Dunhuang Grapes

Dunhuang Grapes

Dunhuang Grapes are a protected geographical indication product.

Dunhuang Grapes are an agricultural geographical indication product.

　　The Yangguan Town Grape Base in Dunhuang, Gansu Province, is the largest fresh grape production base in the province. It is located near the ancient site of the historic Yangguan Pass in western Gansu, famously mentioned in Tang Dynasty poetry: “I urge you to drink another cup of wine, for beyond the Yangguan Pass there’ll be no more friends.” Yangguan Town has 933.33 hectares of arable land and a population of about 4,500. Currently, all of the town’s arable land is planted with grapes, making it one of the few specialized grape-producing towns in China.

　　The base enjoys an average annual temperature of about 9–3°C, with accumulated active temperatures above 10°C exceeding 3,600°C. Annual precipitation is only around 40 mm, and annual sunshine duration is approximately 3,260 hours. With abundant sunlight, low air humidity, and primarily gravity-fed spring irrigation, the farmland consists entirely of sandy soil with very few pests or diseases. Grapes here accumulate high levels of dry matter, and the ecological conditions are ideal for producing pollution-free, high-quality fresh grapes.

　　Grape production in the base developed alongside the agricultural economic reforms of the 1980s. The main variety grown is seedless white grapes, accounting for over 95%. In normal years, total grape output reaches about 36 million kg, with annual grape revenue exceeding 70 million yuan. It represents a key pillar industry in China’s horticultural sector, driven by large-scale commercial fruit production.

　　Geographical Scope

　　Dunhuang City is located at the westernmost end of the Hexi Corridor, at the intersection of Gansu, Qinghai, and Xinjiang provinces (regions), between 92°13′ and 95°30′ east longitude, and 39°53′ and 41°35′ north latitude. The city covers a total area of 31,200 square kilometers, of which the oasis area spans 1,400 square kilometers—just 4.5% of the total area—and is surrounded by deserts and Gobi. Hence, it is known as an “oasis in the Gobi.” Dunhuang administers 6 towns, 3 townships, and 56 village committees. Grape varieties such as Red Globe and Seedless White are cultivated on 7,000 hectares in Dunhuang, accounting for 60% of the city’s total arable land. The annual grape yield is 150,000 tons, with an annual output value of 150 million yuan.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　1. External Sensory Features: Seedless White Grapes: Oval-shaped berries, thin greenish-yellow skin, low juice content, seedless, sweet and tangy; Red Globe Grapes: Nearly round berries, large size, sweet taste, crisp flesh, medium-thick bright red skin, not prone to berry drop, suitable for fresh consumption and storage. 2. Unique Internal Composition: Sugar content of 18–24%, acid content of about 0.4%, suitable for both fresh eating and drying, with a drying rate of 20–30%.