Hechuan Dahongpao

Hechuan Dahongpao

　　Hechuan Dahongpao refers to the "Dahongpao" citrus produced in Hechuan. - Hechuan Dahongpao

　　　　Hechuan has a long history of fruit cultivation, with historical records in the New Book of Tang · Geography mentioning Hechuan’s “tribute” oranges.

　　Hechuan is home to over 70 varieties of fruit trees from 19 families, numbering more than ten million. Citrus species such as red tangerines account for nearly 60% of the total, among which the "Dahongpao" is the most famous. It has long been reputed as "Guanggan from Jiangjin, oranges from Hechuan." In addition to being sold to cities and provinces such as Beijing, Shaanxi, and Gansu, it was also exported in large quantities to the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. The main production areas include Shaxi, Guandu, Qiantang, Longshi, Yunmen, and Fushou.

　　Growth Characteristics

　　　　It is an evergreen small tree or shrub, about 2 meters tall. Its branches are relatively thin and weak, hairless, and usually have thorns. The leaves are oblong-lanceolate, 4–8 cm long. The flowers are yellowish-white, solitary or clustered in leaf axils. The fruit is flat-spherical, 5–7 cm in diameter, orange-yellow or orange-red in color, with a thin peel that is easy to peel. It blooms in spring and ripens from October to December. It thrives in warm, humid climates and has slightly better cold resistance compared to pomelo, sour orange, and sweet orange. -