Gongliu Walnuts

Gongliu Walnuts

Gongliu walnuts are a product with a geographical indication for agricultural products.

　　 The wild walnuts of Gongliu County, known as the “Wild Walnut Valley,” grow in an area where rare wild walnut trees—unique to China—are found in large numbers, hence the name. The Wild Walnut Valley is located on the southern slope of the northern side of the Yishigilik Mountain, south of the Gongliu Walnut Forest Farm, approximately 15 kilometers in a straight line from the county town. The protected area spans about 1,180 hectares and is a key regional-level nature reserve for natural resources. The wild walnut tree is a tertiary relict species.

　　A surviving species from ancient times, it is the ancestor of today's walnuts, a treasure of the Tianshan Mountains, and the emerald of the Ili Oasis. The wild walnut forest is referred to by botanists as a “living fossil” of walnuts—a natural gene bank for species resources and a museum of wild plants. In Uyghur, it is called “Jianggadesayi.” Scattered across the valley, the wild walnut groves form isolated island-like distributions, with over 7,000 walnut trees of various sizes growing there. The valley is filled with the sound of babbling streams, shaded by dense foliage, and offers a cool and pleasant climate. Many wild walnut trees have sturdy trunks resembling coiling dragons. The largest one, known as the “Walnut King,” is said to be 3,000 years old. Its canopy shades the sky, with graceful branches and robust twists, seemingly narrating the millennia of history of the wild walnut forest. Besides wild walnuts, the valley is home to more than 350 species of higher plants, 100 species of terrestrial vertebrates, over 50 species of insects, and more than 10 species of plants under national key protection. Its unique landscape is considered rare in the world and unique in Asia. In 2008, the Wild Walnut Valley was awarded the status of a National 4A-level Tourist Attraction.

　　The Wild Walnut Valley

　　Gongliu Walnuts

　　Geographical Scope

　　Gongliu County is located in the northwest of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, along the upper reaches of the Ili River and the lower reaches of the Tekes River. The production area of Gongliu walnuts lies within the Tianshan Mountain range, in the southeastern part of Gongliu County, at elevations between 770m and 2,000m. The terrain is higher in the east and lower in the west, characterized by high and low mountain landforms. The geographical indication protection area for Gongliu walnuts includes one township and one farm, comprising seven administrative villages and three farming and herding teams (Wutubulake Village, Gongshang Village, Moyingguzhe Village, Hongguang Village, Oytamu Village, Dongmaili Village, and Kangersenbulake Village in Dongmaili Township; and Farm Team 1, Farm Team 2, and Animal Husbandry Team in Yangchang Farm). The geographical coordinates are between 82°35′—82°50′ east longitude and 43°14′—43°38′ north latitude in the southeastern part of Gongliu County. It borders Xinyuan County to the east, Yining County to the west, Tekes County and Zhaosu County to the south, and neighbors Xinyuan County to the north. The protected area covers 2,667 hectares, with an annual total output reaching 1,800 tons.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　(1) External Sensory Characteristics: The nuts are medium-sized, round or oblong, with a round base and a gradually pointed apex resembling a peach shape. The average weight of a single nut is 11 grams, up to a maximum of 14 grams, with an average of three diameters at 3.7 cm. The shell is smooth and attractive, typically 0.8 mm – 1.09 mm thick. The sutures are relatively loose, flat or slightly raised, and the inner septum is membranous, making it easy to extract whole kernels, with a kernel yield rate of 55%–75%. The kernels are light-colored, fragrant, and of superior quality. (2) Internal Quality: Gongliu walnuts contain 15–20g of protein, 60–70g of fat, and 8–12% carbohydrates. They have a high content of unsaturated fatty acids, offering significant health benefits, including linoleic acid content that can reach 48%–52%. They also contain essential trace elements, minerals, and 18 kinds of amino acids required by the human body, such as calcium, manganese, zinc, potassium, and iron, making them highly nutritious. (3) Safety Requirements: ① The quality of walnut products must comply with the NY/5307-2005 standards for pollution-free production of deciduous fruit tree nuts. ② The growth environment of walnuts must meet the technical requirements for pollution-free production areas of forest and fruit products as outlined in NY/5013-2006. (4) Packaging: Packaging materials should meet national food packaging hygiene requirements as well as environmental protection standards. The sales packaging of walnuts must comply with national regulations, so all packaging materials should be clean, hygienic, dry, non-toxic, odorless, and meet food hygiene requirements; all packaging should be sturdy and durable for transport. (5) Storage: Finished product warehouses must be clean, dry, ventilated, and free from rodents and pests. Finished products must not be stored together with toxic, harmful, rotten, spoiled, or damp items. The transportation and storage processes of finished products must comply with national regulations on agricultural product transport and storage.