Qingtongxia Watermelon

Qingtongxia Watermelon

Qingtongxia watermelon is a product with geographical indication.

　　The cultivation of small-arched-shade watermelons in Qingtongxia City has a history of over ten years. Due to its low investment, minimal risk, earlier market availability compared to field-grown watermelons, and an average annual yield of around 5,000 yuan per mu from post-autumn replanting, farmers’ income from small-arched-shade watermelon farming has been increasing year by year. Seeing the promising market prospects, the municipal government has actively guided and encouraged farmers to develop the planting of small-arched-shade watermelons.

　　As of now, Qingtongxia City has developed 10 contiguous demonstration areas for small-arched-shade watermelons, initially forming planting bases in areas such as Yanqu in Xiakou, Yongfeng in Xiaoba, Jiangding in Qujing, and Buhao in Chenyuantan. The city’s small-arched-shade watermelons are expected to hit the market comprehensively around mid-May this year, with projected revenue of over 48 million yuan.

　　Geographical Scope

　　Qingtongxia watermelons are mainly distributed in the Daba Town area of Qingtongxia City, covering a total production area of 1,500 hectares with an annual output of 70,000 tons. Located in the middle of the Yellow River irrigation area on the Ningxia Plain, Qingtongxia City lies between 105°21′–106°21′ east longitude and 37°36′–38°15′ north latitude, with an average elevation of 1,121 meters. It stretches 29.6 kilometers from north to south and averages 3.2 kilometers in width from east to west. It extends southward from Qingtongxia Town to Shaogang Town in the north, bordering Lijun Town of Yongning County, and touches Rencong in Yongning from Yesheng Town. To the east lies the central axis of the Yellow River, and to the west are the Mountain-adjacent Highways 109 and 110, with the Baotou-Lanzhou Railway running north-south and the Shizhong and Qingwu-Ling Expressways stretching east-west.

　　Natural Ecological Environment and Humanistic Historical Factors

　　(1) Soil and Topography: Qingtongxia City is situated in the middle of the Yellow River irrigation area on the Ningxia Plain, featuring flat terrain. The soil is primarily composed of Yellow River silt sediment, saline-alkali soil, and red sandy soil, including 296,000 mu of silt sediment, 46,000 mu of saline-alkali soil, and 84,000 mu of red sandy soil. The average soil pH is 8.54, and the average organic matter content is 14.9. The soil is fertile, deep, and nutrient-rich. The topography forms part of the upper Ningxia Plain created by the Yellow River alluvial fan of the Helan Mountains, sloping from southwest to northeast with a gradient of 2500:1.

　　(2) Hydrology: The Yellow River flows through the planting region, and irrigation for watermelon production relies on Yellow River water. In 1967, the construction of the Qingtongxia Hydraulic Hub made it the head of major canals in the Yinchuan Plain, including the West Main Canal, Tanglai Canal, Hanyan Canal, Huinong Canal, Qin Canal, Han Canal, and East Main Canal. These seven major canals span 260 kilometers within the region, with an annual allocated water volume of 959 million cubic meters. According to the "Technical Specifications for Monitoring Agricultural Water Source Environmental Quality" (NY/T396-2000),

　　irrigation water quality is monitored, and evaluation results show that all tested parameters for watermelon irrigation water are within limits, confirming the water quality as qualified.

　　(3) Climate: The climate in the watermelon-growing region is continental monsoon, characterized by dryness, scarce rainfall, large diurnal temperature variations, abundant sunshine, cold winters, hot summers, few catastrophic weather events, long frost-free periods, and abundant light, heat, and water resources. Irrigated agriculture supported by the Yellow River ensures stable yields regardless of drought or flood.

　　The average wind speed is 3 meters per second, peaking in April. Northwest winds dominate throughout the year, with maximum wind force reaching level 7. The region experiences 9 days of sandstorms and 14 days of blowing dust annually.

　　The average annual temperature is 9.5°C, with extreme lows of -17.6°C and highs of 34°C. The accumulated temperature above 10°C ranges from 3,200°C to 3,400°C, and the frost-free period lasts 140–160 days.

　　Annual sunshine duration is 3,102.5 hours, averaging 8.5 hours per day, peaking at 13.5 hours in July and dropping to 9 hours in December. The average annual radiation is 144.6 kilocalories per square centimeter.

　　Average annual precipitation is 146.8 millimeters, mostly concentrated from June to September, accounting for 60% of the yearly total. Average annual evaporation is 1,940 millimeters—9.1 times the rainfall—with a daily average of 5.3 millimeters.

