Dongqing Peach of Huaguo Mountain

Dongqing Peach of Huaguo Mountain

　　The Dongqing Peach of Huaguo Mountain (also known as winter peach) mostly grows in mountains at an altitude of around 500 meters. The winter peach tree is no different from an ordinary peach tree, except that its flowering period is about half a month later, and the fruit is “slow to bear,” not ripening until early winter.

　　　 The winter peach is about the size of a yellow peach, round with a green skin, contains less moisture, and has a fresh, sweet, and slightly sour taste with a fragrant aroma. It is easy to preserve—just place the ripe fruit in a jar filled with cornmeal paste and seal it. When taken out during the Spring Festival, the fruit remains as brightly colored as ever, and tastes pleasantly sweet and sour, earning it the title of “immortal peach.”

　　　 Legend has it that the Huaguo Mountain winter peach was cultivated over many years by monks from Sanyuan Palace. Initially, there were very few plants, and the fruit was offered only as tribute to the Three Pure Ones. Now, through cultivation, many such trees have been planted on Huaguo Mountain. Hiking up the mountain in early winter and seeing fresh peaches still hanging on the branches is truly a rare and beautiful sight.