Tongcheng Water Celery

Tongcheng Water Celery

　　Tongcheng water celery is a specialty vegetable unique to Tongcheng City, Anqing, in Anhui Province, and has been cultivated for hundreds of years. It belongs to the micro-family of perennial plants. The celery is characterized by its crisp and tender texture, fragrant taste, refreshing flavor, and sweet aftertaste. The winter variety, also called “Bailao,” features white stems and yellow sprouts, making it particularly tender, crispy, and of higher quality. It also holds high economic value: it can be used medicinally, and regular consumption by hypertension patients has shown a significant blood pressure-lowering effect.

　　Tongcheng water celery is a unique vegetable native to Tongcheng City, Anqing, in Anhui Province, and has been cultivated for hundreds of years. It belongs to the micro-family of perennial plants. It has a well-developed root system and extremely strong reproductive ability, yielding five crops per year. The cultivation method is simple, requiring only manual management without the need for fertilization, and can achieve an annual yield of 20,000 to 30,000 jin per mu.

　　Tongcheng water celery is characterized by its crisp and tender texture, fragrant taste, refreshing flavor, and sweet aftertaste. The winter variety, also called “Bailao,” features white stems and yellow sprouts, making it particularly tender, crispy, and of higher quality. It also holds high economic value: it can be used medicinally, and regular consumption by hypertension patients has shown a significant blood pressure-lowering effect.

　　Tongcheng water celery is mainly grown in the spring-fed fields of villages such as Wenchang and Shihé on the outskirts of the city, with the best quality found around Sishui Bridge in Wenchang Village. These spring-fed fields were once part of the old riverbed of the Longmian River, with sandy gravel at the bottom and fragrant gray clay on the surface. Spring water seeps out year-round, keeping the soil constantly moist. The fertile soil, ample sunlight, and small seasonal temperature variations make it highly suitable for growing water celery. The celery’s well-developed roots make cultivation convenient and its reproduction ability very strong, yielding up to five harvests per year and producing an annual yield of 20,000 to 30,000 jin per mu.

　　“Tongcheng Water Celery” has been recognized as a geographical indication certification trademark by the State Administration for Market Regulation, making it the only one of its kind in Anhui Province’s vegetable category.