Eight-Step Sanhua Plum

Eight-Step Sanhua Plum

　　Eight-Step Sanhua Plum is a specialty of Babu District, Hezhou City, in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The Sanhua plum planting base in Babu covers nearly 100,000 mu (approximately 6,666 hectares), with an annual yield of 30,000 tons. It is renowned for its superior quality, large size, delicious taste, and refreshing flavor. All products are sold to Guangdong, Hong Kong, Macao, and Southeast Asian regions. In June 2006, the State Forestry Administration awarded Babu District the title of "Hometown of Plums in China."

　　Babu District of Hezhou City is located in the northeast of Guangxi, at the junction of Hunan, Guangdong, and Guangxi (three provinces/regions). It is traversed by the Guiwu Expressway, National Highways 207 and 323, as well as the under-construction Luozhan Railway and Guanghe Expressway, making transportation extremely convenient. The area enjoys a mild climate, abundant sunlight, ample rainfall, and distinct seasons. The average annual temperature ranges between 19.8°C and 20.9°C, with frost-free days of ≥300 days and an average annual rainfall of 1,542.1 mm, making it highly suitable for the cultivation of fruit trees such as plums and apricots. In 2004, Babu District was listed by the Autonomous Region Department of Agriculture as one of the most suitable production areas for Sanhua plum, a local specialty agricultural product of Guangxi.

　　After years of development, Babu District now has nearly 100,000 mu of plum cultivation area, with an annual output of over 30,000 tons. Multiple Sanhua plum production bases have been established, mainly distributed in towns such as Hejie, Liantang, Butou, Xindu, Renyi, and Shatian, initially forming a hundred-mile high-quality Sanhua plum belt along the Wuzhou–Babu Secondary Highway. In recent years, while continuously expanding the plum production area, Babu District has vigorously promoted the implementation of the "High-Quality Fruit Project" and the adoption of pollution-free, standardized fruit production techniques. Emphasis has been placed on the breeding of superior varieties and efforts to build distinctive brands, achieving notable results. In 2004, the Guishan-brand Hezhou Sanhua plum was rated as a "Guangxi Quality Agricultural Product" by the Autonomous Region Famous Brand Strategy Promotion Committee; in 2006, two Hezhou Sanhua plum trees submitted by Babu District passed the final selection of the Autonomous Region's "Excellent Individual Plant" evaluation panel, and relevant departments have formulated preliminary plans for the breeding and promotion of superior varieties; in 2006, Babu District was listed by the Autonomous Region Department of Agriculture as a demonstration county (district) for creating pollution-free fruit production bases. In 2006, with a strong emphasis on branding and quality, Babu District was named "Hometown of Plums in China" by the State Forestry Administration.

　　The peak flowering period of Eight-Step Sanhua Plum is around 5 days before and after the Spring Festival (suitable for holiday viewing). The fruits ripen from mid-June to early July. They have thick flesh, thin skin, a sweet and refreshing taste with a honey-like flavor and aroma, and a beautiful purple-red color. The flesh separates easily from the pit, with individual fruits typically weighing 45–55 grams and larger ones 60–70 grams. The edible rate is 96–97%, and the soluble solid content ranges from 12.5–16%. The product is mainly sold to Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao, where it is highly favored by consumers due to its excellent taste, good pricing, and high profitability.