Qiandao Lake Loquats

Qiandao Lake Loquats

　　Qiandao Lake Loquats -- 2015 National Famous, Special, and High-quality New Agricultural Product

　　Chun’an is located in western Zhejiang and is a national-level ecological county, where air and water quality have long been maintained at national first-class and Class I standards. The Qiandao Lake within the county is surrounded by mountains on all sides, with distinct seasons, a moist climate, frequent clouds and mist, abundant diffused light, and the temperature-regulating effect of the large water body creates a unique microclimate in the lake area characterized by “no severe cold in winter, no extreme heat in summer, early spring warmth, late autumn chill, and a long frost-free period,” which is naturally suitable for the cultivation of loquats and various other fruits. Currently, the total cultivated area of Qiandao Lake loquats is 13,000 mu, of which 60% are white loquats and 40% are red loquats, yielding 4,700 tons of loquats annually and generating an output value of 41.94 million yuan.

　　In recent years, Chun’an’s fruit industry has leveraged the excellent ecological environment of Qiandao Lake to optimize variety distribution, forming a rational planting structure of citrus, loquats, and bayberries in the reservoir area, and peaches, pears, and specialty small-tree fruit species outside the reservoir. It has vigorously promoted eight key integrated high-quality cultivation techniques, including reducing fertilizer and pesticide use to control pests and enhance efficiency, grass-growing in orchards, increased application of organic fertilizer, fruit thinning and bagging, and the use of labor-saving machinery in orchards. As a result, fruit quality has significantly improved, earning more than 50 honors including “Top Ten High-quality Loquats in China – Taihu Dongshan Cup.”