Xihe Prickly Ash

Xihe Prickly Ash

　　Xihe Prickly Ash is a specialty of Xihe County in Longnan City, Gansu Province. The prickly ash produced in Xihe County features large, uniform-sized fruits, bright red color, and a rich aroma and numbing flavor. As early as the Tang Dynasty, it was listed as a tribute product.

　　Xihe County benefits from ample sunlight, significant day-night temperature variations, and deep soil layers. The prickly ash produced here is characterized by large, uniform-sized fruits, bright red color, and a rich aroma and numbing flavor. The “Dahongpao” variety grown in the southern mountainous areas has bright red skin, yellow husks, large grains, and thick flesh, and it was listed as a tribute product as early as the Tang Dynasty.

　　In recent years, Xihe County has leveraged its resource advantages with an eye on long-term development. Making full use of the favorable local conditions suitable for prickly ash cultivation, the county has designated the prickly ash industry as one of the pillar industries to promote sustainable economic growth. Following the economic forestry and fruit development strategy of “prickly ash in the south, fruit in the north,” the county has mobilized efforts across society to actively engage in the development and construction of the prickly ash industry. Through planting along terraces, establishing orchards on barren hills, and intercropping prickly ash with grain along terraces, the industry has been expanded and strengthened.

　　By the end of June 2007, the total area under prickly ash cultivation in the county had reached 180,000 mu, with an annual output of 1.2 million kilograms and a total output value of 24 million yuan. Daqiao Township achieved full coverage of prickly ash cultivation. The five southern townships—Daqiao, Haolin, Taishihe, Luoyu, and Xigao Mountain—together account for nearly half of the county’s total prickly ash cultivation area. Fifteen villages, including Longfeng and Baiwu in Daqiao Township and Zhao’gou in Haolin Township, have become model and exemplary villages for the county. In particular, the terrace-based intercropping model of prickly ash and grain in Koushan and Fengping villages of Xigao Mountain Township has been promoted throughout the province.