Gaqing Watermelon

Gaqing Watermelon

Gaqing Watermelon is a geographical indication certification trademark.

　　Gaqing County is located in the northern part of Zibo City, Shandong Province, situated on the alluvial plain of the Yellow-Huaihai region in northern Shandong. It borders the Yellow River to the north and the Xiaoqing River to the south. It is part of both the National Comprehensive Agricultural Development Zone of the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain and the Yellow River Delta Agricultural Comprehensive Development Zone. The county boasts well-developed agricultural infrastructure and favorable natural conditions including temperature, sunlight, water, and air quality, making it a traditional high-quality melon and vegetable production base in northern Shandong.

In the 1990s, the county focused on industrial restructuring, leading to significant development in its fruit and vegetable industry, with watermelons as the main crop. The annual planting area of watermelons consistently exceeds 100,000 mu, with total output surpassing 400,000 tons. Gaqing watermelons are known for their sweetness, crispness, and refreshing taste. They have won numerous awards at national, provincial, and municipal agricultural product expos. In 1996, they were designated as the “Hometown of Chinese Watermelons” by the China Special Products Association. The “Qingyuan” brand watermelon produced here was honored as a “China Famous Brand Product” at the 2001 Beijing International Agricultural Expo, and in 2002, it was certified as a pollution-free agricultural product of Shandong Province by the Ministry of Agriculture’s Environmental Quality Supervision and Testing Center (Jinan).

The products are widely sold in cities such as Beijing, Tianjin, Harbin, and Shenzhen, and are highly favored by urban and rural consumers. The peak season for watermelon availability is from May to August each year.