Xixia Chestnuts

Xixia Chestnuts

　　Xixia chestnuts are a specialty of Xixia County in Nanyang City, Henan Province. Rich in starch, protein, fat, sugar, and vitamins, they are crisp and sweet when eaten fresh, and become soft and fragrant when roasted, steamed, or boiled. A famous dish, Chicken with Chestnuts, is made by stewing the chestnuts with chicken.

　　Xixia County is located in the southwest of Henan Province, with a total area of 3,454 square kilometers and a population of 420,000. It is the second largest county in the province by area and the largest in terms of forestry. The cultivation of chestnuts in Xixia has a long history, especially the large chestnuts, which are renowned for their size and quality. In 1949, there were 40,000 chestnut trees in the county, yielding over 60,000 kilograms annually. After the 1970s, a number of bases were established for focused cultivation. By the end of 1984, the number of trees had grown to 120,000, with an annual yield of over 100,000 kilograms, ranking second in the province. Entering the 1990s, the county party committee and government prioritized chestnuts as a leading industry, organizing personnel and resources to make breakthroughs in developing superior varieties and grafting wild trees. This led to rapid development in chestnut production. By 1998, the total area under chestnut cultivation reached 180,000 mu, with an annual output of 2 million kilograms and a production value of 10 million yuan, ranking first in the city. All 18 towns in the county engage in chestnut cultivation, with major production areas including Shuanglong Town, Miping Town, Junmah River Township, Zhaigen Township, Chenyang Township, Dinghe Town, Sangping Town, Shijiehe Township, Erlangping Township, and Tianguan Township. Among these, Wafangzhuang and Guangou Village in Shuanglong Town, and Yeniugou Village in Miping Township have the highest yields. Starting preparations in 1994, Shuanglong Town developed a wholesale and retail chestnut market after several years of effort. With an annual transaction volume of 700,000 kilograms, the products are sold widely in Nanyang, Zhoukou, Zhengzhou, as well as in Hubei and Shandong provinces.