Le Hong Chestnuts

Le Hong Chestnuts

　　Le Hong Chestnuts are a specialty of Le Hong Township, Ludian County, Zhaotong City, Yunnan Province. Owing to their uniquely favorable climate conditions, these chestnuts have entered the market and are well loved by consumers.

　　Le Hong Township is situated in the western part of Ludian County, with a total land area of 127.18 square kilometers and an elevation of 2,312 meters. It enjoys an annual average temperature of 12°C and an annual precipitation of 900 mm. The township is abundant in chestnuts, with various types of chestnut trees producing edible nuts. The leaves are simple, elliptic or oblong-elliptic, measuring 10–30 cm in length and 4–10 cm in width, with serrated edges resembling bristles. The plants are monoecious: male flowers grow as upright catkins, while female flowers are solitary or grow in clusters within a cupule. The nuts are enclosed within a spiny, densely prickled cupule, which has a diameter of 5–11 cm and contains 1–7 nuts per cupule. The flowering period is from May to June, and the fruits ripen from September to October.