Wuyuan Lantern Red Melon

Wuyuan Lantern Red Melon

Wuyuan Lantern Red Melon is a geographical indication agricultural product.

　　Wuyuan Lantern Red Melon is a specialty of Wuyuan County, Bayannur City, Inner Mongolia. The "Lantern Red" melon from Shengfeng in Wuyuan has a long planting history and is favored by consumers for its thin skin, thick flesh, and crisp, sweet taste. Wuyuan Lantern Red Melon is a nationally protected geographical indication agricultural product.

　　Wuyuan County is situated in the Hetao Plain, known worldwide as the "800-li Granary of the Hetao Region." It boasts 2,400 years of history and profound cultural heritage. During Emperor Wu of Han’s reign, it was named Wuyuan Commandery after Juyuan Commandery was renamed, and the county was officially established in 1912. Historically, Wuyuan was where General Meng Tian built the Great Wall to the north, Wei Qing fought against the Xiongnu, and the poet Li Bai wrote the famous lines “Distant lies the Wuyuan Pass, where northern snow mingles with border flowers,” and Zhang Jingzhong praised it with “Returning late from Wuyuan — in February, willows show no thread of green.” In modern history, Wang Tongchun, a local gentry known as the “River God among mortals,” dredged canals, managed water resources, reclaimed wasteland, and pioneered large-scale agricultural development in the Hetao region, turning Wuyuan into a land of fertile soil, pleasant climate, crisscrossing irrigation channels, and reliable harvests — a true “Jiangnan beyond the Great Wall.” In contemporary history, General Feng Yuxiang’s oath-taking at Wuyuan and General Fu Zuoyi’s resistance against Japan in Wuyuan further enhanced its fame. Melon cultivation in Wuyuan began as early as the 1980s, but due to the thin skin, poor storability, low yield, and underdeveloped transportation that limited long-distance shipping, the economic returns were relatively low, so the melons were mainly grown by local farmers for nearby markets. However, thanks to the area's abundant sunlight, long daylight hours, large diurnal temperature variations, low but concentrated rainfall, and the dominant irrigated loam soil with high potassium content — ideal for sugar and starch accumulation — the Lantern Red Melon thrived. These melons are prized for their thin rinds, thick flesh, crisp texture, and sweet flavor, along with rich nutrition. Locals call them “melons you can’t hide,” and so the variety has endured. In recent years, with strong support from the county government for characteristic local industries, facility agriculture has developed rapidly. Melon cultivation methods have evolved from open-field farming to a combination of greenhouses, medium and small arch sheds, and open fields. Planting area has now exceeded 200 hectares, and production continues to expand. Supply is steady from April to November, with strong sales across the region and growing recognition, especially for the renowned Yan’anheqiao Lantern Red Melon. Thanks to continuous innovation in cultivation techniques, farming efficiency has risen steadily. Average greenhouse income is 8,000–12,000 yuan per mu, peaking at 20,000 yuan; average income in heated greenhouses is 30,000–40,000 yuan per mu, reaching up to 60,000 yuan.

　　In 2014, Wuyuan Lantern Red Melon, applied for by the Wuyuan County Vegetable Office, passed the review of the Agricultural Product Quality and Safety Center of the Ministry of Agriculture and expert evaluation, and was registered and protected as a national geographical indication agricultural product.

　　Geographical Scope

　　Wuyuan County is located in the western part of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, within Bayannur City. It borders the Yellow River to the south, the Yin Mountains to the north, and neighbors Urad Front Banner to the east and Linhe District to the west. Its coordinates are 107°35′70″ to 108°37′50″ east longitude and 40°46′30″ to 41°16′45″ north latitude. The county stretches approximately 62.5 kilometers from east to west and about 40 kilometers from north to south. Situated in the heart of the Hetao Plain, the terrain is flat with a gradient as gentle as one in eight thousand. National Highway 110, the Beijing-Baotou Expressway, and the Baotou-Lanzhou Railway all run through the county. Wuyuan governs nine towns, 117 administrative villages, and 774 communities, with a total population of 303,000, including 52,978 households. Of these, 210,000 are agricultural residents, with 100,000 laborers available. Total arable land covers 2.3 million mu. The total production area of Wuyuan Lantern Red Melon is 200 hectares, with an annual output of 4,000 tons.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　External Sensory Characteristics: Wuyuan Lantern Red Melon belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family and is a local specialty variety. Its shape resembles a lantern, hence its enduring name. The fruit typically weighs around 400 grams, with a gray-green rind, thin skin, thick flesh, crisp texture, and sweet taste. It is highly nutritious and favored by consumers. Internal Quality Characteristics: The melon is rich in nutrients. Testing shows vitamin C content of 22–32 mg/100g, potassium content of 150–200 mg/100g, soluble solids content of 8–14%, and energy content of 140–200 kJ/100g. The product aids digestion and inhibits various bacteria. Safety Requirements: The production environment strictly complies with the standards of the "Pollution-Free Vegetable Production Environment Conditions" (NY5010—2001).