Imperial Bridge Rice

Imperial Bridge Rice

　　Between Group 6 of Yujia Shapo Village and Group 6 of Jiangjiadayan Village in Sunqiao Town, Jingshan County, there lies Jiangjiadayan, an irrigation reservoir that waters over 120 acres of paddy fields in a nearby mountain valley. The rice produced here boasts plump, solid grains and heavy, white kernels. Whether steamed into fluffy rice or boiled into thick congee, it turns snow-white and releases an enticing aroma. Its texture is sticky yet not cloying, firm yet not mushy—more glutinous than “691” medium-grain rice and more fragrant than “International Rice.” It aids digestion, stimulates appetite, and is highly nutritious. Moreover, its milling yield is remarkably high, reaching over 80%. Historically, it was served as tribute rice to emperors.

Legend has it that when Emperor Jiajing was born, he cried incessantly, causing great distress to the royal family of Prince Xing. They issued a public notice seeking a physician. Coincidentally, the Jade Emperor from Mount Wudang passed by, responded to the notice, and entered the palace. Whispering into Jiajing’s ear, he said, “Do not cry, do not cry. This humble Taoist will find you food.” Upon hearing this, Jiajing immediately stopped crying. The Jade Emperor toured the surrounding hills and fields of Chengguan Prefecture (now Zhongxiang County), but none met his standards. Finally, he chose this mountain valley west of Jingshan City. He stomped the ground with his feet and pressed it with his fingers, forming dozens of paddy plots. When Jiajing began eating, he would consume only the rice from this valley. Later, after ascending the throne in the capital, he continued to eat rice from this area. No matter the weather conditions—whether bountiful or disastrous—the total yield of these fields never exceeded five stones or dropped below ten stones, believed to fluctuate with the changing number of imperial household members. People found this curious and named the rice “Qiao Mi” (Clever Rice). Due to the homophonic similarity with “Sun Qiao” (the producing area), it came to be called “Bridge Rice.”

The growth of Bridge Rice requires specific environmental conditions. It can only be propagated using the tall-stem “Yangxi Zao” rice variety; any offspring from other superior varieties will mutate. It also has a trait of non-proliferation outside its native region—even within a stone’s throw of Bridge Rice fields, carefully selected seeds fail to grow true Bridge Rice. In 1972, Bridge Rice was exhibited at the Guangzhou Trade Fair and gained favor among international buyers.

In recent years, Jingshan County has seized the opportunity of agricultural restructuring to guide local farmers in promoting the cultivation of high-quality rice. The resulting rice quality is nearly identical to that of Bridge Rice. The Imperial Bridge Rice Company has selected areas with superior geography and soil conditions, establishing an 80,000-mu dedicated raw material base under a company + base + farmer industrial model. Farmers in the base plant designated varieties according to the company’s unified protocols. As a result, this once-exclusive imperial tribute rice is now enjoyed by ordinary households everywhere.