Jiuhong Watermelon

Jiuhong Watermelon

　　Jiuhong Township in Yantan District, Zigong City, Sichuan Province, is a small town on the outskirts of Zigong. The watermelons grown here are famous in the culinary world for their thin rinds, juicy flesh, and sweet taste. These watermelons are locally known as — Jiuhong Watermelons. There are also special plots of land in Jiuhong where the watermelons produced can be called “tribute melons.” In 2004, Jiuhong Watermelons were awarded the title of “Pollution-Free Agricultural Product” by Sichuan Province, and in 2005, they officially applied for national trademark registration under the brand name “Jiutai Mountain.” Today, the township grows 18,000 mu (approximately 1,200 hectares) of watermelons, with a total watermelon output of up to 20,000 tons.

　　Jiuhong Township features a shallow hilly terrain, with altitudes ranging between 280 and 350 meters. The land is fertile, with red-brown purple clay soil that is mostly sandy and rich in phosphorus, potassium, and various trace elements, making it highly suitable for watermelon cultivation. The region has a subtropical humid monsoon climate, characterized by abundant rainfall, ample sunlight, and rich heat — all of which meet the temperature requirements of watermelons, a warmth-loving crop, during their growth period. The resulting watermelons are high in sugar content, excellent in quality, and pleasant in texture, winning favor in the market and with consumers for their sweetness and crispness.

　　The Party Committee and government of Jiuhong Township in Yantan District adhere to a strategy of strengthening the township through distinctive agriculture, vigorously developing the melon and pepper industry, and fully leveraging the advantages of watermelon cultivation. They guide farmers to engage in large-scale and eco-friendly planting, achieving notable results in watermelon production. The “V-shaped” premium watermelon demonstration corridors in villages such as Lianhua, Jiuhong, Qiyang, Gonghe, Zhangwan, Zhaoshta, and Shita Mountain have taken initial shape. The total watermelon planting area in the township has reached 15,000 mu (including 2,400 mu of greenhouse watermelons), with an estimated annual output of 28,000 tons and an annual output value exceeding 100 million yuan. Jiuhong Watermelons won the “Most Popular Exhibition Award” at the 8th Western China International Fair. Additionally, Jiuhong has been recognized as a Ministry of Agriculture “Pollution-Free Agricultural Product Base,” a “Green Agricultural Product Production Base,” a Sichuan Province “Watermelon Standardized Production Base,” and an “Export Agricultural Product Base.”