Qi Yam

Qi Yam

Qi Yam is an agricultural geographical indication product.

　　Qi Yam is a specialty of Qichun County, Huanggang City, Hubei Province. Resembling a club, Qi Yam is typically 20–30 cm in length and weighs 100–500 g. The fresh product has a bright yellow skin with rootlets, while the flesh is white, fine-textured, juicy, and boasts a refreshing, sweet taste. When cooked, the broth turns pure white, thick and smooth, and it is highly nutritious—qualities that have made it very popular with consumers. Qi Yam is a nationally protected geographical indication agricultural product.

　　Qi Yam is a traditional specialty of Qingshi Town in Qichun County and a key crop in the Tongzi River basin, renowned worldwide for its premium quality and delicious taste. The fame of “Qi Yam” has a long history, and it is known for three wonders: First, it grows amid pristine mountains and clear waters. Qi Yam is mainly produced around Gaoxi Village in Qingshi Town, Qichun County, located near the magical 30°N latitude, backed by the Dabie Mountains and fronted by the Yangtze River. With its clean, unpolluted environment of green hills and clear waters, it offers ideal growing conditions. Second, it contributes to longevity when consumed in diets. Qi Yam is plump and large, rich in starch, with white, juicy flesh and a sweet flavor. According to Compendium of Materia Medica, Qi Yam is “sweet, warm, mild, and non-toxic,” and has the effects of “benefiting kidney qi, strengthening the spleen and stomach, stopping diarrhea, resolving phlegm, and moisturizing the skin.” Qi Yam is rich in various nutrients, especially polysaccharides, which are recognized as the main active component of yam. Reports indicate that yam polysaccharides have pharmacological effects such as anti-tumor, immune regulation, anti-mutation, and anti-aging. When used to make porridge, it’s called “Fairy Porridge”; when made into small bits, it’s called “Immortal Bits.” Third, it yields high benefits when cultivated in fields. In 2013, Qi Yam planted in Gaoxi Village, Qingshi Town, yielded 3,500–4,000 jin (1,750–2,000 kg) per mu (0.067 hectares), sold at an average price of 6 yuan per jin, resulting in a net income of over 16,000 yuan per mu. The product is sold across the province and even beyond.

　　Led by Gaoxi, the Tongzi yam cultivation has expanded to a contiguous planting area of 5,000 mu across villages such as Baqiao, Longxi, Jieling, Wenquan, and Xuchong. The “Qi Yam” trademark has been registered, packaging improved, and benefits significantly increased, with the average output value reaching 12,000 yuan per mu and the average net income exceeding 10,000 yuan per mu. The region enjoys a subtropical monsoon humid climate with abundant rainfall, ample sunlight, mild temperatures, and distinct seasons. The yam growing period lasts 10 months, with alluvial soil from the northern mountainous area of Qichun serving as the growing medium. Under this unique natural ecological environment, the yams are highly nutritious. The Provincial Academy of Agricultural Sciences has successfully developed more than ten products, including yam noodles, yam powder, yam slices, yam canned food, and yam pastries.

　　Qingshi yam has significant health functions and medicinal value. Through GAP production, traditional Chinese medicine processing, and international standard certification, Qingshi yam is poised to enter the international market.

　　In 2013, “Qi Yam,” applied for by the Qichun County Agricultural Technology Extension Center, passed the review of the Agricultural Product Quality and Safety Center of the Ministry of Agriculture and expert evaluation, and was granted national agricultural geographical indication registration and protection.

　　Geographical Scope

　　Qichun County is located on the north bank of the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, at the southern foot of the Dabie Mountains, on the eastern border of Hubei Province, between 29°59′–30°41′ N latitude and 115°12′–115°55′ E longitude. The county borders three counties: Huangmei and Wuxue in Hubei Province, and Susong in Anhui Province to the east; is adjacent to Xishui County in Hubei Province to the west; shares boundaries with Yingshan County in Hubei Province and Taihu County in Anhui Province to the north; and faces Yangxin County in Hubei Province across the river to the south. The main production area of Qi Yam comprises three towns in Qichun County, located between 30°14′–30°28′ N latitude and 115°44′–115°55′ E longitude. These include 10,000 mu in Qingshi Town, 2,000 mu in Liuhe Town, and 3,000 mu in Caoh River Town, totaling 15,000 mu of production area with an annual output of 22.5 million kg.