Changpu Ramie

Last updated 2026-11-15 — Changpu ramie is of the Chinese variety. Locally, farmers commonly refer to it as "ma" (麻), "xianma" (线麻, line hemp), or "puma" (蒲麻), and it belongs to the Urticaceae family. It is a perennial rhizomatous herbaceous crop. Currently, 19 townships and over 100 villages across the county cultivate ramie, with Chebu producing the most. The ramie-growing area in Chebu accounts for nearly half of the county’s total. Puyi has long been known as the “hometown of ramie.” It is now one of the key counties in the province for ramie production. “The southern part of the county produces tea, while the northwest produces ramie” – this saying accurately reflects the distribution of Changpu ramie. In the past, the main areas for ramie cultivation were Chengxiang, Chebu, Xindian, and Shenshan, with the best quality ramie coming from the southeastern part of Chengxiang, followed by Chebu, Xindian, and Shenshan. Farmers would harvest the first crop of ramie after planting early rice and harvesting it, the second after planting late rice and beating it down, and the third after cutting late rice. This gave rise to the saying: “First crop when seedlings appear, second when husks are seen, third when frost arrives.” Because the growing seasons of rice and ramie are staggered, it made labor scheduling more convenient, which is why ramie became one of the major cash crops in the rural areas of Puyi. Historical records state: “In 1935, the county’s ramie yield reached over 100,000 dan, and there were more than 30 businesses in Chengxiang alone that regularly dealt in ramie.” Additionally, Chebu, Xindian, and Shenshan also became major ramie purchasing centers, second only to Chengxiang. Other areas such as Yujiaqiao, Tangjiazui, and Xiaobashan also saw frequent activity by ramie merchants, and so-called itinerant traders like “ramie guns” and “half-pole scales” would even go deep into the countryside to snap up ramie. At that time, ramie had very brisk sales, mainly to merchant groups from Guangzhou, Shanghai, Japan (referred to as the East), and Western countries (Britain, America, France). The Guangzhou group mainly bought first-crop ramie; the Shanghai group and Western buyers focused on fiber-grade ramie; the Japanese group was an exception, buying all grades regardless of quality. However, due to collusion between unscrupulous local merchants, gang leaders, and foreign traders, many farmers couldn’t get fair prices for their good-quality ramie — sixteen pounds of high-quality ramie could only be exchanged for one pound of salt. As a result, many farmers eventually uprooted their ramie plants and switched to growing sweet potatoes, sesame, beans, and other crops, leading to a sharp decline in ramie production. After the founding of New China, the Party and government strongly encouraged the development of specialty crops, and implemented measures such as raising ramie prices, issuing ramie loans, and offering tax exemptions. These helped revive the once-declining ramie industry. Especially in recent years, in order to leverage local resource advantages and enhance the comprehensive utilization of ramie, the county, townships, and towns have established four ramie ball and fiber processing mills, all of which are now in operation. Today, Changpu ramie is sold all over the country, drawing attention and interest from ramie merchants and markets both at home and abroad. A new “ramie boom” has once again emerged in Puyi. (Chibi)