Changxing Village Betel Nuts

Changxing Village Betel Nuts

　　Betel nut is one of Hainan’s four famous medicinal herbs, rich in amino acids, vitamin C, and other trace elements, offering significant health benefits. Betel palm trees are commonly found in southern and southeastern Asia. In China, they are primarily distributed on Hainan Island and in the southern part of Yunnan Province. Historical records indicate that betel nuts have been cultivated on Hainan Island for 1,500 years, and were well known beyond the island as early as the Tang and Song dynasties. With a long history of cultivation, betel nuts in Hainan have given rise to a unique “betel culture.”

　　　　Changxing Village in Heping Town, Qiongzhong County, is a settlement where the Li, Miao, and Han ethnic groups live together. The village has a population of over 1,400 and is located in the heart of the Wuzhi Mountains, surrounded by beautiful mountains and clear waters. It is the source of three major rivers: the Wanquan, the Nandu, and the Changhua. Historically, it has been one of the main producing areas of Hainan’s southern medicinal herbs, especially betel nuts, with around 8,000 acres dedicated to betel nut cultivation, producing high-quality betel nuts.