Guankou Grapes

Guankou Grapes

Guankou Grapes are a product with a geographical indication.

　　Guankou Grapes, a specialty of Jianshi County in Hubei Province, are grown exclusively in Gangfang Village, Guankou Township, Huaping Town (a small place called Guankou, located near Jingyang Pass, also known as Jianping Pass), hence the name. The grape berries are medium-dense on the cluster, averaging 40–60 berries per cluster per Figure 1 Hubei Jianshi Guankou Grapes

　　– with an oval or nearly round shape. The skin is thin, its color green and translucent like jade. The grapes are fragrant, with soft and juicy flesh, containing 16.5–18% soluble solids, sweet and delicious with a lingering aftertaste.

　　Growing Environment

　　Guankou Grapes, a well-known fresh fruit brand in Enshi and even all of Hubei, are mainly produced in Gangfang Village, Huaping Township, and nearby villages such as Changcao Village. The growing area of Guankou Grapes is limited to Guankou in Gangfang Village, Huaping Township, Jianshi County. This region offers unique comprehensive conditions including water, heat, light, air, and soil that are ideal for grape cultivation. The location is strategically situated at a mountain pass where the Jingyang River and Huaping meet, surrounded by forests, enjoying a mild climate, abundant rainfall, and fertile land. The terrain is mostly flat with numerous terraced fields. These exceptional microclimatic conditions have given rise to the distinctive “Guankou Grapes.”

　　Historical Background

　　Guankou Grapes, a variant of the White Rose grape, have a planting history of nearly a hundred years. The 1866 (the fifth year of the Tongzhi reign in the Qing Dynasty) Jianshi County Annals recorded that grape cultivation had existed in Jianshi. The origin of the original grape variety has a rather legendary overseas journey. In the 1920s, a Belgian missionary came to Jingyang Pass in Jianshi per Figure 2 Guankou Grapes

　　– to preach and brought back an excellent grapevine from overseas, which he gave to a family surnamed Liu in Group 12, Changcao Village, Huaping Township (a small place called Guankou). The successful introduction of this grapevine was extraordinary from the start — its appearance was crystal-clear green, and its flavor uniquely aromatic. Villagers near Guankou soon began to plant and cultivate it. Due to the grape’s strong sprouting ability, it spread rapidly, and every household in Guankou started growing grapes, hence the name “Guankou Grapes.” Since 2002, governments at various levels in the county and township have placed great emphasis on the development of Guankou Grapes, turning this uniquely distinctive variety into a pillar industry of the rural economy in Huaping Township. This led to the expansion from scattered household planting to large-scale contiguous cultivation. By 2010, the planting area of Guankou Grapes had reached over 3,000 mu, with a total output value of nearly 40 million yuan, benefiting more than 1,000 households. The average income increase per household was nearly 40,000 yuan. The grapes are now sold to more than 10 provinces and cities across the country. They have become a major economic growth point for rural development in Huaping Township, Jianshi, and a focal point for new rural construction.

　　Geographical Range

　　The suitable planting area for Guankou Grapes is located at the confluence of the Qingjiang River and the Yesan River. It borders Yesan River to the east, Huanghe Bridge to the west, Qingjiang River to the south, and the Huaping Zhoutang Highway to the north, at an altitude of 800–1,000 meters. The geographical range of Guankou Grapes is: longitude 109°68′ to 109°90′, latitude 30°25′ to 30°43′, stretching 8 kilometers from north to south and 6 kilometers from east to west, covering a total area of 48 square kilometers (including mountainous forest land), of which the geographical indication area for grapes is 1,000 mu, with a yield of 1,000 tons. It involves six villages: Changcao, Gangfang, Xiaochang, Shima, Caijia, and Zhoutang. The planting area is far from major transportation routes, with no industrial or mining enterprises, hospitals, or garbage disposal sites as pollution sources. All domestic and livestock waste is treated in biogas digesters before discharge. The main crops grown in the area are corn and potatoes, with minimal pesticide use and extensive application of organic fertilizer.