (Records of the Historian) by the well-known historian Sima Qian of the Western Han Dynasty (206BC-8AD) that the Queen of Sericulture Lei Zu, who was said to be the queen of the Yellow Emperor, started the sericulture industry, and she was born in Leijiachong Valley in the Xiling Mountain of Yuan’an County, and later in a piece of stele inscription by Zhao Rui in the Tang Dynasty it was confirmed that Lei Zu has initiated mulberry trees planting and sericulture and has also developed clothing-making handicraft.

On Lei Zu\'s birthday, the 15th of the third lunar month of each year, celebration of the Silkworm Festival in Hehua Town of Yuan’an County is held in memory of the great mother of the Chinese nation.