Xiangkang Eco-Picking Garden

Xiangkang Eco-Picking Garden

Zhangjiakou Xiangkang Ecological Agriculture Technology Development Co., Ltd. is an ecological agriculture technology demonstration enterprise integrating fruit and forest tree planting, eco-tourism, fruit and vegetable picking, and the processing of agricultural ecological products. It serves as a demonstration base for greenhouse fruit cultivation by Hebei Agricultural University. The company covers an area of 1,008 mu, currently featuring 800 mu of fruit and forest tree plantations, 93 mu of variety demonstration gardens, 56 greenhouse picking sheds, and over 5,000 free-range chickens raised under the forest. It is a key agricultural industry enterprise in Zhangjiakou. The company is located west of Jiubao Village, Jiubao Township, Wanquan County, 30 km east of downtown Zhangjiakou, 180 km from Beijing, connected to Datong City in Shanxi Province to the west, and bordering Inner Mongolia to the north, offering highly convenient transportation. The company focuses on developing the fruit and forest tree industry, leveraging local resource advantages to build a leading industrial base. Following the overall strategy of “expanding scale, optimizing structure, improving varieties, and increasing efficiency,” it enhances comprehensive production and development capabilities in agricultural industrialization, facility agriculture, and the fruit and forest tree sector. The picking garden receives nearly 50,000 visitors annually. In 2009, it was designated as an “Hebei Agricultural Tourism Demonstration Site” by the Hebei Provincial Tourism Bureau. In 2012, it was recognized as a Key Agricultural Industrialization Enterprise in Zhangjiakou by the Zhangjiakou Municipal People’s Government. Through the unremitting efforts of the Xiangkang team, the goal is to truly establish Zhangjiakou Xiangkang Ecological Agriculture Technology Co., Ltd. as a new destination for eco-tourism, fruit picking, and leisure in Zhangjiakou.

1. Picking Varieties, Ripening Times, Quantities, and Picking Requirements

The garden has 56 picking greenhouses, cultivating new domestic and international varieties of peaches, apricots, plums, cherries, grapes, and specialty melons and vegetables. Fruits gradually ripen starting mid-April each year and picking begins then, continuing until the end of August.

(1) Fruit Varieties:

Apricot Varieties: Golden Sun, Katy, Greenhouse King, Early Golden Abundance, New Century, Red Abundance.

Peach Varieties: Lichun, Very Early Red, Zhongyou King, Yan Guang, Shuguang, Millennium Red, Chunxue, Oil Flat Peach.

Plum Varieties: Dashihan Sheng, Black Amber, Early Fortune, Inoue, Improved, California Red (USA), California Black (USA), Belladonna.

Apricot-Plum Hybrid Varieties: Flavor Rose, Weidi Weihou, Flavor Queen, Dinosaur Egg, Red Velvet.

Prune Varieties: Goddess, Red Prune, Stahl, President.

Cherry Varieties: Hongdeng, Zaodazao.

Grape Varieties: Xiangfei, Early Heibao, Seedless Sendai Flower, Victoria, Pink Yatomi, Baergar, Keren Song, Giant Rose, Auguste, Red Shuangwei.

Chinese Toon Varieties: Red Toon.

(2) Melons, Fruits, and Vegetables:

Cultivated hanging melons include: sweet melon varieties such as Elizabeth, Yujinxiang, Thin-Skinned Sweet Melon, Qitian No. 5, mini watermelons (gift watermelons), dairy cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, colorful peppers, etc. Annual picking yield exceeds 50,000 kg of melons and fruits, along with over 30,000 kg of free-range chicken eggs. Entry fee to the picking garden is 10 RMB per person, with sampling, picking, and purchasing allowed after entry.

2. Geographic Location and Transportation Advantages

Zhangjiakou Xiangkang Ecological Agriculture Technology Development Co., Ltd. is located in Jiubao Village, Jiubao Township, Wanquan County, Hebei Province. Wanquan County lies in western Hebei, adjacent to the capital Beijing to the east, coal hub Datong to the west, Inner Mongolian grasslands to the north, and connecting to the central North China region. It is 180 km from Beijing, 480 km from provincial capital Shijiazhuang, and 360 km from Tianjin. Just 30 km from downtown Zhangjiakou, it serves as a key road and rail transportation hub linking Beijing-Tianjin-Zhangjiakou with Shanxi-Inner Mongolia. The main urban area offers dedicated rural minibuses, running hourly, allowing city residents to reach the scenic area in just 40 minutes. Self-driving is also a delightful option. The scenic area enjoys a cool and pleasant summer and sunny golden autumns. Two rural restaurants jointly operated with neighboring villages can accommodate up to 200 people for dining and lodging.

3. Development Prospects

Zhangjiakou Xiangkang Ecological Agriculture Technology Development Co., Ltd. plans to invest 118 million RMB over 2–3 years to develop a new eco-picking orchard scenic area in Zhangjiakou. The landscape planning and design will be handled by a renowned Beijing-based landscape design firm. The design concept centers around the characteristics of planting and breeding, aiming to create regionally distinctive landscapes with leisure functionality. Plans include constructing clubhouses, holiday villas, apartment guest rooms, restaurants, information centers, and other functional buildings. Shaded walking paths for leisure exude elegance, with clear signage. Additionally, a 30-mu fishing and ornamental leisure scenic area will be developed, featuring both fishing and aquaculture functions. This landscape planning will truly transform Xiangkang Ecological Agriculture Park into a comprehensive agro-ecological tourism destination encompassing planting and breeding production, interactive agricultural leisure such as picking and fishing, small-scale holiday accommodation and dining services, as well as primary agricultural product processing and hands-on farming experiences.