Yuanmou Longan

Yuanmou Longan

　　Yuanmou Longan is a specialty of Yuanmou County in Chuxiong Prefecture, Yunnan Province. The longan from Yuanmou is of exceptional quality—its peel comes off easily, the flesh is thick with a small seed, the texture is crisp, and the taste is sweet and fragrant. It has been certified as a pollution-free agricultural product by Yunnan Province.

　　Yuanmou County is located in the northern part of Yunnan Province and is under the jurisdiction of Chuxiong Prefecture. The lowest elevation in the area is 898m, and the highest is 2835.9m, with a relative height difference of 1937.9m. There are 17 perennial rivers and 40 seasonal rivers in the county. Except for the Yigulu River in Huatong Township, which flows into the Red River system, all others belong to the Jinsha River system.

　　Yuanmou County has a low-latitude plateau monsoon climate with significant vertical climate distribution due to large elevation differences. It enjoys abundant light and heat resources, with dry and hot weather and little rainfall. The basin and surrounding areas receive 2020–2670.4 hours of sunshine annually, with solar radiation of 131.9–153.3 kcal/cm². The average annual temperature ranges from 11.1–21.9°C, and the accumulated temperature above 10°C is 2788.7–7996.1°C. According to observations by the county meteorological bureau, the average annual rainfall is 613.8mm, while the average annual evaporation is 3640.5mm—6.4 times the rainfall. The relative humidity ranges from 31–71% (averaging 53%). There is basically no frost throughout the year, with an average of only two frost days annually, earning it the reputation of a "natural greenhouse."

　　Yuanmou Longan comes in two types: early-maturing (available on the market from mid-June to early July) and late-maturing (available from late July to early August). The fruit is of exceptional quality—its peel comes off easily, the flesh is thick with a small seed, the texture is crisp, and the taste is sweet and fragrant, with individual fruits weighing 10–14 grams. It has been certified as a pollution-free agricultural product by Yunnan Province. The county has over 20,000 acres under cultivation, with an annual supply of around 30,000 tons, and a reference price of 4–15 yuan per kilogram.