Dandong Chestnuts

Dandong Chestnuts

Dandong Chestnuts are a protected geographical indication product.

　　    Chestnuts have been cultivated for two to three thousand years. The cultivation of chestnut trees in Liaoning Province began in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. The fruit, known as chestnuts, can be eaten raw, roasted with sugar, baked, canned, ground into flour for cakes, or used in cooking. They are highly nutritious and economically valuable. (Dandong)

　　  There are two types of Dandong chestnuts. One is the Japanese chestnut, introduced from Japan in the early 20th century and cultivated on a large scale. This type has large fruits, tough shells that are difficult to peel, and poor taste. The other is the Chinese chestnut, also called the oil chestnut, which is smaller, with easy-to-peel shells and superior quality. In the past, chestnuts were propagated from seeds, without stable cultivated varieties. Since the 1970s, through grafting with improved varieties, major cultivars such as “Jinhua,” “Danze,” “Yuewang,” “Chang’an No. 10,” “±60,” “±13,” “Liaodan No. 58,” and “9113” have been developed. These varieties are characterized by early bearing, high yield, strong resistance to stress, large fruit size, and suitability for processing.

　　　　    Chestnuts are a dominant economic forest species in Dandong. Natural conditions are favorable for chestnut production, with the area and output accounting for over 90% of Liaoning Province’s total. Dandong chestnuts belong to the Japanese chestnut system and meet the taste preferences of the Japanese market, occupying 30% of Japan’s chestnut market share. The cultivation area of Dandong chestnuts has expanded to 1.15 million mu, with an annual output exceeding 20,000 tons and an annual output value reaching 150 million yuan. It has become an important production area and export base for chestnuts nationwide.

　　  The protected geographical indication area for Dandong Chestnuts is defined according to the scope proposed in the "Letter on the Proposal to Define the Protected Geographical Indication Area for Dandong Chestnuts" (Danzheng [2006] No. 75) issued by the Dandong Municipal Government of Liaoning Province. It covers the administrative regions of Donggang City and Fengcheng City, as well as Kuandian County and the three districts of Yuanbao District, Zhen'an District, and Zhenxing District, all under the jurisdiction of Dandong City, Liaoning Province.