Cornus officinalis from Yangcheng

Cornus officinalis from Yangcheng

Cornus officinalis from Yangcheng is a geographical indication agricultural product.

　　Recently, at the Third China Green Ecological Agriculture Development Forum, Yangcheng County was awarded the honor of “China’s Green Ecological Cornus officinalis Demonstration County.”

　　Cornus officinalis is a precious traditional Chinese medicinal herb. It has high medicinal value, primarily functioning to nourish the liver and kidneys, tonify the spleen and qi, strengthen the body and enrich essence, and fortify bones and tendons. It also helps promote lightness in the body, resist aging, and prolong life. Modern medicine believes that Cornus officinalis can reduce blood lipids, blood sugar, and blood pressure, as well as act as an antioxidant, and can treat diabetes and obesity and their complications. Recent reports have also indicated new functions of Cornus officinalis, including anti-cancer and anti-HIV properties.

　　Yangcheng is one of the four major production areas of Cornus officinalis in China. It is the northernmost production area in terms of latitude. The region features large diurnal temperature variations and long hours of sunlight, leading to abundant accumulation of dry matter. In addition, due to the county's rich mineral resources and unique soil structure, the Cornus officinalis produced here is dark red in color, superior in quality, and high in effective chemical components—especially in aucubin and ursolic acid, which rank first in the country. It is considered top-grade Cornus officinalis, enjoying reputations such as “Yangcheng Red” and “Huayu.” Cornus officinalis from Manghe in Yangcheng enjoys high prestige in Japan and Southeast Asia. The main production area is concentrated in the southern mountainous region of Yangcheng County, with the central base located in the famous Manghe Nature Scenic Area. There is also a large base across six townships in southern Yangcheng, forming a long corridor known as the “Yangcheng Red Hundred-Mile Corridor.” The scene described in the famous Tang Dynasty poet Wang Wei’s line, “From afar I know my brothers climb, with dogwood sprigs all stuck but one,” originates from this area. The Manghe Cornus officinalis has been registered as a Chinese geographical indication agricultural product, its planting base has been recognized as a national green industrialization demonstration base, and the product has won a gold award at the China (Shanxi) Special Agricultural Products Trade Fair. Currently, the county has 30,000 mu of Cornus officinalis planted, with 2,000 mu of base certified as organic, yielding 2,000 tons of fresh fruit annually and generating an output value of 10 million yuan. A series of products have been developed, including Cornus officinalis flesh, Cornus officinalis tea, and Cornus officinalis health pillows, with the latter obtaining a national patent.

　　Yangcheng County Natural Cornus officinalis Farmers’ Professional Cooperative

　　Geographic Scope

　　Yangcheng County is located in the southeastern part of Shanxi Province, situated on the eastern branch of the Taiyue Mountain Range, northeast of the Zhongtiao Mountain, west of the Taihang Mountain, and on the western bank of the middle reaches of the Qin River. The geographical coordinates of the protected area range from 112° to 112°37' east longitude and 35°12' to 35°40' north latitude. The county is surrounded by mountains, stretching approximately 54 kilometers from north to south and about 53 kilometers from east to west, with a slightly convex shape. It borders the suburbs of Jincheng City to the east, neighbors Qinshui County to the north, adjoins Yuanqu County to the southwest, and connects to Jiyuan City in Henan Province to the south. The proposed geographical indication protection area for Yangcheng Cornus officinalis includes seven townships in Yangcheng County, Shanxi Province: Manghe Town, Dongye Town, Hebei Town, Jialing Township, Henghe Town, Dongfeng Township, and Ciyi Town, covering 75 administrative villages. The total area is 1,968 square kilometers. The designated protected area spans 780 square kilometers, with a total production area of 3,333.3 hectares and an annual production of 500 tons.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　1. Appearance Characteristics: The fruits of Yangcheng Cornus officinalis vary greatly in shape and size, and can be classified into oval, ovoid, oblong, and cylindrical shapes, though the most common form is oval. They generally measure 1.2–1.7 cm in length and 5–7 mm in diameter, and are red to purplish-red in color. The stone is hard and narrowly elliptical, approximately 1.2 mm in length, with several irregular rib-like patterns. The fruiting period is from September to October. 2. Safety Requirements: Yangcheng Cornus officinalis strictly adheres to the production standards issued by the National Ministry of Agriculture.