Shuangwan Watermelon

Shuangwan Watermelon

Shuangwan Watermelon is a product protected under the Agricultural Product Geographical Indication scheme.

　　Shuangwan Township is renowned for its watermelon production, boasting not only high overall yield, early maturity, excellent quality, long market supply duration, but also rapid development, enjoying a certain reputation across the country. In August 1990, during the first “Jiayuguan Guazhou Melon Festival” held jointly by five northwestern provinces and autonomous regions to celebrate the 2100th anniversary of the Silk Road, in the “Watermelon and Melon Quality Evaluation and Competition,” the “Hongyou No. 2” watermelon submitted by Shuangwan Township won the gold award and came to be known as the Jinchang Watermelon.

　　Shuangwan Watermelon

　　Geographic Scope

　　Jinchuan District is located in the eastern part of the Hexi Corridor and on the southern edge of the Tengger Desert, belonging to the Alxa Plateau, bordering Yongchang County to the south, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region to the north, Wuwei to the east, and Zhangye to the west. The ancient Silk Road once passed through here, making it one of the cities along the New Eurasian Land Bridge. The terrain of the entire district is higher in the southwest and lower in the northeast, with the highest point at 3052 meters and the lowest at 1327 meters, and an average altitude of 1500 meters. It features a residual hill and plain landscape, with flat terrain that slopes from northwest to southeast, fertile soil, and relatively abundant water resources. The region is traversed by the East and West Great Rivers, formed by meltwater from the Qilian Mountains, and the Jinchuan River, which originates from springs in the suburbs of Yongchang County. Groundwater resources are also relatively plentiful, conducive to agricultural development. The total area of the district is 3,770 square kilometers, with 129,300 mu of arable land and a total population of 200,000, of which 69% are non-agricultural residents. The area enjoys abundant sunlight and thermal resources, along with natural conditions highly suitable for watermelon cultivation. “Shuangwan Watermelon” has long enjoyed a great reputation, with a saying that “one hasn’t truly known the sweetness of melons until they’ve tasted those from Shuangwan.” Among them, the “Hongyou No. 2” variety won the gold award at the 1990 Northwest Five Provinces and Regions Silk Road Guazhou Melon Festival. The growing areas of Shuangwan Watermelon are located within Shuangwan Town in Jinchuan District, including thirteen villages: Longkou, Gucheng, Yingpan, Jinhe, Kangsheng, Xujia Gou, Chenjia Gou, Tianshengkang, Xinliangdi, Jiujinjin, Sanjiaocheng, Longyuan, and Longzhai. The geographical coordinates are between 102°15′ and 102°43′ east longitude and 38°15′ and 39°00′ north latitude, and it is also the main production base of pollution-free agricultural products in Jinchuan District.