China's Fruit Lovers' Ultimate Year-End Ranking: Which Tops the List?

At the end of each year, our tables are never without a pile of fresh and colorful fruits—Chinese people love eating fruit so much that not only does the production account for one-third of the global total, but consumption also ranks among the highest in the world.

Throughout the long course of history, no matter how the dishes on the table have changed, fruits have accompanied the Chinese people through countless cycles of the seasons.

In *Lychees of Chang'an*, the legendary 5,000-li journey of fresh lychees during the Tang Dynasty gave many young people a sense of how difficult it was to enjoy fresh, high-quality fruit in ancient times. Though the story is filled with bold imagination, it vividly illustrates how only the nobility could manage to eat "barely fresh fruit" transported halfway across China—until a few decades ago, most fruits on our tables were still local "specialties."

This is why the Chinese have long been preoccupied with the idea of "fruit freedom."

Strawberries were only introduced to China 100 years ago, yet today, the country leads the world in both production and consumption. From Chile, one of the best cherry-growing regions, over 90% of cherries travel 20,000 kilometers to reach China. Even the most "common" citrus fruits now include varieties like Sichuan jelly oranges that can be "drunk" with a straw, Guangxi Rong'an kumquats as crisp as sweet peas, and Mayang rock sugar oranges with an impeccable sugar-acid ratio—offering an overwhelming array of regional choices.

The variety of fruits keeps growing, with increasing emphasis on regional quality and flavor.

Countless fruits have been cultivated, and countless premium varieties introduced, leading to a continuous "evolution" in taste. In 2023, China's total fruit production reached 330 million tons, accounting for one-third of global output. The Chinese people's refined demands and preferences for fruit are also rising—seasonal fruits now lead this "super fruit basket" that spans the globe.

As 2024 draws to a close, in this year-end "global fruit basket" assessment, which fruit will be the favorite of the Chinese people?

How fresh are the perennial top performers?

When the cold wind begins to blow, the sight of sugar-coated hawthorns bustling on the streets fills you with happiness—the New Year is coming! Across China, "New Year vibes" take countless forms, but fruit is one of the few universal "flavor expressions" shared nationwide.

Along the southeastern coast during the New Year, people build tangerine towers.

Sweet tangerines become part of the festive life.

Citrus fruits in the fruit basket by the TV stand, hawthorns on the dining table plates, persimmons on the bedside table, or even a bowl of kumquat and pear soup made by mom… These autumn-winter fruits, whether rich in aroma or silky and juicy, all whisper in the dry winter air—2024 is coming to an end.

Fruits are always so closely tied to the seasons.

Chinese people love stocking up on fruit at year-end, but which one takes center stage? The answers may vary, but the unshakable star of the household fruit basket is likely citrus. Not only is it the most readily available, but its sheer variety now surpasses most other fruits.

Citrus leads in planting area, production, and consumption among China's fruits.

As the weather cools, golden citrus fruits paint the entire southern region in hues of red and yellow. Ehime oranges, Ponkan, Ugli fruit, Orri, blood oranges, navel oranges, honey pomelos… They ripen one after another in autumn and winter, bringing a touch of warmth to the chilly days.

The golden glow of citrus feels especially comforting in winter.

Some need peeling and slicing, bursting with juice at the first bite; others are simply peeled, each segment offering a perfect balance of sweet and tart with a satisfying chew. Some can be eaten whole, skin and all, crisp and refreshing; some even allow you to insert a straw and "drink" them like juice… Citrus is nothing if not diverse and dazzling.

In the Meishan and Pujiang areas of southwestern Chengdu Plain, there’s a famous citrus variety called Ehime 38, also known as jelly orange. It almost perfectly combines the best of mandarins and oranges: thin, easy-to-peel skin, and abundant juice, earning it the nickname "handheld juicer." You can stick a straw right into it and "drink" it. Take a bite, and the 8:2 sweet-to-tart ratio, along with its soft, bouncy flesh, makes it feel like eating a "juice-bursting jelly."

Ehime jelly oranges, with their jelly-like flesh

These golden citrus fruits hanging on branches in autumn and winter also form a stunning picture with the snow-capped mountains of Sichuan. In the more southern regions of Guangdong and Guangxi, this scene is condensed into their homes... The sight of purchasing potted kumquat trees as New Year goods might surprise northerners, but it's simply their way of praying for happiness and good luck.

