Zhalan Tun Crabapple

Zhalan Tun Crabapple

Zhalan Tun crabapple is a product with a geographical indication for agricultural produce.

　　Zhalan Tun has a long history of crabapple cultivation and is one of China’s main production areas for the fruit. Varieties such as Huang Taiping, Da Qiuguo, and Crataegus pinnatifida are widely renowned and are indispensable fruits when hosting distinguished guests and friends locally. The distinctive appearance of Zhalan Tun crabapples is highlighted by their ping-pong ball-sized shape, bright color, smooth and glossy skin, sweet and sour taste, juiciness, rich aroma, and oil-like flesh at the core, all contributing to a unique flavor. They also offer benefits such as insect repellence and improved vision. Zhalan Tun crabapple beverages and dried crabapple products have gained fame both domestically and internationally, especially in Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. Zhalan Tun crabapple is a protected geographical indication agricultural product and green food recognized by the Ministry of Agriculture.

　　(1) Soil and Topography: The Zhalan Tun crabapple production area mainly consists of mountainous hills and rolling plateaus, which account for 69% of the total area. The northern part belongs to the Yalu River valley plain, the central part to the Jiazi Mountain low hills, and the southern part to the Keerge Mountain mid-level hills. The main soil type in the production area is dark brown forest soil, which, according to tests, contains over 6.22% organic matter, an average of 2.34g/kg total nitrogen, 26mg/kg available phosphorus, more than 65mg/kg readily available potassium, and a pH value of around 4.9–7.7. The soil is deep, fertile, and has strong water and nutrient retention capabilities, making it highly suitable for crabapple growth.

　　(2) Hydrology: The annual average precipitation in the Zhalan Tun crabapple production area is 718.6 mm. Water conservancy facilities are well-developed, underground water sources are abundant, farmland irrigation and drainage systems are complete, and the water quality is clear and pure, with good water resource conservation. There is no pollution, ensuring irrigation during droughts and drainage during floods. The rivers are divided among three catchment areas: the Yalu River, Jiqin River, and Chao’er River, with an average annual runoff of 251.18 million cubic meters. Water resources are abundant, including 2.125 billion cubic meters of river flow and 502 million cubic meters of groundwater. Due to the numerous rivers in the Zhalan Tun crabapple production area, perennial streams flow through the north-south longitudinal valleys, which are densely distributed and pass through the crabapple-growing regions. The water is clear and pure, with good water conservation and rich mineral content in the groundwater, creating optimal natural conditions for crabapple production.

　　hundred million cubic meters, and underground resources amount to 502 million cubic meters. Due to the numerous rivers in the Zhalantun crabapple production area, the north-south longitudinal valleys have year-round flowing river water, distributed in a stepped pattern with relatively high density. These rivers flow through the crabapple production zones, with clear and pure water quality. The water resources are well-preserved, and the underground water is rich in mineral content, creating uniquely favorable natural conditions for the production of Zhalantun crabapples.

　　(3) Climate: The area has a mid-temperate continental semi-humid climate, characterized by dry and windy springs with rapid warming; hot and rainy summers with abundant precipitation; sharp temperature drops and large diurnal temperature variations in autumn; and long, cold, and snowy winters. The annual sunshine duration is 2,411 hours, the average annual temperature is 3.3°C, the effective accumulated temperature above 10°C averages 2,147°C, the annual rainfall ranges from 450 to 550 mm (mostly concentrated in July and August), the frost-free period is short, averaging 110–135 days. These unique climatic conditions are highly suitable for producing high-quality crabapples.

