Xincun Ginkgo

Xincun Ginkgo

Xincun Ginkgo is a geographical indication agricultural product.

　　Xincun Ginkgo

　　The Xincun Ginkgo Industrial Development Zone is the largest production base of ginkgo fruits, leaves, and seedlings in China, as well as a distribution hub for ginkgo seedlings and related products. It ranks first in the country in ginkgo tree production and is known as the "Hometown of Ginkgo." There are 11 primary and secondary schools. The township government is located in Xincun, 19 kilometers southwest of Tancheng, on the east bank of the Yi River. There are companies such as Lvyuan Co., Ltd., as well as factories for cotton spinning, coatings, building materials, and arts and crafts. The Xincun Ginkgo Industrial Development Zone centers around an ancient ginkgo forest belt distributed along the Yi River embankment, stretching over 2,000 meters from north to south and 600–1,000 meters from east to west. It is a national 3A-level tourist attraction, home to nearly 20,000 ginkgo trees aged between 100 and 1,000 years, making it the world’s largest, oldest, and highest-quality ancient ginkgo garden discovered to date. It represents a living cultural heritage of China’s agricultural civilization, boasting profound historical and cultural value, significant scientific and economic importance, and notable ecological benefits. Ideas shape outcomes. A group of business-savvy farmers in Xincun seized opportunities by processing their ginkgo fruits and leaves into distinctive, consumer-favorite products such as spiced ginkgo nuts, honey-glazed ginkgo, ginkgo vinegar, and ginkgo vermicelli. These products are not only wholesaled, retailed, and supplied to major cities like Shanghai, Nanjing, and Guangzhou but have also attracted thousands of tourists for leisure and tasting. Leveraging the area’s rich ginkgo tourism resources, over 500,000 yuan was invested to guide farmers in constructing more than 100 "Ginkgo Homestays" using ginkgo wood in the old ten-thousand-mu ginkgo forest. Most daily necessities in these homestays are made from natural ginkgo wood. So far this year, they have hosted over 3,000 visitors. Additionally, to give tourists a meaningful souvenir, local efforts have intensified the development of ginkgo-themed memorabilia. With an investment of 1.2 million yuan, 11 series and 36 varieties of "eco-friendly" ginkgo souvenirs, including ginkgo leaf quilts and carved handicrafts, have been created. Currently, there are 12 ginkgo souvenir manufacturers in the industrial zone, generating annual sales revenue of over 10 million yuan.

　　Geographic Scope

　　Xincun Ginkgo is located in Xincun Township, Tancheng County, Shandong Province, at the southernmost tip of the province. It borders Pizhou City, Jiangsu Province to the south, connects to Matou Town, Tancheng County to the north, is bounded by the Beijing-Fuzhou Expressway to the east, and lies alongside the Yi River to the west. The township governs 25 administrative villages, with a population of 36,000, covering an area of 3,600 hectares, including 2,800 hectares of ginkgo plantations. Along the Yi Riverbank, there is an ancient ginkgo cluster stretching 10 kilometers, with 23,000 fruit-bearing trees over 100 years old, including the "Old Divine Tree," renowned as the world’s largest male ginkgo tree. Geographical location: 118°09′–118°12′ east longitude, 34°33′–34°36′ north latitude. Annual production: 120 tons, with an annual income of 64 million yuan.

　　Natural Ecological Environment and Humanistic Historical Factors

　　(1) Soil and Topography: The soil types are light loamy uniform river alluvial soil and thick clayey river alluvial soil, with a pH of 6–8. It is part of the northern Huabei Plain, within the core of the Lin-Tan-Cang Plain, and is an alluvial-lake plain formed by the Yi and Shu rivers.

　　(2) Hydrology: The area has abundant water resources. Precipitation is the main source of surface water, with relatively plentiful and concentrated annual rainfall. Seasonal variations in river runoff are significant, and the utilization of transit water is limited. Groundwater resources are relatively abundant.