Their love for kumquats isn’t just about treating them as "mascots." If your impression of kumquats is that they’re sour and mostly used for infusing water, then the crisp sweetness of Rong’an kumquats from Guangxi can颠覆 this notion: about the size of a ping-pong ball, biting into the skin and flesh together releases a burst of refreshingly sweet juice, with a texture so tender and vibrant that it’s no wonder they’re called the "unshakable pinnacle of Chinese kumquats."

Rong’an kumquats offer a rare "crispness" in citrus, edible skin and all.

When sweetness is repeatedly mentioned, Hunan’s rock sugar oranges might not stay silent... In Mayang County, at the border of Hunan and Guizhou, terraced fields are covered with citrus trees. The sedimentary structure of the Yuanma Basin and moderate sunlight, rain, and heat allow rock sugar oranges to reach peak sweetness. Statistics show this "sugar bomb" has a sugar-to-acid ratio of 41:1, over four times higher than many other citrus varieties... This sweet bomb in Mayang accounts for nearly one-third of the national产量, all thanks to its unparalleled sweetness.

Citrus also has "roots." In the laid-back Sichuan Basin, varieties like Pujiang Satsuma, Linshui navel oranges, and Fengjie navel oranges serve as comfort during gloomy days. In the ancestral worship-focused southeastern coast, Fuzhou福桔 can be seen at祈福 sites. In tea-loving Guangdong, dried and aged Xinhui citrus peels become普洱茶的 perfect搭档...

Bountiful citrus is the sweetness Chinese people have cherished for millennia.

Of course, citrus is a must at year-end, but it’s never the only fruit. While southern fruit growers prune柑橘 until their hands ache in autumn and winter, northern fruits generously share their sweetness: Liaoning Dandong’s "Jiujiu strawberries," a winter favorite, are plump, evenly red, and tenderly sweet; in Shandong Laiyang, the sandy soil yields crisp,渣-free, and甘甜 Laiyang pears; in Hebei Chengde, Yanshan hawthorns boast rich aroma, perfect for candied haws or exceptional juice...

It’s not just domestic fruits—even 90% of Chile’s cherries from the southern hemisphere are devoured by Chinese consumers! Eating seasonal, eating local. In recent years, Chinese fruit consumption has shifted from pursuing "full-stomach freedom" to valuing quality and regional varieties.

Chinese consumers increasingly prioritize regional quality when eating fruit.

How have imported fruits "flown into ordinary homes"?

Citrus may be the star of fresh New Year goods, but winter strawberries never lack discussion.

Strawberries represent the "freedom" many aspire to.

Large, juicy, sweet, and fragrant, with heart-melting sweetness and a hint of tartness paired with soft,细腻 flesh—strawberries melt in your mouth without even needing chewing, bringing vibrant hope to a season otherwise endured through sheer willpower.

Among年轻人 who gauge year-end happiness by "strawberry freedom," many don’t realize this bright red, delicate fruit has only been cultivated in China for just over a century... Yet after a百年 of development, the original "strawberry" (士多啤梨) has evolved into thousands of varieties. According to China Fruit and Vegetable Network, China’s 2023 strawberry output reached nearly 4 million tons, ranking first globally.

Strawberries are produced across China in all seasons.

In winter, for instance, Dandong strawberries are particularly renowned.

Modern planting and harvesting techniques have made strawberries more "resilient."

Originally a summer fruit, widespread greenhouse farming in recent years has ensured year-round产量 and quality, allowing more people to enjoy them anytime. Among the first regions to harvest winter strawberries, Liaoning Dandong—home to the famous "Jiujiu草莓"—is impossible to overlook.

Every strawberry in the hands of agricultural experts is meticulously selected.

When more fruit merchants like Cong Le leverage the Douyin e-commerce platform to improve selection, cultivation, packaging, and transportation, these strawberries become "tougher," reducing the journey from branch to mouth to a matter of hours. No matter where you are in the south, you can enjoy this "super strawberry" from the northeast in time: perfectly balanced in sweetness and tartness, crisp in texture, with a bite that melts into a perfect blend of flavors, its abundant juice carrying a hint of creamy aroma.

Sweet strawberries are winter’s little joys.

Of course, on the wishlist for "fruit freedom," besides strawberries, cherries are another coveted item.

In the Chinese market, cherries from Chile, a South American country, are the most renowned. These dark-red berries feature small pits, thin skin, sweet and juicy flesh, a crisp texture, and a rich fruity aroma. But behind their deliciousness lies a race against time.