　　(4) Humanistic and Historical Background: Crabapple cultivation in Zhalan Tun has a long history, and the region is a major production area for high-quality crabapples in northern China. The Huang Taiping, Da Qiuguo, and Crataegus pinnatifida varieties produced in Zhalan Tun are widely known. Zhalan Tun crabapples are also known by other names such as Leng Jin Dan, Lin Qin, Wu Se Lai, and Lian Zhu Guo, and are documented in texts like “Medical Materia Medica,” “Ri Hua Zi Materia Medica,” “Kai Bao Materia Medica,” and “Yi Lin Tsuan Yao.” Scattered planting began in the late 19th century. In the early 1940s, Zhalan Tun started introducing and cultivating varieties such as Da Qiuguo and Huang Haitang. In 1950, agricultural experiments in Zhalan Tun carried out small-scale fruit tree demonstration plantings, gaining experience in cultivating fruit trees in cold regions. Later, seedlings of varieties like Taiping Guo and Da Qiuguo were introduced from Heilongjiang and Jilin, and mountain ashes were used for artificial grafting to cultivate local crabapple seedlings. In 1952, the Hexi Fruit and Horticulture Farm in Zhalan Tun was established as a demonstration base for crabapple cultivation. Varieties such as Huang Taiping, Da Qiuguo, Huang Haitang, Zi Taiping, Qing Taiping, and Qi Yue Xian were introduced from other provinces. Cultivation trials showed that crabapples are cold-resistant and suitable for local growing conditions. In 1958, villages began establishing orchards, including over 200 such as the Huaguoshan Orchard of the Halasu Commune. By 1959, crabapple orchards in Zhalan Tun alone covered 1,506 mu, yielding 24,000 kg of fruit annually. From 1981 to 1990, the city cultivated 40,000 mu of crabapple trees, with an average annual production of 6 million kg. By 2000, the crabapple planting area reached nearly 100,000 mu, with an annual yield of about 60,000 tons and an annual output value of 540 million yuan. In October 2006, the green natural crabapple juice produced by the Zhalan Tun Changzheng Beverage Factory obtained national circulation product certification, filling a national gap for such a product. Currently, Zhalan Tun’s series of crabapple drinks are famous beyond the region and exported to over 20 provinces and cities, including Beijing, Hebei, and Shanghai. The “Tang Xin’er” series of crabapple drinks are popular in Beijing, Shanghai, and Tianjin. The crabapple industry has increased local fruit farmers’ annual income by 11.4 million yuan. The city now has 16,000 hectares of crabapple bases and two deep-processing enterprises.

　　The Woniuhe Town in Zhalan Tun is known as the “Hometown of Crabapples” for its “large quantity and high quality” of crabapples. In 2007, the pure natural crabapple juice produced in Zhalan Tun won the Best-Selling Product Award at the 7th China (Qiqihar) Green Food Expo. In November 2008, at the 6th China International Agricultural Products Fair in Hohhot, the pure natural green food “Shuang Shuang Brand Crabapple Juice” from the Zhalan Tun Changzheng Beverage Factory was favored by approximately 15,000 domestic and international professional buyers from China, the United States, the United Kingdom, and other countries. Currently, Zhalan Tun is actively cultivating and supporting local green and specialty industries, leveraging its unique climate conditions, resources, and locational advantages. It has identified a market gap in the crabapple product series and is guiding farmers to develop intercropping under crabapple trees and courtyard planting. Through a company + base + farmer business model, specialized forest and fruit industry bases are being developed to achieve a virtuous cycle of characteristic agriculture and forestry industries, as well as integrated operations in product preservation, storage, processing, and sales—thereby increasing farmers’ income, boosting agricultural efficiency, and accelerating the county’s economic development.

　　Geographical Scope

　　The geographical protection scope of Zhalan Tun crabapple covers the territory of Zhalan Tun City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The geographic coordinates are: 122°28′–123°17′ east longitude, 47°35′–48°06′ north latitude, stretching 145 km from north to south and 86 km from east to west. It mainly involves nine townships (offices) in Zhalan Tun City: Halasu Office, Woniuhe Town, Gaotaizi Office, Zhonghe Office, Sama Street Ewenki Ethnic Township, Mugaqi Town, Guanmenshan Office, Sejilahu Office, and Wadi Town, encompassing a total of 74 administrative villages. The total production area is 16,000 hectares, with an annual output of 240,000 tons and an annual output value of 1.35 billion yuan.