Old Longhe Watermelons

Old Longhe Watermelons

Old Longhe Watermelons are a product with geographical indication status.

　　Xinjiang is often called the "Land of Fruits and Melons," and Changji is the "Land of Fruits and Melons" of northern Xinjiang. As early as the 16th year of Genghis Khan’s reign, on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month—the Double Ninth Festival (September 26, 1221 AD)—the Taoist monk Qiu Chuji, who had traveled from Qixia County in Shandong, led his disciples through Changbala City (now Changji City). "Its king (Weiwu’er) and his subordinates, along with Uyghur monks, all came out to welcome them from afar. Upon entering, the king’s wife offered them wine and watermelons. The melons were so large and heavy that the scale couldn’t even weigh them properly—they were as big as pillows, and their fragrance was unlike anything seen in China at the time, just like fine vegetables from central China." This record shows that Changbala was one of the five cities of the Kingdom of Qocho. The king and queen served local specialties to their distinguished guests. The watermelons were so large and heavy that even the counterweights couldn’t hold them, estimated to weigh at least over 10 jin (5 kg). Between the 1st and 2nd centuries BC, watermelons were introduced to the Western Regions via Central Asia from North Africa. It is believed that some small states in the Western Regions had begun cultivating them in small quantities. Since such large, sweet watermelons and melons already existed during the Yuan Dynasty, it is clear that they had been cultivated and improved over several hundred years. By the Northern Song Dynasty (960–1126), the ancestors of the Uyghurs in Changbala (now Changji) were already growing watermelons and melons locally, which means this tradition dates back over a thousand years. During the Daoguang era of the Qing Dynasty, the poet Shi Shanchang mentioned in his book *LunTai Miscellaneous Records* that the Old Longhe melons produced in Changji had a unique flavor. By the late Qing Dynasty, Changji was producing around 40,000 to 50,000 watermelons annually, exporting about 26,000, accounting for 60% of the total production. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, during the 1960s, most watermelons in Changji were local varieties grown by farmers, with modest yields but good quality. Before the 1970s, farmers grew watermelons without plastic mulch. To promote early ripening, they used a method called “small furrow melons,” which involved digging trenches and covering them with sand to raise soil temperature. For late-ripening varieties, they employed a technique called “large furrow melons,” using deep trenches to retain water. In the 1980s, with the promotion of plastic mulching technology, villages such as Binhu Village in Binhu Township and Xialiugong Village in Liugong Town in Changji County began using plastic mulch. Coupled with the push for commercial melon production, the Changji Horticulture Station and the Bayi Agricultural College collaborated to develop watermelon seeds well-suited to the area's unique geographic environment, abundant light, heat, and climatic conditions. These seeds had strong growing characteristics and were quickly promoted to various provinces across China. By the 1990s, Changji had become a major base for watermelon seed production, making significant contributions to the country’s watermelon industry. Old Longhe watermelons are known for their high sugar content and are beloved by consumers of all ethnic groups. They enjoy a certain level of recognition within Xinjiang, especially the “Old Longhe” brand, which has gained a solid reputation in Urumqi and surrounding areas, indicating a promising market outlook.

　　Old Longhe watermelons are a specialty of Laolonghe Village, Daxiqi Town, Changji City, Changji Prefecture, Xinjiang. These watermelons are large in size, mostly oval in shape, with thin skins, thick flesh, very few fibers, high sugar content, red pulp, and are sweet and juicy. Old Longhe watermelons are a nationally protected product with geographical indication status.

　　The history of watermelon cultivation in Laolonghe, Changji City, spans over a thousand years. The watermelons are large, typically weighing between 6 to 8 kilograms each, mostly oval-shaped, with green rinds marked by light green striped patterns. They feature thin skin, thick flesh, very few fibers, high sugar content, red pulp, and are sweet and juicy.

　　In 2014, the "Old Longhe Watermelon" application submitted by the Changji City Agricultural Technology Extension Center passed the review by the Agricultural Product Quality and Safety Center of the Ministry of Agriculture and expert evaluation, leading to its implementation under the national agricultural product geographical indication registration and protection system.

　　Geographic Scope

　　Changji City is located at the northern foot of the Tianshan Mountains and the southern edge of the Junggar Basin. It is a satellite city of Urumqi, the capital of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and also the seat of the Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture. Daxiqi Town is situated to the west of Changji City, covering an administrative area 33 kilometers long from north to south and 7.5 kilometers wide from east to west. The protected geographic indication area for Old Longhe watermelons includes seven villages in Daxiqi Town, Changji City. The geographic coordinates are: 44°06'47" to 44°09'16.3" east longitude, 87°14'47.3" to 87°16'0" north latitude, at an elevation of 462 meters. The protected area spans 6,000 mu (approximately 400 hectares), with an annual total production of nearly 30,000 tons.

　　Product Quality and Characteristic Features

　　(1) External Sensory Characteristics: Old Longhe watermelons are large, with individual fruits typically weighing between 6 to 8 kilograms. They are mainly oval-shaped, with green rinds featuring light green striped patterns. The skin is thin, the flesh is thick, there are very few fibers, the sugar content is high, the pulp is red, and the texture is sweet and juicy with a pure taste. (2) Internal Quality Indicators: Old Longhe watermelons have a high sugar content, with total sugar levels between 7.85–9.5 (g/100g) and reduced vitamin C between 5.35–6.45 (g/100g). The soluble solids content (in the center of the watermelon) ranges from 9.8% to 11.4%. (3) Safety Requirements: Products within the protected quality and safety zone comply with the production technical regulations and are produced strictly in accordance with the *Green Food Melon Standards* (NY/T427-2007).