　　(3) Climate: It has a warm temperate monsoon semi-humid climate. Key features include distinct monsoons, clear seasonal divisions, and characteristics typical of the lower Huai River region. Springs are windy, dry, and low in rainfall; winters are cold and dry with little snow. Winter lasts 153 days, summer 92 days, autumn 57 days, and spring 63 days. The annual average temperature is 13.1–13.7°C, with an average annual rainfall of 835.5 mm and an average annual sunshine duration of 2,354.5 hours (sunshine rate: 53%). The average frost-free period is 212 days. However, with global atmospheric warming and increased pollution, temperatures have risen, rainfall has decreased, and sunshine rates have declined.

　　(4) Humanistic and Historical Background: Ginkgo, also known as white fruit tree or grandfather-grandson tree, was anciently called duck foot. It is the only surviving species of the Ginkgoaceae family and Ginkgoales order among gymnosperms, dating back to the Permian period of the Paleozoic era. During the Quaternary Ice Age of the Cenozoic era, ginkgo species were nearly extinct, surviving only in a few regions of China, making it a rare and precious endemic tree species. The golden age of Xincun Ginkgo development was during the late Qing Dynasty and early Republican period. During harvest season, the Yi River was congested with boats, sails, and anchored vessels, transporting ginkgo products to Suzhou, Hangzhou, Shanghai, and Jiaxing. A poet once wrote: "Stepping out, nothing is seen but endless white orchards. Countless trees stretch beyond reckoning, their roots diving deep underground and crowns towering into the clouds. Trunks as thick as several people’s hugs leave even monkeys struggling to climb."

　　Production Technical Requirements

　　(1) Site Selection and Special Provisions: Xincun Ginkgo is grown in flat areas with deep, loose, fertile, well-aerated, and well-drained soil over 1 meter in depth, free from sewage or flood risks, and with groundwater levels below 2.0 meters.

　　(2) Variety Selection and Designated Requirements: Ginkgo is a single-species plant that has developed numerous varieties through genetic variation over the years, commonly referred to as cultivated cultivars. Currently, Xincun Ginkgo includes 43 varieties, with superior ones such as Dayuanling, Dajinzhui, Maling, Meihé, No. 5, and No. 9. Xincun Ginkgo has been cultivated as a fruit tree for over 1,000 years.

　　(3) Production Process Management, Including Special Regulations on Agricultural Inputs: The production process of Xincun Ginkgo includes grafting, tree shaping, pollination, pest and disease control, and product harvesting. Soil management avoids toxic or harmful waste and sludge; human, livestock, and poultry manure must be treated harmlessly before use. Fertilizers are selected based on local conditions, using soil testing and formula-based fertilization, combining organic and inorganic fertilizers. Grafting scions are primarily sourced from high-quality local varieties or superior trees, collected from robust, disease-resistant, high-yield, and stable middle-aged graft trees, focusing on branches with plump lateral buds (1–2 years old). Tree shaping involves pruning, pulling, and thinning. Dead, dense, weak, aging, and diseased branches are removed; tightly spaced strong branches are pulled apart with ropes to ensure proper light and air circulation. The goal is to gradually develop a central-leader or open-center tree form. Pollination: Male spikes are collected about seven days before Grain Rain when they turn yellow. Collected spikes are placed in a ventilated, shaded area, where pollen naturally disperses in 4–5 days. Pollination timing: Around 3–4 days before or after Grain Rain, when shiny "dewdrops" appear on the tips of female flowers, is optimal. For every 100 kg of nut fruits produced, 10 g of male pollen is required. Pollen solution concentration is generally 0.1%, with 5% brown sugar added to enhance effectiveness. Spraying is done evenly using a high-pressure sprayer. Pest and Disease Control: Ginkgo has few diseases but faces pests like the lesser bud moth, thrips, flat tussock moths, and scarab beetles. Control methods primarily include frequency-vibrating insecticidal lamps, sticky traps, or extracts from yellow tobacco leaves and castor plants, supplemented with pyrethroid-based pesticides diluted in water. Diseased branches and leaves are collected and burned during winter garden cleanup. Beneficial organisms and dominant species are protected, as are birds around orchards. Product Harvesting: Ginkgo fruits are harvested when the outer husk turns from green to yellow or orange-yellow and begins to naturally drop. Premature harvesting affects quality. Post-harvest, fruits can be stored in bags or water, or peeled and refrigerated. Production records must include relevant documentation such as environmental standards, irrigation water, pesticides, fertilizers, initial processing equipment, and testing guidelines.

