Linchuan Watermelon

( chinadaily.com.cn )

Updated: 2011-09-16

Linchuan watermelon

Fuzhou specialty

People familiar with Linchuan all know about its two treasures: talent and watermelon. Linchuan watermelon is named after its origin.

Linchuan watermelon has enjoyed a good reputation. As early as the Song dynasty, Linchuan watermelon had been known far and wide. The pulp is crispy, mushy, refreshing and sweet, has little fiber and a high yield and can be stored for a long time.

Linchuan watermelon has unique medicinal and health care values. For example: clearing vexation, quenching thirst, helping people cope with the summer heat, and treating pharyngitis and hemorrhagic dysentery. A poet in the Song dynasty praised it: “It is as cold as frost and snow and as sweet as honey and can cure severe and lingering illnesses”.

Since ancient times, Linchuan has been famed as one of the four “hometowns of watermelon” in China. Linchuan watermelons became equally as famous as Kaifeng watermelons from Henan, Fengyang watermelons in Anhui and Pinghu watermelons in Zhejiang.

After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, particularly since China adopted the reform and opening-up policy, due to the emphasis of local governments and the joint efforts of all citizens, traditional Linchuan watermelons have been revived. A watermelon production base is rising in the east of Jiangxi province due to the characteristics of Linchuan, featuring scale production, diversified products, brand-based quality, systematic promotion, standard technology and industrial operation. In 1996, Linchuan was named the “Hometown of Watermelon” by the State. In 1997, Linchuan seedless watermelon won the top three places while the hybrid watermelon with seed also won first and second place at the Jiangxi watermelon and muskmelon appraisal meeting.

Linchuan watermelon is sold all over China and particularly enjoys popularity in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Wuhan, Nanjing, Shanghai and other large and medium cities in East and South China. Due to the increasing popularity of Linchuan watermelon, its production scale keeps increasing.