Yanchi Melon

Yanchi Melon

Yanchi Melon is a geographical indication agricultural product.

　　Yanchi Melon is a specialty of Yanchi County in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and a China Geographical Indication product. Located on the southern edge of the Mu Us Desert, Yanchi County is a mountainous county in the arid belt of central Ningxia. It features a typical continental monsoon climate with abundant light energy, ample sunshine, and large temperature variations, making it an ideal region for growing high-quality fruits and melons. The watermelons and melons produced here have thin yet tough rinds, sweet and sandy flesh, and are of excellent quality, earning widespread praise from merchants and consumers alike.

　　Geographical Scope

　　Yanchi County is located in the eastern part of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, in the transitional zone between the Ordos Plateau and the Loess Plateau. It lies between 106°33′–107°47′ east longitude and 37°04′–38°10′ north latitude, with an average altitude of 1,600 meters. The county spans approximately 66 kilometers from east to west and about 110 kilometers from north to south. It borders Dingbian County of Shaanxi Province to the east, Huan County of Gansu Province to the south, Otog Front Banner of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region to the north, and Lingwu and Tongxin cities (counties) of the region to the west. Covering a total area of 8,661.3 square kilometers, the Yanchi Melon production area includes 15 villages across Huamachi, Wanglejing Township, Qingshan Township, and Gaoshawo Town within Yanchi County. The total cultivation area is 700 hectares, with an annual output of 18,000 tons.

　　Natural Ecological Environment and Humanistic Historical Factors

　　(1) Soil and Topography: Yanchi County has abundant land resources. As it lies in the transitional zone between the Ordos Plateau and the Loess Plateau, the central-northern part is characterized by gently sloping hills with undulating terrain and continuous sand dunes, accounting for about 80% of the total area. The southern part belongs to the Loess Plateau region, featuring crisscrossing gullies and alternating ridges and valleys, covering approximately 20% of the total area. Most of the soil consists of ordinary and light gray calcareous soil, rich in calcium and phosphorus, with over 40 types of mineral elements. The local economy is primarily based on agriculture and animal husbandry, and agricultural products are less polluted, creating an excellent environment for green industries. These unique soil conditions align closely with the ecological characteristics of melons, laying a solid foundation for the development of the melon industry in Yanchi.

　　(2) Hydrology: The Yanchi Melon production area has high-quality and effective shallow underground water.

　　(3) Climate: Yanchi County experiences distinct seasons, long cold periods, concurrent rain and heat, and a typical continental monsoon climate. The area sees large diurnal temperature variations, with 2,892.1 hours of annual sunshine, an average annual temperature of 8.3°C, and ≥10

　　°C accumulated temperature of 2,944.9°C. The highest temperatures in July, August, and September can reach 37.8°C, while the lowest can drop to 2.4°C. Annual precipitation is only 290 mm, but evaporation reaches as high as 2,041.8 mm, making it a region with exceptionally high sunlight exposure. The average frost-free period is 148 days. During the melon growing season, there is ample sunlight and significant day-night temperature differences, with thermal conditions suitable for the growth of Yanchi Melon.

　　(4) Humanistic and Historical Background: Melon cultivation has a long history in Yanchi County. According to the *Yanchi County Annals*, melon planting has been practiced for nearly 100 years. The unique geographical and climatic conditions, soil resources, and high-quality groundwater provide optimal conditions for melon development. The resulting melons have high sugar content, a refreshing and crisp-sweet taste, and excellent eating quality, making them highly popular in the market and a crop with strong economic benefits. In 2006, Yanchi County was designated by the Ningxia Department of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry as a standardized production base for pollution-free melons and watermelons, significantly boosting farmers’ enthusiasm for melon cultivation and promoting the industry’s move toward industrialization and scale. The annual planting area has consistently remained around 700 hectares, with an annual output of approximately 18,000 tons.

　　Production Technical Requirements

　　(1) Origin Selection and Special Provisions: The Yanchi Melon planting area is located within the Yanchi well-irrigated district. There are no industrial or mining enterprises in the production region, ensuring an unpolluted environment. The atmospheric and soil conditions in the area meet national standards, and the origin environment quality must comply with the requirements of *Pollution-Free Hami Melon Origin Environmental Conditions* (NY5181-2002).

　　(2) Variety Selection and Specific Requirements: Melons are a cool-natured fruit. Cultivars with sweet, sandy, and fragrant flavors, thick rinds for storage, and ease of transportation should be prioritized, supplemented appropriately by Xiangmi No. 1.

　　(3) Production Process Management: The production process of Yanchi Melon must adhere to the *Pollution-Free Hami Melon Production Operation Procedures* (NY/T5180-2002).

　　(4) Product Harvesting and Transportation: Different varieties must be harvested, packaged, and transported separately. Melons should be sold immediately after picking to maintain freshness and palatability. During transportation, melons must be handled carefully to prevent compression.

　　(5) Production Record Requirements: Each melon planting plot must maintain relevant documentation, including details on input sources, harmless treatment of farm manure, seed varieties, deep plowing and sunning times, planting dates, as well as field management practices such as intertillage and weeding, and harvest times. Sales records, including sales contracts and distribution channels, must also be kept. All records must be preserved for at least two years after the melons are dispatched.

　　4. Typical Quality Characteristics and Product Quality

　　(1) External Sensory Characteristics: The melons are uniform in size, with high sugar content, bright color, delicious taste, refreshing and crisp texture, and excellent eating quality.

　　(2) Internal Quality Indicators: They have a sweet and cool nature, containing various vitamins, carbohydrates, and minerals such as iron, calcium, zinc, and selenium.

　　(3) Safety Requirements: Yanchi Melon complies with the *Pollution-Free Melons and Watermelons* standard NY5109-2005.

　　Packaging, Labeling, and Related Provisions

　　Yanchi Melon is categorized into premium and first-grade based on seed fullness. The packaging used is woven bags. Each bag is labeled with a batch number and marked with “Yanchi Melon.” Storage and transportation follow the *Green Food Storage and Transportation Guidelines* (NY/T1056-2006).