Yunan County, known as China's "hometown of seedless wampee," is a remote mountainous agricultural area in Yunfu City, Guangdong Province. For years, farmers struggled with high transport costs, limited sales channels, and the short shelf life of perishable fruits like wampee. However, digital transformation and government initiatives have turned things around.
Yunan is the only place where seedless wampee originates — a distinction it has turned into an advantage. By partnering with universities and research institutes, they have extended the fruit's shelf life from 2-3 days to over a month and doubled the harvest season from 20 days to over 2 months through new varieties like the "Huami Series."
Farmers now follow standardized planting rules and use smart farming systems to monitor crops. This has cut production costs by 8 percent while increasing yields by 15 percent since 2022. Today, Yunan's wampee orchards span 195,000 mu (13,000 hectares), up from 171,000 mu (11,400 hectares) in 2022.
The county has embraced online sales with creative strategies, including holding on-site themed events and live-stream selling. Yunan has held annual Wampee Festivals since 2002, which now include flower-viewing hikes and camping music events. In 2024, these events drove 7.65 million orders worth 3.3 billion yuan.
An 11,918㎡ cold storage facility has been established to keep 10,000 tons of produce fresh during delivery.
Taking advantage of RCEP, Yunan has built an export base certified by customs. Wampee exports hit 150 tons in 2024, up 45 percent year-on-year.
To support growth, Yunan has built a 635.5 km² wampee industrial zone with 16 companies processing 80 tons of fruit daily. A county-wide e-commerce network now includes 1 central hub, 15 town stations, and 120 village outlets. Yunan has also launched training programs: 12 workshops have taught over 600 locals to sell via livestreaming and online stores.
The Yunan County government offers cash rewards to businesses and individuals who meet sales targets through e-commerce. Starting a business now takes just half a day thanks to "one-stop" services.
Author | Jiang Chang
Photo | Yunfu Fabu
Editor | Huang Qini, James, Shen He
