Qiaoping Rice

Qiaoping Rice

　　Qiaoping Rice has a long history and enjoys an outstanding reputation. Before liberation, Qiaoping Rice was renowned in Chongqing’s rice market for its superior quality. Even rice shops that sold other types of rice would display Qiaoping Rice as a sample to boost sales. The rice has an oily sheen, is crystal-clear like jade, and features uniform grains shaped like a parrot's beak. When cooked, it becomes fluffy and moist, forming soft cotton-like grains with a refreshing fragrance, pleasant taste, and appetite-enhancing qualities. It also remains non-sticky overnight without losing flavor, and is hailed as the “Rice King” and “Rice Scholar.”

In 1985, Norodom Sihanouk, the Head of State of Cambodia, along with members of the royal family, visited Chongqing and enjoyed this rice during their stay. Qiaoping Rice possesses unique qualities due to its local growing environment. Qiaoping is located in an inverted low mountain area, where the high elevation brings cool air, frequent fog, high humidity, and good air circulation. With an average annual temperature of 14.5–17°C and an altitude of 600–700 meters, the rice grown here—regardless of variety—differs significantly in quality from that cultivated in shallow hills or flat plains. In 1986, the People’s Government of Banan County designated Qiaoping as a production base for high-quality commercial rice. Since then, the commercialization of Qiaoping Rice has increased, production has gradually risen, and its fame has continued to grow, making it one of the signature specialties of Banan District.