Luhé Qingmei

Luhé Qingmei

Luhé Qingmei is a geographically indicated protected product.

　　Luhé Qingmei is a specialty of Luhé County, Shanwei City, Guangdong Province. With a long history of cultivation, the area under Qingmei orchards is extensive, yields are abundant, and fruit quality is high. Major varieties include Qingzhumei, Baifénmei, and Huangmei. The fruit is rich in various organic acids, vitamins, and trace elements, offering high nutritional value and medicinal benefits. It is an excellent naturally alkaline functional food. Luhé has been recognized by the “China Specialties Hometown Promotion and Publicity Committee” as the “Hometown of Chinese Qingmei.”

　　Luhé County is located between 115°24′–115°49′ east longitude and 23°68′–23°28′ north latitude, with the Tropic of Cancer crossing the county. It enjoys a subtropical monsoon climate, characterized by mild temperatures, abundant rainfall, and ample sunshine. The annual average temperature is 21.5°C, annual rainfall reaches 2,187 mm, sunlight hours total 2,138 hours, and the frost-free period lasts over 350 days, creating highly favorable conditions for the growth and reproduction of various organisms.

　　Since the establishment of Luhé County, the local government has vigorously adjusted the agricultural industrial structure to promote stable rural economic development. Fruit production has been given strategic priority. Leveraging the advantages of mountainous resources, the county has focused on developing an industrialized Qingmei-based fruit production system guided by market demand and supported by technological advancement. Continuous improvement of fruit varieties has been pursued, and the development of social service systems has been integrated with fruit industry implementation. This has led to progress in fruit cultivation, processing, and trade, yielding positive economic and social outcomes. Three leading agricultural enterprises in Luhé County — Weineng Food Co., Ltd., Shengbao Green Fruit Seedling Base, and Nanwan Tea Company — have gradually exerted their radiating influence, steadily advancing the process of agricultural industrialization. Currently, the county has over 225,000 mu of fruit orchards, including 100,000 mu dedicated to Qingmei. The per capita fruit cultivation area among rural residents is nearly one mu, with many specialized fruit growers and well-off households emerging.

　　Qingmei has strict climatic requirements and blooms very early. In cold spring regions, the flowers often fail to bear fruit, resulting in limited distribution across the country. Luhé County offers the most suitable climate for Qingmei growth and is classified as Ecological Zone A1 — the most favorable microclimate region in Guangdong Province. Qingmei cultivation is found across Dongkeng, Shuichun, Hekou, Hetian, Luoxi, Nanwan, Shanghu, Xintian, and Jishixi Forest Farm within the county. Among these, Dongkeng, Shuichun, and Hekou have the largest planting areas. Villages such as Shita, Zhuyuan, Gongguang, Fuxin, Luodong, and Jiànménkēng are known as “Qingmei Villages.”