Xinyi, a county-level city in Maoming, Guangdong Province, is the largest Sanhua plum production base in China. The city has recently entered the peak harvest season for these prized fruits. In Qianpai Town—the heart of Sanhua plum cultivation—daily sales have reached 200 tons, driven by strong demand both online and offline.
Renowned for their plump flesh, small pits, and juicy, sweet-tart flavor, Sanhua plums are attracting widespread attention from both domestic and international markets. The region's innovative blend of agriculture and tourism is further enhancing the appeal of this signature fruit.
Fruit farmers are harvesting and sorting the first batch of early-ripening Sanhua plums.
The harvest season for Xinyi's Sanhua plums spans around 80 days, with the fruit offering three distinct flavor profiles as it matures. In early April, the plums are crisp and tangy—ideal for making candied treats. From May to June, during peak harvest, they become juicier with a well-balanced sweet-and-sour taste. By July, in the late-ripening stage, the plums turn noticeably sweeter with a soft, tender texture.
Currently, prices are determined by fruit size, ranging from 10 to 32 RMB per kilogram.
At the Sanhua plum collection point, workers are busy sorting and packing the freshly harvested plums.
Xinyi has pioneered an innovative model that seamlessly integrates agricultural production with rural tourism. Each spring, over 102,000 mu (approximately 6,800 hectares) of plum trees bloom, transforming the landscape into a breathtaking "sea of snow" that attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors. This seasonal spectacle has become a major tourism driver, boosting the local economy through increased demand for homestays and dining services.
During the blooming season of Sanhua plums, tourists wander through a sea of blossoms, enjoying the vibrant scenery.
In summer, the orchards welcome visitors for hands-on plum-picking experiences, offering a taste of nature's freshness straight from the tree. This "blossom viewing in spring, fruit picking in summer" approach has successfully enhanced the value of agricultural products while promoting sustainable rural tourism, creating a win-win situation for both farmers and the local community.
Xinyi, China's largest Sanhua plum cultivation base, spans an impressive 350,000 mu (approximately 23,000 hectares) with an annual output exceeding 300,000 tons. By expanding its industrial chain and enhancing value-added processes, this traditional agricultural product has transformed into a dynamic industry that integrates production, processing, and tourism.
Xinyi's success offers a replicable model for rural economic revitalization, demonstrating how innovation and diversification can drive sustainable growth in agricultural communities.
Reporter | Li Yangshi, Chen Zikai
Photo | Chen Zikai
Editor | Liu Lingzhi, James, Shen He
