Changping Apples

Changping Apples

Changping Apples are a protected geographical indication product.

　　“Changping Apples” refer to apples produced in Changping District, Beijing. Thanks to the region’s superior natural conditions, Changping apples are high in sugar content, quick to color, and rich in nutrients. Since ancient times, Changping has been reputed as an “apple paradise.” As early as the Qing Dynasty, Emperor Qianlong left behind poetic praise: “Passing Qinghe Bridge to the north, I glimpse the Tianshou Mountains in the distance. The thirteen imperial tombs of the former dynasty are scattered among them. The dragon veins of the Taihang Mountains stretch from the southwest; golden halls and jade gates open towards the sky. Surrounded splendidly on all sides, it is truly a blessed land, with a thousand peaks towering protectively behind.”

　　Changping has long been known for its apple production, with the earliest historical record found in the Ming Dynasty’s “Qun Fang Pu” (“Collection of Flowers and Plants”), which states, “Apples come from the north, and those from Yan and Zhao are especially fine.” The northern Taihang and Yanshan Mountain ranges converge in northern Changping, forming a sprawling “pre-mountain warm belt” that stretches for hundreds of miles. The warm and humid Yazhu River originates on its sunny side, while the Bai River cuts across its shady side, nourishing the fertile land at the foot of the mountains. This “warm belt” extends from Shangyuan in the east to Nankou in the west. With orientations precisely aligned north-south and east-west, as if sliced by nature’s hand, this area has been transformed by nature into an ideal and comfortable “feng shui treasure land” for apple cultivation. Changping was one of the first regions in China to introduce the Fuji apple variety. In April 1980, Changping successfully introduced original Fuji apple stock from Japan, planting them initially in the Xishankou orchard before later transferring them to the Daxinfeng orchard in Cuicun Town. Subsequently, fruit tree experts in Changping District conducted extensive experimentation, observation, and breeding work on the imported Fuji apples, eventually developing Fuji varieties well-suited to Beijing’s climate. The district has accumulated rich experience and expertise in cultivating Fuji apples.

　　Natural Conditions

　　Changping benefits from abundant light and temperature resources. It enjoys an average annual sunshine duration of 2,764.7 hours. This ample sunlight not only aids in fruit skin coloring but also accelerates the chemical processes within the fruit, such as starch converting into sugars and the generation of vitamins. At the southern edge of the warm belt, the Jingmi Irrigation Canal flows gently from east to west, organically separating the mountainous and plain areas like a natural “air conditioner,” effectively regulating the local microclimate. The annual average temperature is 12.1°C, with an annual temperature index of 106. During the fruit development period, the average temperature reaches 23.9°C, and the frost-free period exceeds 200 days, providing apples with ample time to grow. Around late September and early October, when the apples ripen, the diurnal temperature variation can reach 9–12°C, contributing to high sugar content and fast coloring. The area receives an average annual precipitation of 542.9 mm, which meets the water needs of apple growth while avoiding excessive rainfall that could lead to disease. In addition, according to tests by the Beijing Academy of Agricultural Sciences, the soil in these orchards contains 2.08% organic matter, with effective levels of phosphorus, potassium, iron, zinc, and boron being 2–12 times higher than those in ordinary soils. These trace elements are absorbed by the apples during growth, transforming into beneficial microelements and nutrients for human consumption. This makes Changping Fuji apples not only delicious but also highly nutritious.

　　Protected Area

　　The protected geographical indication area for Changping Apples is defined according to the boundaries proposed in the letter “Regarding the Application to Define the Protected Geographical Indication Area for Changping Apples” (Changzheng Letter [2006] No. 57) issued by the People’s Government of Changping District, Beijing. The area includes the administrative regions of 12 towns and subdistricts: NanShao, CuiCun, LiuCun, XingShou, NanKou, MaChiKou, YangFang, BaiShan, ChangLing, ShiSanLing, ShaHe, and ChengNan.