Yichun Red Pine Seeds

Yichun Red Pine Seeds

Yichun Red Pine Seeds are a product with geographical indication status.

　　Yichun is hailed as the "Hometown of Red Pines," so the pine seeds produced here are naturally the most authentic and genuine.

　　Also known as fruit pine seeds or sea pine seeds, they are distributed in the Lesser Khingan Mountains of our province, with Yichun being the main production area. Rich in oil and protein, red pine seeds are a premium tonic food that can aid in the treatment of various diseases such as arteriosclerosis and tuberculosis. The pine seed coat can be made into dyes, the cone skin into aromatic oils, and the kernels are not only a popular dried fruit and source of cooking oil but also an important raw material for industries such as leather. In bumper harvest years, hundreds of thousands of jin of red pine seeds can be collected.

　　Yichun Red Pine Seeds are produced in Yichun City, Heilongjiang Province. The red pine is a national first-class endangered species, and the largest area of virgin red pine forests in China is located in the Yichun forest region. Yichun is also widely renowned both at home and abroad as the "Hometown of Red Pines." In the early days of Yichun’s development, a resilient "Red Pine Spirit" was formed. Pine seeds are the seeds of the red pine, and wild red pines take 50 years to begin producing seeds, with a maturation period of about two years, making them extremely precious. Yichun, known as the "Hometown of Red Pines," naturally produces the most authentic and genuine pine seeds. Pine seeds are an important traditional Chinese medicine; long-term consumption strengthens the body and mind, moisturizes the skin, and prolongs life. Li Shizhen of the Ming Dynasty spoke highly of the medicinal value of pine seeds. In his work *Compendium of Materia Medica*, he wrote: “Pine seeds, also called Korean pine seeds, have a slightly sweet and mild taste, are non-toxic; they primarily treat bone joint wind, dizziness, remove dead flesh, whiten the skin, disperse water qi, moisten the five internal organs, dispel wind and cold, supplement deficiencies in those who are weak and fatigued, nourish the five organs, disperse various winds, and moisten the intestines and stomach. Long-term consumption makes the body light and extends life without aging.”

　　Geographic Scope

　　Yichun City is located in the northeast of Heilongjiang Province, with the entire territory traversed by the Lesser Khingan Mountains. It borders Luobei County, Hegang City, and Tangyuan County to the east, neighbors Yilan County and Tonghe County to the south, connects with Qing’an County and Suileng County to the west, and leads to Xunke County to the north. The northern Jiayin County faces Russia across the river, with a boundary river stretching 246 kilometers. The protected geographic indication area for Yichun Red Pine Seeds spans from 127°42′ to 130°14′ east longitude and 46°28′ to 49°21′ north latitude. This includes 21 counties (cities), districts, and bureaus: Tieli City, Jiayin County, Yichun District, Youhao District, Shangganling District, Wuying District, Hongxing District, Xinqing District, Tangwanghe District, Wuyiling District, Wumahe District, Cuiluan District, Dailing District, Nancha District, Meixi District, Xilin District, Jinshantun District, Tieli Bureau, Shuangfeng Bureau, Taoshan Bureau, and Langxiang Bureau.

　　Natural Ecological Environment and Humanistic Historical Factors

　　(1) Soil and Topography: The administrative area of Yichun covers 33,000 square kilometers, with mountainous regions accounting for 80%. The average elevation is around 400 meters, and the highest peak is Pingdingshan, which stands at 1,429 meters. The overall terrain of Yichun City is lower in the west and higher in the east, lower in the south and higher in the north. It stretches 325 kilometers from north to south and 145 kilometers from east to west, forming a narrow and elongated shape. The landform features are described as “eight parts mountains, half part water, half part grassland, and one part farmland.” Yichun currently has nearly 3 million hectares of forest, with a forest coverage rate of 80.6%, making it one of the country’s key state-owned forest areas. The city’s cultivated land soil mainly consists of black soil, meadow soil, and albic soil, while forest soil is primarily mountainous dark brown soil and brown coniferous forest soil. The land has high natural fertility, high organic matter content, and rich surface humus.

　　(2) Hydrology: Yichun City has dense valleys and a well-developed water system, with a total water storage capacity of 10.2 billion cubic meters, including 7.8 billion cubic meters of surface water resources and 2.4 billion cubic meters of groundwater resources. There are 676 rivers of varying sizes within the city, belonging to the Heilongjiang and Songhua River systems. Due to the city’s location in a forested area with relatively little arable land, the per-mu water availability is relatively high.

　　(3) Climate: Yichun has a cold temperate continental monsoon climate, with long and cold winters, distinct spring and autumn seasons, and short summers. The annual accumulated temperature ranges from 1,990°C to 2,550°C, annual rainfall is between 550 mm and 650 mm, the average annual sunshine duration is 2,390.8 hours, and the frost-free period lasts 90 to 125 days per year. The climate is suitable for the growth of most crops in the north, especially very favorable for the growth of red pine seeds.

　　(4) Humanistic and Historical Background: The harvesting of red pine seeds in Yichun has a long history. Ever since human habitation, red pine seeds have been picked as wild fruits. Currently, according to national forest conservation policies, wildlife management regulations, and local government policies, each forest area carries out centralized protection and unified harvesting and purchasing during the harvest season.

　　The red pine is a national first-class endangered species, and the largest area of virgin red pine forests in China is located in the Yichun forest region. Yichun is also widely renowned both at home and abroad as the "Hometown of Red Pines." In the early days of Yichun’s development, a resilient "Red Pine Spirit" was formed. Pine seeds are the seeds of the red pine, and wild red pines take 50 years to begin producing seeds, with a maturation period of about two years, making them extremely precious. Yichun, known as the "Hometown of Red Pines," naturally produces the most authentic and genuine pine seeds. Pine seeds are an important traditional Chinese medicine; long-term consumption strengthens the body and mind, moisturizes the skin, and prolongs life. Li Shizhen of the Ming Dynasty spoke highly of the medicinal value of pine seeds. In his work *Compendium of Materia Medica*, he wrote: “Pine seeds, also called Korean pine seeds, have a slightly sweet and mild taste, are non-toxic; they primarily treat bone joint wind, dizziness, remove dead flesh, whiten the skin, disperse water qi, moisten the five internal organs, dispel wind and cold, supplement deficiencies in those who are weak and fatigued, nourish the five organs, disperse various winds, and moisten the intestines and stomach. Long-term consumption makes the body light and extends life without aging.”