Zhengzhou Cherry Valley Cherries

Zhengzhou Cherry Valley Cherries

Zhengzhou Cherry Valley Cherries are a product with geographical indication.

　　Grown abundantly in Cherry Valley, Houzhai Township on the outskirts of Zhengzhou City, these cherries not only ripen early and yield high, but also boast delicious flavors, glossy colors, and an eye-catching appearance. The trees bloom in mid-March and the cherries ripen in early May. Cherries are highly nutritious, containing protein, fat, sugar, as well as calcium, phosphorus, iron, and various vitamins, with particularly high iron content. Each 100 grams of cherry flesh contains 5.9 milligrams of iron—more than 20 times that of the same amount of apples or pears—and their vitamin A content is five times higher than that of grapes. The Cherry Valley scenic area in Zhengzhou boasts beautiful surroundings, fresh air, and is far from the hustle and bustle of the city, nestled within the embrace of the mountains. Every March, it transforms into a sea of cherry blossoms, alive with birdsong and fragrant blooms.

　　The Zhengzhou Cherry Valley scenic area is located in the southern part of Houzhai Township, Erqi District, centered around Cherry Valley and stretching 15 kilometers. With rolling hills and crisscrossing ravines, the deep valleys are covered with lush, green cherry trees, creating a very pleasant landscape. Cherry cultivation here has a thousand-year history. Thanks to the favorable climate, wind-sheltered valleys, and unique soil, the cherries produced are large, thick-fleshed, richly colored, sweet to the taste, and nourishing to the body, helping to build vitality and moisturize the skin. Hence, they enjoy great fame and renown both within and beyond the province. The Zhengzhou Cherry Valley scenic area features beautiful surroundings, fresh air, and is removed from urban noise, nestled in the embrace of the mountains. Every March, it becomes a sea of cherry blossoms, with birds chirping in competition and fragrance wafting through the air. By late April, the fruits begin to ripen. Against the backdrop of lush green leaves, clusters of cherries look like glistening red agates that are truly captivating. Visitors can admire and taste them at the same time, adding a special charm to the experience. Cherry Valley still has some century-old trees that bloom every year and bear fruit annually, forming a remarkable sight. This beautiful, colorful, and intoxicating valley is made up of multiple gullies of varying sizes. Its unique geographical advantages and abundant natural resources make you feel as if you’ve returned to nature and entered a paradise-like “land of idyllic beauty.” Cherry Valley has a serene environment and convenient transportation, and is gradually becoming a multifunctional, comprehensive eco-tourism destination integrating leisure, vacation, dining, entertainment, and fitness. Since 1999, the Cherry Valley scenic area has held an annual “Cherry Festival.” Over the years, it has welcomed over 800,000 visitors. The festival has truly transformed Cherry Valley from a production site into a marketplace, achieving good economic and social benefits. It has not only completely solved the problem of farmers struggling to sell their fruit, but Cherry Valley has also become a highlight of suburban sightseeing agriculture near the provincial capital and a great opportunity and window to showcase the new image of Houzhai Township in Erqi District. In 1999, Zhengzhou Cherry Valley Cherries were named one of the top ten historical specialties of Zhengzhou. In March 2000, the Cherry Valley scenic area received a tourism attraction certificate issued by the Municipal Tourism Bureau and was designated as a key tourist attraction in Zhengzhou. Today, the cherry planting area in Houzhai Township has reached over 4,000 mu, with an annual output of more than 1 million kilograms of cherries, including over 20 new varieties. The market share in Zhengzhou has reached 70%, with the technological content increasing year by year and the technology contribution rate reaching 80%. Currently, the Cherry Valley scenic area is developing eco-tourism and leisure tourism. A large number of distinctive agritainment parks have emerged, such as Guo Mangcang Homestead, Chaojun Eco-Park, Cherry Tribe, Jinyuliangyuan, Green Mountain Villa, Cherry Blossom Villa, and Cherry Valley Folk Park. These parks offer farmhouse meals, hunting, picnicking, bonfire parties, farm work experiences, cave dwellings, high-altitude training, garden mazes, fruit picking, fishing and barbecuing, as well as water activities, attracting large numbers of tourists and media every year. In addition, the Cherry Valley scenic area has specifically established a Cherry Association composed of member units such as specialized villages, characteristic parks, and cherry fruit companies, further boosting the development of the Cherry Valley scenic area.

　　This data is sourced from Baidu Maps. The final result is subject to Baidu Maps data.

　　Tourism resource protection and rational planning are continuously strengthened, along with infrastructure development, enrichment of tourism programs, and deeper exploration of tourism cultural content. This ensures the scenic area develops in an ecological and sustainable direction, striving to build it into the backyard garden of Zhengzhou City and a renowned leisure and sightseeing agricultural tourism destination in Henan Province. On April 30, 2006, the first Zhengzhou Cherry Festival grandly opened. The Zhengzhou Cherry Valley Eco-Tourism Scenic Area is now welcoming guests from all directions with a brand-new look to fully enjoy the pastoral scenery, connect with nature, experience simple local customs, and taste the “heavenly fruit.”

　　Zhengzhou Cherry Valley Cherries

　　Geographic Scope

　　The geographic protection area of Zhengzhou Cherry Valley Cherries is located in the southwestern suburbs of Erqi District, Zhengzhou City, bordering Xinmi City and Xinzheng City. To the southwest it neighbors Xinmi City, and to the southeast it adjoins Xinzheng City. The protected area centers around Cherry Valley and extends 15 kilometers, covering seven administrative villages in Houzhai Township, including Cherry Valley, Shanglihe, Daluxi, and Huanglonggang. The total area is 22.5 square kilometers, with 1,000 hectares suitable for cherry planting. The geographic coordinates of the protected area are 34°36′–34°40′ north latitude and 113°32′–113°37′ east longitude. Currently, the cherry planting area in Zhengzhou Cherry Valley is 7,000 mu, with an annual output of 1.75 million jin.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　1) External Sensory Characteristics: The fruit is round or flat-round, deep red in color, with light yellow to slightly red flesh, abundant juice, a sweet-sour taste, and a fragrant aroma, containing 17.3% soluble solids. Zhengzhou Red Cherries weigh 1.4–2 grams per fruit, while larger cherries average 5–15 grams per fruit. They ripen from late April to early May and are suitable for fresh consumption. 2) Internal Quality Indicators: In addition to the general nutritional components of cherries, Zhengzhou Cherry Valley Cherries have higher levels of total sugar, vitamin C, and soluble solids. According to testing by the Ministry of Agriculture’s Fruit and Seedling Quality Supervision, Inspection and Testing Center (Zhengzhou), the total sugar content of Cherry Valley cherries reaches 6–15%, the actual vitamin C content reaches 8–20 mg/100g, the iron content reaches 2–6 mg/kg, the calcium content 100–180 mg/kg, the soluble solids content 10–25%, and the titratable acid 0.5–1.3%. 3) Safety Requirements: The production area must comply with the “GB/T18407.2-2001” national standard for the quality and safety of agricultural products and the production standards for pollution-free fruits. The production and management processes strictly follow the “Pollution-Free Cherry Production Technical Operation Procedures.” The use of fertilizers, pesticides, and other agricultural inputs that are not legally registered or are explicitly banned by the state is prohibited.