Honey peaches from Zhongshan Park

Honey peaches from Zhongshan Park

　　■ Nie Huizhe

　　 When it comes to the honey peaches from Zhongshan Park, many longtime Qingdao residents might just start salivating. And no wonder — as far back as half a century ago, these were the city’s famously premium fruits, once even sold in Beijing and Tianjin. Back then, Qingdao was much smaller, so even for ordinary citizens, getting their hands on such delicacies wasn’t too difficult. These days, however, it’s not just eating them that’s hard — seeing them is tough too. For those who moved to Qingdao in the last couple of decades, most have probably never even heard of them.

　　 The history of Zhongshan Park honey peaches can be traced back to the 1930s. At the time, the most commonly grown fruits in Qingdao were apples and pears, but due to unsuitable soil conditions, the fruit quality was poor and prices were low. To address this, the Agriculture and Forestry Bureau under the Nationalist government in Nanjing suggested planting peach trees instead. The reasoning was simple: for the same cost and labor, growers could earn more. To promote peach cultivation across the city, the bureau published and distributed a booklet titled Peach Tree Cultivation Methods to local fruit farmers in 1932. This guide provided detailed instructions on grafting, planting, pruning, fertilizing, weeding, bagging, pest control, harvesting, and packaging. To further motivate farmers, the guide even included detailed calculations on potential profits from peach farming.

　　 Thanks to the bureau’s promotion, the late 1930s saw widespread planting of honey peaches in the suburbs of Qingdao. Officials also developed a large peach orchard in the southeastern corner of Zhongshan Park. Unexpectedly, this orchard became a profitable venture for the bureau. During the 1930s and 1940s, Zhongshan Park honey peaches were hugely popular and became a major source of income. Archives show there were three main varieties: Early Jade Dew, ripening in late July; Shanghai Honey Peach, ripening in late August; and Late Jade Dew, ripening in late August. Aside from distributing some to bureau employees and various agencies, the rest were sold.

　　 Interestingly, during the Japanese occupation, Zhongshan Park honey peaches were sold through a public tender system. The bureau reserved 30–40% for direct sale, while the rest were harvested daily by bureau staff. At 10 a.m. each day, the peaches were weighed and logged in the presence of the contractor, who would sign off before taking them away. The bureau did not provide storage.

　　 After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Zhongshan Park honey peaches remained beloved by locals. With improved technical management, both yield and quality increased year by year. In 1954, there was a bumper crop — the peaches were particularly large, juicy, and sweet. Before the Mid-Autumn Festival that year, the park specially offered some Shanghai Honey Peaches and Late Jade Dew peaches to the public.

　　 From the 1970s to the early 1980s, the peach orchard in Zhongshan Park also served as an agricultural learning base for middle school students. Fertilizing the peach trees in the park was a key part of their “agricultural studies” activities.

　　 Today, Zhongshan Park honey peaches remain a rare summer treat in Qingdao. According to reports, in 2006, the orchard still spanned fifty acres, yielding nearly 5,000 kilograms of honey peaches annually. However, due to the peaches’ longstanding fame, they’re usually all pre-ordered before hitting the market and rarely sold in bulk. This is one of the main reasons why many locals have never had the chance to taste them.

　　 For those who can neither eat nor see them, the appearance and flavor of Zhongshan Park honey peaches live on only through word of mouth, adding a touch of mystery. Those who have tasted them say each peach weighs around 250 grams — about the size of a Laiyang pear. As for the flavor, the flesh is tender, juicy, sweet, and incredibly satisfying. It’s said that the peaches owe their exceptional taste not only to expert cultivation techniques but also to the unique soil of the orchard and the water from streams flowing down from Taishan Mountain into the park’s lake. Others, however, are more blunt, saying the taste isn’t as legendary as people say. Its deliciousness mostly comes from being grown without chemical fertilizers or pesticides.

　　 Perhaps for most people, Zhongshan Park honey peaches are more like a beautiful legend. But if you can, try strolling beneath the lush greenery of Taishan Mountain before the cherry blossoms bloom, and take in the sight of the peach orchard — seemingly guarded by Qingdao’s iconic TV tower — and admire the peach blossoms that look like colorful clouds. It’s an experience in itself.