Jingshan Chestnuts

Jingshan Chestnuts

　　Jingshan chestnuts are a specialty of Jingshan County, Jingmen City, Hubei Province. Known both in China and abroad for their uniform shape, glossy appearance, sweet and glutinous taste, and early ripening, Jingshan chestnuts are highly favored by consumers.

　　Jingshan County is recognized as the "Home of Chestnuts" among China’s nationally renowned and high-quality economic forest areas. The chestnuts are mainly produced in towns such as Sanyang and Lulin. The county currently has 200,000 mu (approximately 13,333 hectares) of chestnut economic forests, with its main premium varieties being “Qingmao Zao” and “Hongmao Zao.” These varieties are among the earliest to ripen in the country. In 1989, they were designated by the provincial forestry department as high-quality early-ripening varieties recommended for cultivation across the province. They typically come to market just before the Mid-Autumn Festival and are highly appreciated by consumers for their excellent quality. Jingshan County now has 10,000 hectares of premium chestnut orchards, with an annual production exceeding 6,000 tons and growing at a rate of 20% per year. The chestnuts are also exported both domestically and internationally. Thanks to their superior quality and early harvest season, Jingshan chestnuts are favored by consumers and have received high praise from experts in countries such as the United States, France, and Italy.

　　Sanyang Town, the main production area of Jingshan County’s chestnuts, is also known as the “No. 1 Chestnut Town in China.” With over 2,000 years of cultivation history, the town currently has more than 110,000 mu of high-quality chestnut orchards, producing over 2,000 tons of chestnuts annually, with production increasing at a rate of 20% per year. It is one of the renowned distribution centers for high-quality chestnuts in central Hubei.