Shanyang Walnuts

Shanyang Walnuts

Shanyang walnuts are a product with geographical indication status for agricultural produce.

　　Shanyang walnuts have a cultivation history of over 1,000 years. According to the *Shanyang County Annals*, as early as the Han Dynasty, they were diligently planted by local residents. The *Records of Natural History*, which states “When Zhang Qian returned from the Western Regions, he brought back walnut seeds,” also confirms that walnut cultivation in Shaanxi originated in the Han Dynasty. In the Shanyang flower-drum opera *Lü Dongbin Dispensing Medicine*, there is a line that says “walnuts descended to the mortal world, tapped out by the clappers,” from which it can be inferred that by the Tang Dynasty, Shanyang already had large-scale walnut plantations. *The Extended Commentary on Materia Medica* records: “Walnuts are abundant in the Shaanxi–Luoyang region.” The *Directly-Controlled Shangzhou Annals* also note: “Among all the fruits of Shangluo, none surpass the walnut.” In the 1950s, walnuts earned the praise of Chairman Mao Zedong, who specifically mentioned them in his *Sixty Articles on Work Guidelines*, calling for their promotion nationwide.

　　Shanyang walnuts are a specialty of Shanyang County, Shangluo City, Shaanxi Province. They are delicious, have thin shells, and offer a crispy, fragrant taste, making them a fine food delicacy. Shanyang County is one of the six “China Walnut Hometowns.” Shanyang walnuts are a nationally protected product with geographical indication status for agricultural produce.

　　Shanyang County is located in Shangluo City, Shaanxi Province, in the southeastern part of the province. With a history of over 1,700 years since its establishment, the county lies at the southern foot of the Qinling Mountains and in the southern part of Shangluo City. It is dubbed “three mountains flanking two rivers” due to the Liuling Mountain range to the north, the Juanling range in the middle, and the Yunling range to the south. Because of its rugged terrain with few arable lands and rivers, it is also described as “eight parts mountain, one part water, and one part field.” As a poverty-stricken mountainous county, Shanyang’s disadvantage lies in its mountains, but so does its advantage—offering unique conditions for developing nut-based economic crops. In recent years, the county government has prioritized the development of economic forests, mainly chestnut and walnut trees, as a key measure to address poverty, making it an important component of building a strong ecological economy.

　　Since 2005, Shanyang County has implemented walnut cultivation initiatives. By improving walnut varieties, enhancing cultivation management, refining pruning techniques, and ensuring timely harvesting and processing, the planting area has expanded significantly, with yields rising year by year. The county currently has 3.2 million mu (about 213,333 hectares) of walnut orchards, over 2 million trees, and an annual output of around 5 million kilograms. Planting bases are distributed across Chengguan, Wuzhu, Shili, Gaobadian, Shengjiadian, Malu, Liangling, Wangzhuang, Getiao, Changgou, Zhongcun, Yinhua, Yuanzipai, Nankuanping, Banyan, Sehe Town, Xiahekou, Eryuhé, and Faguan, among other areas. In 2001, it was named “China’s Walnut Hometown” by the National Forestry Administration.

　　Currently, Shanyang walnuts are known for their thin shells, plump kernels, easy shelling, and pleasant taste. Both dried walnuts and shelled walnut products are exported to more than 20 countries, including Japan, Canada, Western Europe, and Southeast Asia.

　　In 2013, the “Shanyang Walnuts” application submitted by the Shanyang County Forestry Station passed the review by the Agricultural Product Quality and Safety Center of the Ministry of Agriculture and expert evaluation, leading to its implementation under the national agricultural product geographical indication registration and protection system.

　　Geographic Scope

　　The protected production area of Shanyang walnuts is located at the southern foothills of the Qinling Mountains, in the central and southern parts of Shangluo City, Shaanxi Province. Its geographic coordinates are between 109°32′–110°29′ east longitude and 33°09′–33°42′ north latitude. The area extends east to Dongzigou Village in Wangyan Town, south to Xiahekou Village in Manchuanguan Town, west to Xiping Village in Hujiaoyuan Town, and north to Qijiaping Village in Shipu Town. It encompasses 23 towns—including Chengguan Town, Shipu Town, Gaobadian Town, Shuangping Town, Tianzhushan Town, Liangling Town, Zhongcun Town, Yinhua Town, Wangyan Town, Tianqiao Town, Xizhaochuan Town, Shifosi Town, Yanping Town, Faguan Town, Manchuanguan Town, Nankuanping Town, Banyan Town, Yangdi Town, Hujiaoyuan Town, Niuerchuan Town, Xiahekou Town, Sehepu Town, and Yuanzipai Town—with 324 villages (communities), covering a total protected area of 400,000 mu and an annual output of 5,000 tons.