Chongzhou Brown Plum

Chongzhou Brown Plum

　　The hilly areas around Wugen Mountain are a renowned fruit and flower mountain in Chongzhou City, Sichuan. Over the past dozen or so miles of rolling low hills, a flower-and-fruit viewing tourism experience has gradually taken shape, allowing visitors to enjoy the blossoms in spring and the fruits in summer. The brown plums from Chongzhou’s Flower and Fruit Mountain originally come from the United States. They are high-quality fruits known for their excellent color, fragrance, and taste, and are hailed as the “King of Plums.” Due to their significant economic benefits and promising market prospects, experts have designated the American brown plum as the top choice for adjusting the fruit structure in Sichuan under the Western Development Strategy.

　　 As of now, Chongzhou has planted over 11,000 acres of brown plums, featuring more than 30 varieties, with an annual yield of nearly 10,000 tons. After being named by the Ministry of Agriculture as China's only “Hometown of Brown Plum” in 2002, Chongzhou seized this opportunity and began hosting the Brown Plum Harvest Festival starting in 2004.

　　Chongzhou brown plums have significant economic benefits and promising market prospects. Experts have designated the American brown plum as the top choice for adjusting the fruit structure in Sichuan under the Western Development Strategy. As of now, Chongzhou has planted over 11,000 acres of brown plums, featuring more than 30 varieties, with an annual yield of nearly 10,000 tons. A7b

　　After being named by the Ministry of Agriculture as China's only “Hometown of Brown Plum” in 2002, Chongzhou seized this opportunity and began hosting the Brown Plum Harvest Festival starting in 2004. In recent years, the successful hosting of the harvest festival has not only allowed countless citizens to feast on fresh fruits but also enabled villagers from the Flower and Fruit Mountain area to quietly rake in substantial profits. When the first Brown Plum Harvest Festival was held in 2004, it attracted over 100,000 visitors, and the price of plums soared to 14–16 yuan per kilogram. A7b

　　The ripening period for various varieties of Chongzhou brown plums spans from June 23 to September, so the Chongzhou Brown Plum Harvest Festival will also continue until September. During the festival, visitors can not only freely pick brown plums on Flower and Fruit Mountain in Gongyi Township, Chongzhou, but also participate in the “King of Plums” selection competition. Additionally, they can enjoy a rich “feast” of folk arts, including Shu embroidery, sugar painting, paper-cutting, palm fiber weaving, puppetry, polymer clay crafts, and batik. Guests can also sample a variety of Chongzhou’s famous snacks at the food fair. There will also be activities such as business talks between fruit farmers and merchants, opportunities for Chengdu residents to adopt plum trees, and free tastings of brown plums at agritainment venues. A7b