Lychee Lore:

The Chinese consider the Lychee, which is a red, heart-shaped fruit, a symbol of romance and love.

The Imperial concubine Lady Yang Kuei Fei of the last emperor of the T'ang dynasty, Hsuan Tsung (A.D. 712-756) had a passion for fresh lychee fruit.

To woo Lady Yang Kuei Fei, the emperor had them brought from Canton in Southern China to his northern palace, a distance of 600 miles.

The emperor arranged for guards mounted on fast horses to convey the Lychees in a "Pony Express" so that Lady Yang Kuei Fei would get her Lychees while they were still fresh.