Sand Hollow Plums along the River

Sand Hollow Plums of Yanhe

Sand Hollow Plums of Yanhe are a protected geographical indication product.

Sand Hollow Plums of Yanhe are a certified geographical indication trademark.

　　The Sand Hollow Plum gets its name from its characteristic of having flesh that separates easily from the pit. It is produced in Shazi Town, Yanhe Tujia Autonomous County, Guizhou Province, with the best varieties coming from Nanzhuang and Yonghong villages. It is a regional specialty fruit. The fruit has a vibrant bluish-gray color, crisp and tender flesh, a well-balanced sweet and sour taste, rich nutrition, and a fragrant, delicious flavor. In 2006, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine approved the implementation of geographical indication product protection for the Sand Hollow Plum.

　　According to the Yanhe County Annals, the cultivation of Sand Hollow Plums began in the Shaba Village area of Shazi Town as early as 1858. The production area is surrounded by mountains, crisscrossed with streams, featuring green hills, clear waters, and a landscape of low mountains, mid-low mountains, and valleys. With a forest coverage rate of 36%, the region enjoys distinct climate characteristics such as concurrent rainfall and heat, synchronized light and temperature, large diurnal temperature variations, and notable microclimates. There are no industrial enterprises in the production zone, and no chemical pollution exists. The pristine mountains, clear waters, and fresh air create a unique geographical and climatic environment ideal for the growth of Sand Hollow Plums.

　　Nutritional Value

　　The Sand Hollow Plum is flat-round in shape and generally matures in late July. When ripe, the plum is covered with a silvery-gray protective layer of white wax. On average, the fruit weighs 43.4 grams, with the largest reaching up to 54.5 grams. At maturity, the skin is yellow-green, crisp, and aromatic. Notably, the stone inside separates easily from the flesh, hence also referred to as the "hollow plum." The flesh is firm and crisp, with a well-balanced sweet and sour flavor, and is of premium quality and rich in nutrients. Analysis shows that per 100 grams of flesh, it contains 0.2–0.5 grams of protein, 0.2–0.7 grams of fat, 6.6–14.9 grams of carbohydrates, 17–20 milligrams of calcium, 20–30 milligrams of phosphorus, 1.8 milligrams of iron, 0.07–0.11 milligrams of carotene, 0.02–0.08 grams of riboflavin, 0.3–0.4 milligrams of niacin, and 1–24 milligrams of ascorbic acid. It is believed to have health benefits such as "clearing heat and relieving summer heat, invigorating the spleen and stimulating appetite, and nourishing beauty and promoting longevity."

　　The Sand Hollow Plum has a long cultivation history and features fast growth, strong branching ability, early fruiting, and a long peak production period. The fruit is brightly colored, nutrient-rich, pleasantly sweet and sour, crisp and tender, and aromatic—making it an excellent variety among plums. The *Yanhe Tujia Autonomous County Geographical Annals* states: "The Sand Hollow Plum belongs to the Prunus genus of the Rosaceae family. It is produced in Shazi Town, and when transplanted elsewhere, the fruit quality deteriorates, making it a regional specialty high-quality fruit. It is a small tree, which begins bearing fruit at 3–4 years old, enters its peak production period at 7–8 years old, remains in this peak period for 25–30 years, and has a lifespan of 50–55 years. Flower buds sprout from late February to mid-March, leaf buds from early to mid-late March, the tree flowers from early to mid-April, fruits form from early to mid-May, and the fruits ripen from late July to early August. Sensory characteristics of the fruit include a round shape and a distinctive silvery-gray protective wax layer on the surface. The pit is free, the flesh is yellow-white, with moderate hardness, crispness, juiciness, and a richly sweet aroma. The fruit is known for its thin skin, crisp flesh, well-balanced sweet and sour taste, and health benefits such as stimulating the appetite and nourishing the skin. It is primarily consumed fresh, offers a unique taste, and does not cause diarrhea even when eaten in large quantities, making it an excellent plum variety, hailed as the 'fairy fruit of the human world, the Maotai of plums.'"

　　In 2006, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of China approved the implementation of geographical indication product protection for the Sand Hollow Plum (Announcement No. 95 of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, 2006). Due to the excellent quality of the Sand Hollow Plum, most of the produce is sold outside the county, making it rarely seen in local markets. As a result, marketing has become extremely active, with demand far exceeding supply.

　　The Sand Hollow Plum is of superior quality and faces no direct competitors in the surrounding areas or within the province. Although there are many other plum varieties in other parts of China—such as Beauty Plum, Red Heart Plum, Jintang Plum, Qingshao Plum, and Nanhua Plum—mainly distributed in Zhejiang, Guangdong, Guangxi, and Sichuan—the taste is not as good as that of the Yanhe Hollow Plum. Internationally, plum cultivation is mainly concentrated in a few countries such as Yugoslavia, Romania, and the United States, where the main products are dried plums, which are very popular in Europe and America. The Sand Hollow Plum can be eaten fresh and also serves as premium raw material for dried fruits, preserves, juices, jams, and canned goods, suitable for consumption by all groups.

　　Protected Geographical Indication Product

　　In accordance with the *Regulations on the Protection of Products with Geographical Indications*, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine organized a review of the application for geographical indication product protection for the Sand Hollow Plum. After the review was passed, approval was granted to implement geographical indication product protection for the Sand Hollow Plum starting July 12, 2006.

　　 Scope of Protection

　　The scope of geographical indication product protection for the Sand Hollow Plum is based on the range proposed in the document “Regarding the Definition of the Geographical Indication Product Protection Scope for the Sand Hollow Plum” (Yanfu Letter [2005] No. 68) issued by the People’s Government of Yanhe Tujia Autonomous County, Guizhou Province. This includes the current administrative regions of Shashi Town and Zhongjie Township in Yanhe Tujia Autonomous County, Guizhou Province.