Yan'an Dates

Last updated 2026-11-09 — Yan'an dates have long been renowned, especially those from Yanchuan County, which enjoy even greater fame. Located east of the Yellow River, Yanchuan County falls within a temperate semi-arid zone, characterized by dry and low-rainfall weather, significant day-night temperature variations, and long hours of sunlight. Influenced by the unique geographical factors of the Yellow River, it is an ideal growing region for jujubes, with a cultivation history spanning over 300 years. The county produces round dates, strip dates, and doghead dates—fruits that are large, thick-fleshed, and sweet, making them premium varieties for both dried and fresh consumption. The crisp dates, also known as hanging-tooth dates, are especially notable for their large size, thin red skin, white and tender yet crispy flesh, and honey-like sweetness. They are an excellent fresh snack, particularly favored by women and children. In 1982, Kim Il-sung, Chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea, visited Xi'an and was highly impressed after tasting these dates. He subsequently introduced 300 high-quality date saplings from the county to North Korea. Currently, the county has a total of 8,000 hectares of date orchards, yielding over 2,000 tons of dates annually, earning it the title "Hometown of Dates." Locally processed products such as "Pagoda Brand" date jam, golden-thread candied dates, and drunken dates have won numerous awards and have become beloved delicacies among visitors.