Ninety percent of Chilean cherries are eaten by Chinese consumers.

Despite being 20,000 kilometers apart, distance has never dampened Chinese enthusiasm for Chilean cherries. Thirty-plus hours—that’s the fastest time for cherries to travel by air from Chilean branches to China. By sea, the journey takes nearly a month, putting the fruit’s quality to the ultimate test.

Douyin e-commerce began preparations three months in advance. They partnered with premium Chilean brands like Garces Fruit and Prize for direct sourcing from orchards. To tackle long-distance transportation challenges, Douyin e-commerce optimized packaging and enforced strict quality checks upon arrival in China, ensuring every cherry consumers buy is plump and sweet. They also offered shopping subsidies through year-end promotions, value-packed group buys, flash sales, and instant retail channels, making the beloved "lucky red fruit" accessible to households nationwide.

Cherry selection and transportation are year-end tests for "fruit professionals."

With the help of Douyin Mall’s Year-End Carnival, these once "premium fruits" are becoming increasingly "free" in Chinese New Year fruit baskets, thanks to standardized quality control, logistics, and cost management by top creators and agricultural merchants. The online harvest relay from south to north in autumn and winter has long reached ordinary homes—"fresh off the branch, straight to the heart."

Stockpiling fruit can lead to choice overload.

Nowadays, many returning home for the holidays are first greeted by their mothers handing them fruit: "Just bought it from the market today—super sweet!" Recalling childhood memories of sneaking "exotic fruits" meant for guests, now shared with their own children, warms their hearts in winter.

The obsession with winter fruit stockpiling has quietly passed from elders to the now-parent generation. Unlike their parents, they rarely wander local markets, where options for regional "New Year fruits" are limited, and out-of-town varieties often come with markups and freshness concerns.

In today’s era, buying fruit online with "nationwide selection, next-day delivery" is no novelty. But the sheer abundance of choices triggers widespread "decision fatigue" among young people. Northerners stare silently at Sichuan, Hunan, and Guangxi’s offerings: Ehime oranges, rock sugar oranges, kumquats, ugly tangerines, Murcott oranges, blood oranges, and honey pomelos. Southerners hesitate over northern hawthorns, cranberries, winter strawberries, and jujubes.

With modern preservation and logistics, fruits from more regions can cross thousands of miles in a day, arriving at your doorstep via a screen. Yet, the inherited belief in "bulk and satiety" for year-end fruit stockpiling makes you wary of missteps—or face bitter lessons.

From branch to table, measured in hours.

This is today’s "China speed."

Sichuan’s @NewFarmer He Shuang can tour you through a dozen orchards in a day, helping you find the juiciest jelly orange. Hunan’s @Qingshan Village Chief spends entire days live-streaming rock sugar orange peeling, flesh details, and taste descriptions. @Jiaojie Huizhan Premium Imported Fruits calls winter cherry season "fruit professionals’ final exam," sampling every Chilean cherry in the market—air-freighted or shipped, sweet or tart—to guide you to the best value.

More agriculture-loving merchants are joining live-streaming e-commerce.

Delivering fresh fruit to "foodies" nationwide.

During Douyin Mall’s Year-End Carnival, these top creators and agricultural merchants host live sales at origins, strengthening production-sales links and showcasing quality, "freedom" pricing, and reliable after-sales upfront. "Fruit-loving stars" simply search by preferred categories—whether it’s $15-per-pound Chilean cherries from 20,000 km away or $0.70-per-pound Sichuan jelly oranges—all arriving fresh with a tap, a "year-end sweet strike."

When it comes to year-end fruits, the "winter warmth" of our era lies in choosing freely, buying with confidence, and enjoying promptly.

Winter stock-ups should include fruits, but not just fruits. The "Douyin Mall Year-End Carnival" promotion is underway, featuring seasonal fruits, vegetables, autumn-winter nourishing gift sets, and more. Purchasing selected items may even qualify for an instant 15% discount! In the Super Value channel, users can also bundle premium gifts like cherries at unbeatable prices.

The Chinese fruit basket may belong to two categories: one is nostalgia, filled with deep emotions and taste memories; the other is family, where high-quality regional produce builds a sweet life of "fruit freedom." As 2024 draws to a close, life goes on—keep the fruit basket full, and let the sweetness warm you from taste buds to heart all winter long.

Winter is so cold—of course, we need more sweetness.

Fruits are the sweetest happiness of a Chinese winter.