Wulong Highland Radish

Wulong Highland Radish

Wulong Highland Radish is a geographical indication certification trademark.

Wulong Highland Radish is a product certified under China’s Agricultural Geographical Indication system.

　　Wulong Highland Radish

　　Geographic Scope

　　Wulong County is situated on the southeastern edge of Chongqing, where the Dalou Mountain fold zone of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau meets the Wuling Mountain Range, spanning longitude 107°13′–108°05′ east and latitude 29°02′–29°40′ north. The terrain is mostly mountainous, with typical elevation differences between 700 and 1,000 meters. The county’s highest elevation is 2,033.3 meters, while the lowest is 160 meters. Wulong Highland Radish is produced in the high-altitude mountainous areas above 1,200 meters above sea level, specifically in Xinchun Village, Shuanghe Township, north of Fairy Mountain National Forest Park, and in Xiannv Village, Xiannvshan Town, west of Fairy Mountain National Forest Park within Wulong County, Chongqing. The production area covers 800 hectares with an annual yield of 60,000 tons.

　　Natural Ecological Environment and Humanistic-Historical Factors

　　(1) Soil and Topography: The production area for Wulong Highland Radish features limestone strata and yellow soil, predominantly rock-derived, with a pH value of 5.5–6.5 and an average organic matter content of 2.6–3%. The ecological environment is superior, with clean soil, agricultural irrigation water, and air quality, free from industrial “three wastes” pollution.

　　(2) Hydrology: The county has a highly developed water system. The main course of the Wu River flows from east to west across the entire territory, spanning over 80 kilometers. Twelve tributaries—including the Furong River, Daxi River, Muzong River, Changtu River, and Shiliang River—converge with the Wu River, forming the Wu River system within Wulong. Apart from the Wu River, the total internal water resources amount to 2.17 billion cubic meters, including 2.08 billion cubic meters of surface runoff. Agricultural irrigation in the production area mainly relies on surface runoff or reservoirs, with seasonally abundant water supply. The silt content in irrigation water is 5–20%, with a mineralization degree of <1 g/L. Irrigation water temperature can be reasonably adjusted according to the county’s natural conditions and crop growth stages, meeting national standards for farmland irrigation water quality.

　　(3) Climate: The region has a subtropical monsoon climate characterized by mild temperatures, abundant rainfall, distinct seasons—spring rains, summer droughts, prolonged autumn drizzle, and dry winters—with frequent cloud cover, limited sunshine, long frost-free periods, and notable vertical climatic variations. The annual average temperature ranges from 10–17°C, with annual precipitation of 1,094.4 mm, a frost-free period of 210–260 days, and relative humidity of 74–83%.

　　(4) Humanistic-Historical Background: Wulong County is a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site for karst landscapes, with a forest coverage rate of around 40%. Notable attractions include Fairy Mountain National Forest Park, Baima Mountain Nature Reserve, the Furong River Scenic Area, as well as sites such as Furong Cave, the Tiankeng Three Bridges, and the Ground Seam. Since the 19th century, radish cultivation has been practiced in high-altitude regions. Large-scale planting began in the early 1980s with the introduction of new varieties. Continuous variety updates and quality control efforts have since expanded cultivation areas. Due to the vast highland farmland, crop rotation practices, and favorable climate, pest and disease incidence is minimal. The resulting "Wulong Highland Radish" boasts distinctive qualities: crisp, tender, sweet, and pleasant in taste. It can be stir-fried, boiled, served cold, pickled, or dried. Wulong is Chongqing’s first county to comprehensively advance pollution-free vegetable farming. Wulong vegetables have become a major source for ensuring autumn vegetable supply in Chongqing’s urban core and have also gained a foothold in surrounding provinces and coastal regions. The county sees substantial out-of-county sales, significantly boosting local farmers’ incomes. The Wulong County Government has prioritized vegetable farming as a key agricultural industry, and the Chongqing Municipal Government has designated the Wulong Vegetable Base as a crucial supply hub for autumn vegetables in the urban center.

　　Production Technical Requirements

　　(1) Production Area Selection: Wulong Highland Radish is grown in the high-altitude mountainous areas above 1,200 meters above sea level, specifically in Xinchun Village, Shuanghe Township, north of Fairy Mountain National Forest Park, and in Xiannv Village, Xiannvshan Town, west of Fairy Mountain National Forest Park within Wulong County, Chongqing. The production area meets the environmental requirements for pollution-free vegetable cultivation as outlined in the "Agricultural Product Safety Quality - Pollution-Free Vegetable Production Area Environmental Requirements" (GB18407.1-2001).

　　(2) Variety Selection: Disease- and pest-resistant radish varieties with good external and internal quality, and aligned with market demand, such as Korean Mutan Chun and White Jade Daikon, are chosen.

　　(3) Production Process Management: The production follows the "Pollution-Free Food Radish Production Technical Regulations" (NY5083-2002).

　　(4) Product Harvesting and Post-Harvest Processing: Radishes are harvested based on market conditions once their roots have sufficiently swollen, supplying both local and Chongqing urban markets. When sales are slow, the produce is processed.

　　(5) Production Record Requirements: Field production records are established and maintained by growers, specialized cooperatives, or township agricultural service centers, ensuring comprehensive documentation and proper storage for future reference.

　　Product Typical Quality Characteristics and Quality Safety Standards

　　(1) Quality Characteristics of Wulong Highland Radish: The edible part is its enlarged fleshy root. The shape, size, and color of the fleshy root vary by variety, including long cylindrical, long conical, and flat round forms. The skin is typically white, and the flesh is mostly white, though root sizes can vary significantly. During peak growth, large amounts of photosynthates are transported to the fleshy root for storage, leading to rapid swelling and growth.

　　(2) Safety Requirements for Wulong Highland Radish: Products comply with the "Agricultural Product Safety Quality - Pollution-Free Vegetable Safety Requirements" (GB18406.1-2001).

　　Packaging, Labeling, and Related Standards

　　Based on shape, color, tenderness, and product characteristics, Wulong Highland Radish is graded into four levels after harvest: Special Grade, Premium Grade, First Grade, and Second Grade. Special Grade vegetables are transported by refrigerated trucks to ports, then shipped in refrigerated containers to southeastern coastal areas or exported to Southeast Asia. Premium Grade products are quantitatively packaged in fresh trays with cling film, labeled with vegetable quality safety marks, and stacked in plastic crates with labels indicating product name, net weight, origin, harvest date, and shockproof instructions. These are delivered quickly to contracted supermarkets by fresh produce processing companies. First Grade products are transported in bulk or bags to wholesale markets in Chongqing and nearby areas. Second Grade products are directly purchased by county-level processing enterprises and processed through dehydration, salting, or pickling methods.