Zhaotong Golden Delicious Apples

Last updated 2026-11-10 — The earliest introduced and most widely distributed variety of Western apple trees in Yunnan. A deciduous tree of the genus Malus in the Rosaceae family. A temperate fruit tree. Also known as Golden Delicious or Golden Crown, the Golden Delicious apple originated in the United States. It was first introduced to Dalian, China, from Japan in 1910. In 1940, Wu Jingyi from Zhaotong purchased 150 trees from Chengdu, Sichuan, and planted them in Safu Township, Zhaotong. Today, the Zhaotong Regional Fruit Technology Station still preserves over 70 of the originally planted trees that continue to bear fruit normally. This variety is suitable for cultivation in cooler, less rainy regions, thriving best in areas with an annual average temperature of 9°C–11°C and annual precipitation below 700 mm. The fruits ripen in early September. They are known for their high and stable yields. Golden Delicious apples typically weigh around 180 grams each and are oblong in shape. Those grown at lower altitudes tend to be flatter and rounder. The skin is yellowish-green at the base and turns golden yellow when ripe. The flesh is fine-textured, slightly sweet, aromatic, and ideal for fresh consumption, though it is prone to russeting and may become mealy after storage. Dwarf and virus-free rust-resistant varieties have since been introduced. Since the 1980s, the red Fuji variety — known for its bright color, crisp and sweet flesh, and good storage and transportability — has gradually replaced Golden Delicious as the main cultivated variety. In 1997, over 10,000 hectares of Golden Delicious apples were grown in the Zhaotong region, yielding 2,936 tons of fruit.