Shilou Dates

Shilou Dates

　　The local specialties of this county include dates, lamb, and licorice. Shilou dates are renowned for their large size, small pits, thin skin, thick flesh, sweet taste, and long shelf life, with an annual production of up to 30 million jin.

　　Xishilou County is located in the loess plateau region characterized by ridges, mounds, hills, and gullies in the middle reaches of the Yellow River. As Shilou lies along China’s First Bend of the Yellow River, the dry, hot, and high-temperature conditions of the loess plateau clash day and night with the cool, moist air from the river, resulting in significant temperature variations, abundant sunshine, and highly water-absorbent sandy soil — all of which contribute to the exceptionally high quality of dates grown here.

　　Shilou County has 270,000 mu of date orchards, with an annual date production of 11.5 million kilograms. The county boasts the highest per capita date cultivation area in the country, making dates a pillar industry for increasing farmers’ incomes.