　　Product Typical Quality Characteristics and Safety Regulations

　　(1) External Sensory Features: The seeds are drupe-like, with long stalks, oval, oblong-obovoid, ovoid, or nearly spherical, measuring 2.5–3.5 cm in length and 1.5–2 cm in diameter. The sarcotesta is fleshy, powdery white, and matures to light yellow or orange-yellow. The testa is hard, white, often with 2 (rarely 3) longitudinal ridges. The inner seed coat is membranous, pale reddish-brown.

　　(2) Internal Quality Indicators: The kernel is rich in starch, protein, and other nutrients. Cooking: When paired with beef, lamb, pork, poultry, or eggs, it can be prepared into delicious dishes using methods like stir-frying, steaming, simmering, stewing, braising, sautéing, or roasting. (Folk dishes: Whole Duck with Ginkgo, Sautéed Chicken with Ginkgo, Stewed Chicken with Ginkgo, Chicken Cubes with Ginkgo, Steamed Eggs with Ginkgo, Vermicelli Ginkgo Porridge, Honey-Glazed Ginkgo, Laba Rice with Ginkgo, Ginkgo Porridge, Ginkgo Sago, Ginkgo Zongzi, Ginkgo Steamed Cake, Mixed Ginkgo Round Cake, Ginkgo Mooncake, Ginkgo Cheese, Sugar-Free Ginkgo, etc.). Raw consumption: Commonly soaked in hot water and drunk as tea. Products like roasted ginkgo, ginkgo beverages, and ginkgo wine have also been developed. According to *Compendium of Materia Medica*: "Cooked ginkgo warms the lungs, benefits qi, calms wheezing, reduces urination, and stops cloudy urine; raw ginkgo reduces phlegm, disinfects, and kills parasites." Modern science confirms that ginkgo kernels have antibacterial effects against E. coli, diphtheria bacillus, staphylococcus, tuberculosis bacillus, and streptococcus. Traditional Chinese medicine uses ginkgo kernels to treat bronchial asthma, chronic bronchitis, tuberculosis, leukorrhea, gonorrhea, spermatorrhea, and more. Ginkgo kernels also help fade spots, smooth wrinkles, and treat sores and ringworm. However, ginkgo kernels—especially the embryo and cotyledons—contain small amounts of ginkgolic acid, ginkgol, and ginkgolide. Overconsumption, whether raw or cooked, is not recommended.

　　(3) Safety Requirements: Standards for air, irrigation water, surface water, and pesticide use:

　　GB3095—1996 Ambient Air Quality Standard

　　GB5084—1992 Farmland Irrigation Water Quality Standard

　　GB3838—1988 National Surface Water Quality Standard

　　GB4285—1989 Pesticide Safe Use Standard

　　(3) Safety requirements: standards for air quality, irrigation water, surface water, and pesticide use

　　GB3095—1996 Air Quality Standard

　　GB5084—1992 Standards for Irrigation Water Quality

　　GB3838—1988 National Surface Water Quality Standard

　　GB4285—1989 Safety Standards for the Use of Pesticides

　　The standard clauses are used when the referenced standards have not been revised. In case of revisions, the latest national standards shall apply. Ginkgo nuts have passed the inspection by the Municipal Agricultural Quality Center.

　　Packaging and labeling regulations

　　Packaging labels: Labels must be clear, indicating the product, product name, grade, weight (gross weight, net weight), and the name or code of the inspector.

　　During transportation, take strict precautions against rain exposure. It is strictly prohibited to use warehouses or vehicles contaminated with residual toxins. Storage with toxic substances is not allowed. Store in a ventilated, dry indoor environment to prevent mold.