Tongshan Citrus

Tongshan Citrus

　　Tongshan Citrus

　　Before the Qing Dynasty, citrus cultivation had already been practiced in Tongshan County, with varieties mainly including Xiangyuan, Paogan, and Bagon. In 1979, leading government agencies and research institutions such as the Ministry of Agriculture and the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences successively sent personnel to Tongshan for investigation, experimentation, and technology transfer. They decided to distribute citrus seedlings free of charge to both collectives and individuals without distinction. By 1980, the county had developed 15,000 mu of citrus orchards. Through nearly thirty years of selective breeding and cultivation, the reservoir area of Fushui in Tongshan has become a natural growing region for subtropical fruits such as citrus and sweet oranges. The "Guijing" variety of mandarin was rated as the top brand in Hubei Province. Varieties such as Changhong Orange and Jincheng Orange have been promoted both within and outside the province.