Chunming Daffodils

Chunming Daffodils

Chunming Daffodils is a geographical indication certification trademark.

Chunming Daffodils is a product certified under China's Agricultural Geographical Indications.

　　    Daffodils have a long cultivation history and rich cultural heritage in Chunming, Shanghai. As a native flower, they have traditionally been known as one of the “Three Treasures of Shanghai’s Flower World,” alongside silver willows from Songjiang and wintersweet from Waigang in Jiading. Chunming daffodils can have their blooming period controlled to around the Spring Festival, and are commonly referred to as the “First Flower of Spring.” As a local specialty flower and resource of Shanghai, “Chunming Daffodils” is as renowned as Zhangzhou Daffodils, and is one of the two major daffodil varieties in China. According to the Chunming County Annals, daffodils began to be cultivated in Chunming during the Zhengde era of the Ming Dynasty, boasting a cultivation history of over 500 years, and over 100 years as a commercial flower product. It is the only flower variety in Shanghai with geographical indication status. According to the Shanghai Gardening Annals, during the 1950s and 1960s, Chunming produced a large annual yield of commercial daffodil bulbs, which were sold as far as Shanghai, Tianjin, Beijing, and Jiangsu. “Chunming Daffodils” were once well-known in the flower markets of Shanghai and other regions. Chunming Daffodils and Zhangzhou Daffodils are two famous local daffodil varieties in China, but they differ in flower form—Zhangzhou daffodils are mainly single-petal, while Chunming daffodils are predominantly double-petal. Double-petal daffodils offer advantages such as more beautiful flower shapes, stronger fragrance, and longer blooming periods compared to other varieties. In recent years, high-quality Chunming daffodil bulbs have entered the market in large quantities, injecting new vitality into Shanghai’s flower industry.

　　    Daffodils have long been cherished as rare and beloved flowers. In China, those from Zhangzhou in Fujian and Chunming in Shanghai are the most famous. The characteristics of Chunming daffodils include fewer naturally divided bulbs, along with a rich and long-lasting fragrance that can persist for weeks, surpassing daffodils from other regions. Their petals are smooth and white like jade, shaped like round discs, with golden-yellow centers resembling wine cups—hence the beautiful name “Golden Cup and Silver Stand.” When in bloom, the lush green leaves, slender and graceful flower stems, and crystal-clear blossoms resembling spring snow create a refreshing fragrance that exudes a simple, elegant, noble, and refined beauty. (Shanghai)

　　    Geographical Scope

　　    Chongming Island is the third largest island in China and the largest estuarine alluvial island in the world. It is located at the mouth of the Yangtze River, surrounded by rivers on three sides and the sea on one. To the east lies the vast East China Sea, to the south it faces Baoshan District and Pudong New Area of Shanghai, as well as Taicang City in Jiangsu Province, across the water. To the west it borders the rolling Yangtze River, and to the north it is close to Haimen City and Qidong City in Jiangsu Province. The geographical indication protection area for Chunming Daffodils agricultural products covers 15 towns and 1 township within Chongming County, Shanghai, namely: Sanxing Town, Luhua Town, Miaozhen Town, Gangxi Town, Chengqiao Town, Jianshe Town, Xinhe Town, Shuxin Town, Baozhen Town, Gangyan Town, Xianghua Town, Zhongxing Town, Chenjia Town, Xinhai Town, Dongping Town, and Xincun Township—totaling 267 administrative villages, with a total area of 1,411 square kilometers. This includes 1,267 square kilometers on Chongming Island, 88 square kilometers on Changxing Island, and 56 square kilometers on Hengsha Island. The geographical coordinates are between 121°09′30" and 121°54′00" east longitude, and 31°27′00" and 31°51′15" north latitude. The total production area of Chunming Daffodils is 100 hectares, yielding 5 million bulbs annually.