　　(4) Humanistic History: Watermelon cultivation in Qingtongxia began in the 1990s and has a history of nearly 20 years. Qingtongxia City is a key national commodity grain production base and also an important vegetable production hub in the northwest. Covering a land area of 2,445 square kilometers with over 800,000 mu of arable land, the city has a population of 300,000, including 200,000 agricultural residents—67% of the total. Situated in the central Ningxia Plain, Qingtongxia is traversed by the Baotou-Lanzhou and Daguhe Railways, the Shizhong Expressway, and National Highway 109. As the only county-level city in Ningxia listed among the top 100 in western China, it boasts notable locational advantages, convenient transport, exceptional natural conditions, abundant planting resources, a strong economy, social stability, and a simple, honest folk culture—all fostering a favorable investment environment for vegetable industry development. In recent years, focusing on facility-based agriculture as a breakthrough, the city has actively adjusted its industrial structure through government guidance, financial support, corporate operations, and leading farmer initiatives to vigorously develop modern agriculture. To date, it has established 13 facility agriculture parks exceeding 1,000 mu each, constructing 20,000 mu of solar greenhouses. Four large companies, including Shouguang Seedling Company from Shandong and Zhongwei Green Garden Vegetable Cooperative, along with 90 large-scale facility vegetable growers, have invested over 40 million yuan in the construction of solar greenhouses and three factory-style seedling centers, creating a vibrant industrial development atmosphere. The robust advancement of modern agriculture has provided excellent growth opportunities for Qingtongxia watermelons.

　　Production Technical Requirements

　　(1) Origin Selection and Special Provisions: Only areas meeting the environmental conditions for pollution-free vegetable production may serve as watermelon planting bases.

　　(2) Variety Selection and Specific Requirements: Varieties should be cold-resistant, high-quality, disease-resistant, and high-yielding. The main varieties grown in Qingtongxia are Black Beauty and Hualing.

　　(3) Production Process Management, Including Special Regulations on Agricultural Inputs: A unified procurement and disinfection system is implemented for watermelon seeds to ensure seed quality. The use of highly toxic, high-residue pesticides is prohibited during watermelon production. Unregistered fertilizers and pesticides are not allowed. Irrigation using non-compliant water is forbidden. During storage, processing, packaging, transportation, and sales, any ripening agents, preservatives, whitening agents, dyes, or hormones harmful to humans are banned. Designated personnel must manage fertilizers and pesticides. Regular pesticide residue tests are conducted; any detection of high-toxicity, high-residue pesticides or excessive residues leads to market bans and public exposure.

　　(4) Product Harvesting: Melons for external markets are picked at 7–8 maturity, while those for local sale are harvested when fully ripe. Unripe melons must never be sold. Spraying any disease or pest control pesticides is strictly prohibited within 15 days before harvesting.

　　(5) Production Record Requirements: Comprehensive records must be maintained throughout production, including seed, fertilizer, and pesticide purchases, usage, and watermelon sales records. Records must be complete, accurate, and retained for at least two years. Input usage logs must truthfully reflect the entire production process. Any farm without input records will not have its produce purchased by vegetable distribution companies.

　　Typical Quality Characteristics and Product Quality Safety Standards

　　(1) External Sensory Features: The main varieties are Black Beauty and Hualing. Black Beauty melons are oblong, with dark green rinds marked by faint black streaks, an attractive and lovely appearance, weighing approximately 3–4 kilograms, with thin yet tough skins.

　　(2) Internal Quality Indicators: Including unique flavor descriptions and quantifiable physicochemical metrics. Qingtongxia watermelons feature deep red flesh, tender and juicy texture, sugar content up to around 12 degrees, crisp sweetness, and an excellent taste—refreshing and thirst-quenching. They are not only a summer delicacy but also a favorite fruit in winter, earning the title “King of Melons.” Among fresh fruits, they have one of the highest moisture contents, containing nearly all essential nutrients required by the human body while being free of fat and cholesterol—making them one of the most nutritious, purest, and safest foods. Regular consumption provides ample nutrition, aids digestion, improves appetite, supports urination, boosts metabolism, relieves summer heat, and nourishes the body. The *Compendium of Materia Medica* notes: “It relieves irritability and thirst, cools the body, treats sore throat, regulates qi, promotes urination, treats bloody dysentery, and detoxifies blood.” Modern medicine states that watermelon juice contains proteases that convert insoluble proteins into soluble ones, while glycosides help lower blood pressure. Fresh watermelon juice and tender rind enhance skin elasticity, reduce wrinkles, and add luster. Thus, watermelons offer great nutritional value and serve as an affordable, effective beauty treatment for women. Additionally, Qingtongxia watermelons are highly resistant to storage and transport, adaptable to various conditions. Greenhouse-grown melons are planted from mid-October to December, with a three-month growth cycle and two annual productions totaling about 70,000 tons. Ninety percent are sold externally, primarily to the northwest region, where fresh product prices are favorable and the “Qingtongxia Watermelon” brand enjoys high recognition.

　　(3) Safety Requirements: The growing environment for Qingtongxia watermelons meets the standards of the "Quality and Safety Requirements for Pollution-Free Vegetable Production Areas" and "Environmental Quality Standards." Product safety and hygiene indicators exceed national benchmarks. The entire production process follows pollution-free vegetable standardization and the city’s own technical protocols.

　　Packaging, Labeling, and Related Provisions

　　Production and business enterprises within the designated region must correctly use the nationally unified public identification on products or packaging, in accordance with the "Public Identification Usage Specifications for Geographical Indications of Agricultural Products" and authorization regulations from the Ministry of Agriculture’s Agricultural Product Quality and Safety Center. An identification management system should be established, with truthful records of usage, registration, archiving, and retention for three years. During transport, vehicles must be equipped with insulation facilities, and transport must comply with relevant regulations.