Nanshan Walnuts

Nanshan Walnuts

Nanshan Walnuts are a protected geographical indication product.

　　Nanshan Walnuts are a specialty of Sichuan Province and have been successfully registered as a geographical indication product.

　　 Production Area

　　　　Nanshan Walnuts are widely distributed at altitudes ranging from 400 to 1,800 meters. They are an ideal economic tree species for mid-mountain regions, being drought-resistant, suited to poor thin soils, and intolerant to waterlogging and high temperatures. Nanshan County is located at the southern foot of the Micang Mountains, bordering Tongjiang to the east, Bazhong to the south, Wangcang to the southwest, and Shaanxi’s Nanzheng to the north. It lies between 31°50’ and 32°45’ north latitude, and 106°27’ and 107°10’ east longitude. The region is long from north to south and narrow from east to west, covering an area of 3,417 square kilometers with a forest coverage rate of 47%. Elevations range from 370 to 2,508 meters. The mountain ridges are steep and narrow, and valleys are deeply cut, leaving vast areas of barren hills, wasteland, and sloping farmland. The soil is mainly composed of purple soil, yellow soil, and yellow-brown soil. The climate is humid but the soil is dry, with an average annual temperature of 16.2°C, a frost-free period of 259 days, an average annual accumulated temperature of 5,096°C, average annual rainfall of 1,161 mm, annual sunshine of 1,570 hours, and relative humidity between 64% and 79%. There are 20,000 hectares of land suitable for growing Nanshan Walnuts that can achieve high, stable, and premium yields, making it the most ideal region for walnut development. Currently, there are 800,000 bearing walnut trees covering about 50,000 mu, with an annual yield of 1.5 million kilograms and an output value of 7.5 million yuan. Nanshan Walnuts have been granted national geographical indication product protection.

　　 Geographical Indication

　　　　Announcement No. 40 of 2006 by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People’s Republic of China regarding the approval of geographical indication product protection for Nanshan Walnuts. The protection scope of Nanshan Walnuts as a geographical indication product is based on the range proposed in the Letter on Defining the Protection Scope of Nanshan Walnuts as a Geographical Indication Product (Nan Fu Fa [2004] No. 45) issued by the People’s Government of Nanshan County, Sichuan Province, which covers the entire current administrative region of Nanshan County, Sichuan Province.

　　 Features

　　　　Nanshan Walnuts are produced within the scenic area of Guangwu Mountain, a national famous scenic spot. They feature thin shells, plump and thick kernels, and a rich flavor. Walnuts are warm in nature, sweet in taste, and non-toxic, offering benefits such as improving digestion, enriching blood, moistening lungs, and nourishing the spirit. Regular consumption of walnuts and walnut products helps strengthen the spleen and stimulate appetite, nourish kidneys and lungs, support recovery, prevent coronary heart disease, and lower blood lipids. It is a natural, green, nutritious, healthy, and delicious food. The kernel is highly nutritious. Nanshan Walnut kernels contain 7.8–9.6% protein, with over seven essential amino acids accounting for more than 25% of the content. They also contain 22 mineral elements, including high levels of nutritionally valuable calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, and iron, all of which are essential to the human body.