Qianling Chinese Yam

Qianling Chinese Yam

Qianling Chinese Yam is a product with geographical indication status.

　　Qianling Chinese Yam is produced in Dongqianling Village, Heya Town. This village has a long history of cultivating Chinese yam, and thanks to its unique geographical advantages, the yams grown here are renowned across the Jiaodong Peninsula and well-known both within and beyond the province.

　　Dongqianling Village is located about 2 kilometers northwest of the Heya Town center. The soil on the front and back sides of the village is of high quality, and it has long been said that “the front of Qianling, the back of Houling, all around is golden plate.” The topsoil, about 30 cm deep, is fertile yellow soil, beneath which lies a sandy layer rich in various trace elements beneficial to human health—making it highly suitable for growing Chinese yam. As a result, the yams produced here are rich in nutrition and pleasant in taste. Regular consumption is believed to nourish yin, replenish kidneys, moisturize lungs, and beautify the skin. It is not only a prized vegetable on the dining table but also a high-quality natural tonic.

　　In the past, some wealthy families in the Jiaodong region would buy up all the available Qianling Chinese Yams before they even hit the market. They had very particular ways of preparing them. One method involved placing the yams in a pot with an appropriate amount of water, bringing it to a rapid boil first, then simmering it for some time until most of the water evaporated. When done, the yam skin would crack slightly (what locals call “opening the sand”). Once peeled, the flesh inside would be snow-white, starchy, soft, and delicate. Dipped in powdered sugar, it became sweet, fragrant, and refreshing. Sometimes the yams were also shaped into balls, dried, and stored for long-term use. Occasionally taking a few out and brewing them in a cup offered a unique flavor. Another favorite preparation was candied yam. Candied yams made from Qianling Chinese Yam had a distinctive taste and texture. Today, as a common household dish, yams are prepared in many ways—all appreciated for their high nutritional value, making them endlessly enjoyable. Even now, in Qingdao markets, some elderly customers specifically ask for Gaomi’s “Qianling Chinese Yam.”

　　Since the reform and opening-up, the reputation and value of Qianling Chinese Yam have soared, cultivation areas have expanded continuously, and quality has improved significantly. To establish Qianling Chinese Yam as a branded product, the Heya Town government set up a dedicated “Heya Town Chinese Yam Wholesale Market,” which not only increased sales volume but also boosted the income of local farmers. As a result, Qianling Chinese Yam has gradually come to be known as “Heya Chinese Yam.” Now, the town government also plans to establish a “Chinese Yam Planting Development Research Association” in Dongqianling Village to further study yam cultivation techniques, improve yam quality, and devise strategies for expanding the market scale and increasing farmers’ incomes—helping to make the Qianling Chinese Yam brand from Heya even more prominent.

　　Qianling Chinese Yam

　　Geographic Range

　　Gaomi City is located in the central part of the Shandong Peninsula, in the heart of the Jiaolai Plain. It borders Jiaozhou City to the east, Anqiu City and Changyi City to the west, Zhucheng City to the south, and Pingdu City to the north. It stretches 60.1 km from north to south and 51.2 km from east to west, covering a total area of 1,605 square kilometers. The designated geographical indication protection area for “Qianling Chinese Yam” includes the townships under the jurisdiction of Xiazhuang Town, Gaomi City: extending east to Xiangyangzhuang Village in Xiazhuang Town; west to Dazhaomiao Village in Xiazhuang Town; south to Dongliukouzi Village in Xiazhuang Town; and north to Guojiataizi Village in Xiazhuang Town. It encompasses one township and 33 administrative villages, with geographical coordinates between 119°53′12″ to 119°55′21″ east longitude and 36°25′51″ to 36°29′25″ north latitude. The total production area is 200 hectares, with an annual output of 4,500 tons.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　1. External Sensory Features: Qianling Chinese Yam has a full growth cycle of approximately 185 days. Its stems can grow up to 2–3 meters long, about 0.4 cm in diameter, dark brown in color, with 25–38 branches. The leaves are nearly heart-shaped, dark green and waxy, mostly opposite each other. The fruit is a capsule containing 1–3 seeds. The “dragon head” (stem base) is slender, dry, and hard, measuring 20–30 cm in length and about 1 cm in diameter. The tuber is short and thick, spindle-shaped, 40–70 cm long and 4–6 cm in diameter, weighing 1–1.5 kg per plant. It has few fibrous roots, a yellowish-brown skin (the “red yam” variety tends to be redder, while the “white yam” variety is paler), thin skin, evenly distributed sparse spots, and few lenticels. Once peeled, the flesh is white, mucilaginous, does not discolor easily, and stores and transports well. 2. Internal Quality Indicators: Qianling Chinese Yam is high in starch, has a good taste, is soft, sweet, stores well, and transports easily. It contains 4.5–4.8 mg/100g of Vitamin C, 2.0%–2.4% total sugar, ≥10.0% starch, and 2.3–2.7 mg/kg of zinc. It is a highly nutritious vegetable, with certain tonic, dietary, and medicinal benefits. 3. Safety Requirements: The growing environment and product quality of Qianling Chinese Yam must meet national mandatory standards. The production area must be free from pollution sources and capable of sustainable production, with environmental conditions conforming to the “NY5010 Non-polluted Vegetable Production Environment Conditions.” The use of highly toxic, acutely toxic, or high-residue pesticides is prohibited. Production must strictly follow non-polluted yam technical operation procedures, and the final product quality must meet the “NY5221-2005 Non-polluted Edible Tuber Vegetables” standards. Products are tested before being released to the market.