Bronze Bell Persimmons

Bronze Bell Persimmons

　　Bronze Bell Persimmons are a specialty of Tongzhong Township in Chongyang County, Xianning City, Hubei Province. The Tongzhong Mopan persimmons boast vibrant fruit colors—bright orange—and a sweet taste, earning praise since ancient times with descriptions such as “more radiant than gold, sweeter than fine jade.”

　　Persimmons are a traditional and superior fruit variety in Tongzhong Township, winning favor in the market and deep affection among the local people. The unique climate and soil conditions have contributed to the distinctive quality and cultural significance of Tongzhong Persimmons.

　　According to local residents, Tongzhong Persimmons are said to have a history of over a thousand years. During the Tang Dynasty, Emperor Taizong Li Shimin’s uncle built Kaiyuan Temple on Tongzhong Mountain. To express his filial piety and wish for peace and prosperity in the region, Li Shimin had several Mopan persimmon trees transplanted from the north to the foot of Tongzhong Mountain, where they have thrived ever since.

　　The persimmon trees in the township are divided into two categories: ancient trees left from historical times, mainly distributed in Tongzhong Village and Dushi Village, totaling more than 5,000 trees, with over 3,000 trees aged over 100 years concentrated in Miaolin Gully of Tongzhong Village. The oldest persimmon tree is over 300 years old.

　　Additionally, in 2008, the township government introduced high-quality Mopan persimmon varieties from Beijing and established a new Mopan persimmon base of over 3,000 acres along the East Main Canal in Tongzhong Village, surrounding Tongzhong Mountain and Yaji Mountain. These trees were allocated to over 300 local households for care based on proximity, with some households managing over 200 trees and others around 100. As a result, the total number of persimmon trees in the township has reached over 30,000.