Chongzhou Tulip

Chongzhou Tulip

Chongzhou Tulip is an agricultural product with geographical indication.

　　Tulip is a specialty of Chongzhou, mainly distributed along the banks of the Jinma River and Yangma River in towns such as Sanjiang Town and Jiangyuan Town in Chongzhou City, as well as in Jinqiao Town of Shuangliu County and Xingyi Town of Xinjin County. In 2003, the China Specialties Association Committee under the Ministry of Agriculture officially named Chongzhou as the only "Hometown of Chinese Tulip" in the country. In 2009, Chongzhou Tulip became a nationally protected geographical indication brand for agricultural products.

　　Tulip, a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, is the dried rhizome of the plants Curcuma wenyujin Y.H. Chen & C. Ling, Curcuma longa L., Curcuma kwangsiensis S.G. Lee & C.F. Liang, or Curcuma phaeocaulis Val. from the Zingiberaceae family. The first two are commonly referred to as "Wen Tulip" and "Yellow Silk Tulip," respectively, while the others are commonly known as "Gui Tulip" or "Green Silk Tulip" based on their characteristics. It is harvested after the stems and leaves wither in winter, the soil and fine roots are removed, then steamed or boiled until thoroughly cooked, and finally dried.

　　The earliest records of Chongzhou Tulip can be found in the "Materia Medica Treatise" and the "Tang Materia Medica," which state, "Tulip is produced in Shu region and the Western Regions." The Song Dynasty's "Materia Medica Illustrations" noted: "Nowadays, Tulip can also be found in Guangnan and Jiangxi prefectures, but none compare to that from Shu, which is superior." Here, "Shu" refers to what is now Chongzhou City. Located in the mid-upper reaches of the Minjiang River on the Chengdu Plain in Sichuan, Chongzhou features fertile soil and a suitable climate, making it the optimal production area for Tulip.

　　In 2003, the China Specialties Association Committee under the Ministry of Agriculture officially named Chongzhou as the only "Hometown of Chinese Tulip" in the country.

　　Compared to Tulips from other regions in China, Chongzhou Tulip has three unique characteristics: first, it has a small inner membrane, thick flesh, and hard texture; when sliced, the flesh does not separate or become loose, forming crystal-like slices; second, the yellow silk Tulip’s membrane is “egg yolk” colored, presenting a chicken-blood hue (dark brown), which is unique across the nation; third, Chongzhou Tulip has significantly higher total curcumin and volatile oil content compared to Wen Tulip and Guang Tulip, offering functions such as promoting blood circulation, removing blood stasis, regulating qi, and relieving depression. Its efficacy in treating symptoms like chest, rib, waist, and abdominal pain as well as dysmenorrhea is superior to Tulips from other regions.

　　Geographical Scope

　　The protected geographical indication area for Chongzhou Tulip agricultural products includes the eastern part of Chongzhou City in Sichuan Province, specifically the towns along the Jinma River and Yangma River, such as Yangma Town, Jiangyuan Town, and Sanjiang Town. This area is located in the western and southern parts of the Sichuan Basin, along the riverine zones of the Minjiang River basin, spanning longitude 103°35′–104°07′ and latitude 29°51′–30°35′.

　　Natural Ecological Environment and Humanistic Historical Factors

　　(1) Soil and Topography: The soil in the Jinma River and Yangma River basins (the main production areas of Chongzhou Tulip) is gray tidal oily sandy field soil. The parent material originates from Quaternary alluvial deposits, resulting in black, glossy soil with a plowing layer depth of 16 cm to 20 cm. The texture is medium to heavy loam, with neutral pH and well-balanced physical properties. The ratio of solid, liquid, and gas phases in the soil is 1:0.97–1.01:0.18–0.14. The plowing layer is rich in organic matter and minerals, with an average organic content of 2.66%, total nitrogen of 0.18%, alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen of 142 mg/kg, available phosphorus of 9 mg/kg, and available potassium of 39 mg/kg. These are favorable conditions for the growth of Tulip.

　　(2) Hydrology: The area has tributaries of the Minjiang River such as the Wenjing River (formerly the West River), Weijiang River, and Ganwuli River, as well as tributaries of the Wenjing River including the Heishi River, Qimu River, Yangma River, and Baima River, along with the man-made Sanheyi Irrigation Canal, forming a crisscrossed irrigation and drainage system.

　　(3) Climate: Chongzhou enjoys superior natural conditions, with a forest coverage rate of 42%. It has a subtropical humid monsoon climate typical of the Sichuan Basin, with an average annual temperature of 15.9°C. The warmest month, July, averages 25°C, while the coldest month, January, averages 5.4°C. The annual average sunshine duration is 1161.5 hours, with an annual sunshine rate of 26%. The average annual rainfall is 1012.4 mm, with more rain and rainy days in summer than in winter—spring sees 176.1 mm, summer 588.0 mm, autumn 218.4 mm, and winter 29.9 mm. The average annual wind speed is 1.3 m/s, and the frost-free period lasts 285 days on average. The region features a mild climate, distinct seasons, no severe cold in winter or extreme heat in summer, abundant rainfall, relatively low sunlight, and a long frost-free period—all unique climatic conditions ideal for growing Chongzhou Tulip.

　　(4) Humanistic History: Historical records of Tulip cultivation in Chongzhou can be traced back over a thousand years, as documented in the Song Dynasty’s "Materia Medica Illustrations." According to relevant sources, Tulip was first mentioned in the "Materia Medica." The "Tang Materia Medica" states, "Tulip is produced in Shu region and the Western Regions." The Song Dynasty’s "Materia Medica Illustrations" recorded: "Nowadays, Tulip can also be found in Guangnan and Jiangxi prefectures, but none compare to that from Shu, which is superior." (Here, "Shu" refers to Chongqing County, now Chongzhou City). The 65th volume of the "Supplemented Chongqing Prefecture Annals," compiled in the third year of the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty by Magistrate Shen Sipei, noted: "Tulip seeds are the fruits of turmeric roots. Turmeric is used for dyeing, while the roots, dug out seven or eight inches from the soil, can be used medicinally or in cooking. The area around Sanjiangchang, thirty li east of the prefecture, is where most are planted." An article published in the professional journal "Chinese Traditional Medicine" titled "Research on the Growth Soil of Tulip" pointed out: "Tulip production has strong regional specificity, with production areas located along the riverine zones of the Minjiang River in the western and southern parts of the Sichuan Basin. Tulips grow in the gray tidal soil and gray-brown purple soil along the Minjiang River, which feature good permeability and strong water retention, yielding Tulips that are large, round, and excellent in shape, color, aroma, and taste. Such soils exist within Chongqing County (now Chongzhou City)." The above information indicates that Chongzhou is a traditional planting area for cultivating and producing the authentic medicinal herb Tulip.

　　Chongzhou Tulip has three unique characteristics compared to Tulips produced in other regions of China: first, it has a smaller inner membrane, thicker flesh, harder texture, and when sliced, the flesh does not separate or become loose, forming crystal-like slices; second, compared to other regions, the yellow silk Tulip has a membrane that is "egg yolk" colored, presenting a chicken-blood hue (dark brown), which is unique across the nation; third, Chongzhou Tulip also possesses distinctive medicinal properties, offering benefits such as promoting blood circulation, removing blood stasis, and relieving depression. Its therapeutic effects on symptoms like chest, rib, waist, and abdominal pain as well as dysmenorrhea are better than those of Tulips from other regions.