Tu'an Watermelon

Tu'an Watermelon

　　Dayang Township's Tu'an Village is situated at the foot of the scenic Fenghuang Mountain. In ancient times, the area was covered with dense vegetation and abundant wild rabbits, which is why it was originally called "Tuwang" (Rabbit Bay). Surrounded by mountains, the valley features fertile soil, sweet springs, and a mild climate. More than two hundred years ago, a villager surnamed Yang became prosperous by growing watermelons. Inspired by his success, other villagers also took up watermelon farming. This new occupation brought them wealth and contentment, leading to the village being renamed "Tu'an," which means "fertile land, sweet water, and peaceful living."

　　Tu'an watermelons mainly come in two varieties: green-skinned and black-skinned. The rinds feature stripe-like patterns, commonly referred to as "walnut veins" or "towel stripes." The flesh of these watermelons is golden yellow (or red), with large, dark seeds. They are widely renowned for their large size, thin rinds, sandy texture, sweet taste, and juicy flesh. Typically weighing between 10–15 kilograms each, the largest can reach up to 30 kilograms, earning them the title "King of Melons."

　　Tu'an watermelons are attractively shaped and blemish-free, with no cracks or bruises. They retain their stems, which are fresh and green. The rinds are thin and even, generally less than 1.2 cm thick, yet tough and resistant to storage and transport. The melons are harvested at 85–95% ripeness, with uniformly beautiful cross-sections, free from yellowish-white coarse veins or lumps. They contain relatively few seeds, and the flesh is tender, sandy, and crisp, with juice as sweet as honey. Their sugar content exceeds 10%, and they are free from sourness, off-flavors, or contamination. These watermelons help clear heat, detoxify, moisten the lungs, and promote urination, making them a traditional summer delight.

　　The cultivation of Tu'an watermelons benefits from a unique geographical environment. The best-quality melons are grown on a plot of land south of the village known as "Taoyuan Land," spanning over 400 acres with soil that is mostly loess with a hint of black earth. There is a mountain spring here called "Yinyang Spring," whose sweet and refreshing water has long been used to irrigate the watermelon fields. Growing watermelons in dryland with good water quality and ample sunlight results in especially sweet and crisp fruit. Additionally, the local farmers possess rich cultivation experience and are meticulous about selecting seeds and fertilizers. They never use chemical fertilizers but instead rely on high-nitrogen organic fertilizers such as human waste, chicken manure, and soybean cake. This approach produces vigorous watermelon plants with well-developed roots, thick vines, lush leaves, and large fruits.

　　Watermelons thrive in "virgin soil" and require crop rotation. Each year, the planting area for Tu'an watermelons is typically around 100–200 acres, yielding approximately 2,000 kilograms per mu. Due to their excellent quality and limited quantity, the melons are often sold out as soon as they hit the market.

　　Watermelons originated in southern Africa and later spread across West Asia. They were introduced to China during the Five Dynasties period, initially cultivated in Xinjiang before spreading to the Central Plains. Since the seeds came from the Western Regions, the fruit came to be called "xigua" (western melon).

　　Watermelons are sweet, juicy, and highly nutritious. According to modern medical analysis, they are rich in water as well as over 20 health-promoting substances, including fructose, glucose, sucrose, vitamin C, malic acid, amino acids, potassium salts, and carotene. Traditional Chinese medicine views watermelons as sweet, bland, and cooling in nature, capable of clearing heat, quenching thirst, relieving irritability, and promoting urination. The *Daily Use Materia Medica* states that watermelons can alleviate summer heat, quench thirst, soothe the chest, regulate qi, and promote urination, and are used to treat dysentery. The *Dian Nan Materia Medica* notes that watermelon juice, rind, and seeds have significant medicinal value and offer considerable benefits to human health.