Qianwei Maliu Ginger

Qianwei Maliu Ginger

Qianwei Maliu Ginger is a product with a geographical indication for agricultural products.

　　Leshan’s Qianwei County has a long history of ginger cultivation, dating back over 1,700 years. The white ginger produced in Qianwei is unique in quality—large, plump, rich in starch, low in fiber, and with a strong spicy flavor. The dried ginger made from it is of premium quality and stable medicinal properties. Since ancient times, it has been a genuine production area for medicinal dried ginger. The *Commentary on the Classic of Materia Medica* states: “The ginger of Shu and Han was once excellent; Jingzhou also had good ginger, but it could not be made into dried ginger.” The *Newly Revised Materia Medica* of the Tang Dynasty recorded: “Dried ginger… is produced in the river valleys of Qianwei… harvested in September.” The *Supplement to the Compendium of Materia Medica* of the Qing Dynasty noted that dried ginger “comes from central Sichuan, twisted like dead twigs, with the strongest spiciness.” Before liberation, Japan and Germany had set up purchasing stations in Qianwei for dried ginger. After liberation, it was exported to more than ten countries and regions in Europe and Asia. In the early years after liberation, the former Soviet Union specifically requested dried ginger from Maliuchang (now Xinmin Town) in Qianwei during trade exchanges.

　　Qianwei white ginger, commonly known as “Maliu” ginger, originated from its production base in Maliu Village, Zhagu Township, Qianwei County, and was named after the village. Its registered trademark is “Maliu.” Qianwei County has a long history of ginger cultivation. According to *Compendium of Materia Medica*, “Ginger and dried ginger are produced in the river valleys of Qianwei, as well as in Jingzhou and Yangzhou. Harvested in September, it can be found everywhere.” Qianwei white ginger is a high-quality local variety in Sichuan used both as food and medicine, and it has been included in the GAP demonstration bases for Chinese medicinal materials in Sichuan.

　　Through years of production practice, the association has developed the *Technical Specifications for High-Yield Cultivation of Qianwei White (Dried) Ginger* and the *Technical Specifications for High-Yield Cultivation of Honeycomb-Style Softened Ginger*. Ginger cultivated using this technology features slender, branched stalks resembling “fingers” (typically with a stem diameter of over 1.5 cm and length of 15–20 cm). The stems have a clean white skin, purple-red tips, low fiber content, a crisp and tender texture, and a high edible rate, offering significant culinary and medicinal value. The trademark “Maliu” has been awarded the title of “Well-Known Trademark of Leshan City” twice, and the product has successively received certifications as a pollution-free agricultural product at the provincial and national (Ministry of Agriculture) levels, been honored as an “Exquisite Agricultural Product” at the Sichuan · Western China Agricultural Expo, recognized as a well-known agricultural product brand in Sichuan, and designated as a national geographical indication agricultural product.

　　The Qianwei County Zhagu Township Ginger Association was established in 1998. After nearly a decade of development, it now has 3,350 member households and benefits 8,500 farming households, with an estimated output value of 79.3 million yuan this year. In 2003, the association was honored with the title of “Top 100 Agricultural Technology Associations in Sichuan.” In 2004, it was recognized as one of the “Top 30 Rural Professional Technology Associations in Leshan City.” The project “Research and Application of Honeycomb-Style Softened Ginger Cultivation Technology,” launched in 2004, won the second prize in the “Leshan Science and Technology Progress Award” from the Leshan Municipal People’s Government. Its registered brand “Maliu Ginger” was named an “Exquisite Agricultural Product” at the Sichuan · Western China Agricultural Expo in 2002, obtained dual certification as a pollution-free agricultural product and pollution-free agricultural product base from the Ministry of Agriculture in 2005, was awarded the title of “Well-Known Trademark in Leshan City” in 2006, received recognition as a well-known agricultural product brand in Sichuan and was honored as a National Advanced Unit for Science Popularization and Rural Prosperity in 2007, was listed among the Top 100 Rural Professional Technology Associations in Sichuan in 2009, and was designated as a national geographical indication agricultural product in 2010.

　　The geographical indication protection area for Qianwei Maliu Ginger covers seven townships within Qianwei County, Leshan City, Sichuan Province: Zhagu Township, Tielu Township, Jiu Jing Township, Xinmin Town, Xiaogu Town, Longkong Town, and Daxing Township, encompassing a total of 90 administrative villages. Qianwei County borders Muchuan County of Leshan City and is adjacent to Zigong City and Yibin City. The main production area of Qianwei Maliu Ginger is located in the southeastern part of the county, covering an area of 450 square kilometers, with geographical coordinates between 103°59′–104°07′ east longitude and 29°03′–29°11′ north latitude. The protected area for Qianwei Maliu Ginger spans 3,500 hectares, yielding 110,000 tons of fresh ginger annually.