Why is Guizhou the Kiwi Kingdom?
The most beautiful things always arrive at just the right moment—like the first dew-kissed strawberry in early spring, the rustling-sweet half of a watermelon in midsummer, or the steaming hot baked sweet potato held in your hands on a winter night, breathing out white puffs of air.
Early winter should belong to the kiwifruit.
Kiwifruit is the first taste of freshness in winter.
Supermarket shelves are already packed with these round little things—some fuzzy, some smooth; sweet, sour, fragrant… Clusters and piles of them eagerly offer you the sweetest surprises in the dry, slightly cool air.
Kiwifruit is originally a genuinely Chinese fruit. "Kiwifruit" is just a new name it acquired after traveling across the oceans. It originated in the Yangtze River Basin, making homes along great mountains and rivers, leaving footprints across half of China.
Where do the kiwifruits you've eaten come from?
Among so many origins and varieties of kiwifruit, there is a group of little ones that grew up drinking mountain breezes and absorbing rain and dew—not only exceptionally sweet in taste but also uniquely… special in appearance.
They come from the "Kiwifruit Kingdom" in the mountains, a rising "fruit world"—
Guizhou, the emerging "Kiwifruit Kingdom"!
Image: Kiwifruit base in Xiwen Shaping Park, Guizhou
How many varieties of kiwifruit are hidden in Guizhou's mountains?
The types of kiwifruit we usually eat are vast: green-fleshed, yellow-fleshed, red-hearted, fuzzy, hairless, big and round, slender and long, small and cute…
All of these can be found in Guizhou's mountains!
Every mountain in Guizhou is a small world, hiding its own wild flavors.
"Cuixiang in the north, Guichang in the south." "Guichang" claims half the realm of green-fleshed kiwifruit.
It looks tough: long, slim, with upright fuzz, like a "little bomb." Only by peeling its tender skin can you discover its gentleness—
Under its "prickly" exterior, Guichang kiwifruit holds extreme tenderness.
Sweet. Even when not fully ripe, its sweetness easily soars to 18 or 19, far surpassing ordinary green kiwifruits on the market. The slight acidity in the aftertaste only elevates the sweetness further. When fully ripe, each bite is like drinking honey—surprisingly sweet but never cloying.
Fragrant. Its overflowing fruity aroma is its hallmark, so fresh it’s as if it’s melted into a whole year of mountain wind and rain. The scent spreads fiercely in your mouth, leaving no room for escape.
Rich texture. The green, glowing flesh is full of plump juice, slightly granular yet delicate—never unpleasantly mushy.
Can you smell the fruity aroma wafting towards you?
Why is it called "Guichang"? Because it grows long (cháng) as it grows (zhǎng).
This is no joke. It was originally a wild fruit in the mountains of Ziyun County, Guizhou, and was only discovered by researchers in 1982. After grafting and cultivation, it was named "Qianzi 82-3". Because of its unique appearance, it earned its current name. Of course, the name can also be interpreted as "wealth and longevity", bringing good fortune and making it even more delightful to eat.
Isn't the freshly picked Guichang kiwifruit slender and long?
Guichang kiwifruit witnessed the first leap in Guizhou's kiwifruit industry.
Guizhou was one of the earliest provinces to explore kiwifruit cultivation, starting the collection and domestication of wild varieties as early as the late 1970s. In the 1980s, the naturally beautiful Guichang stood out among local varieties and was widely introduced to counties and towns across the province.
The now-famous "Kiwifruit Hometown", Xiuwen, began its relationship with Guichang during that time. In 1988, Xiuwen started cultivating kiwifruit, and by 1991, the first batch of fruits hit the market, instantly amazing everyone with their sweetness. In the 1990s, Guizhou farmers embraced kiwifruit cultivation, and within less than a decade, the province's kiwifruit planting area skyrocketed from zero to over 90,000 mu.
Today, we can enjoy "kiwifruit freedom" in grocery stores, thanks in part to Guichang and this era of sweet explosion.
If the characteristic of Guichang is its sweet, rich, and layered aroma, the appeal of Hongyang is much more direct—
Sweet! Sweet! Sweet! Sweet! Sweet! Refreshingly sweet, delightfully sweet, heartwarming sweet!
Red-hearted kiwifruit is so full of sugar it feels like it could burst at any moment.
Of course, sweetness isn't its only advantage. It has a round shape with short fuzz that washes off easily with water; its texture is smooth with a slight crispness, like natural jelly. Its most distinctive feature is its color—a vibrant, dripping red core. When cut horizontally, the cross-section looks like a rising little sun.
Compared to Guichang, it has a shorter history with the people of Guizhou, but its impact has been no less significant.
This story takes place in Shuicheng County.
Red-hearted kiwifruit grown in Guizhou's barren mountains.
In 2000, Shuicheng was still a poor, remote town. With dreams of prosperity, they introduced Hongyang kiwifruit. Within just a few years, "Shuicheng Red Heart" became a sensation. Not only was it exceptionally sweet and fragrant, but it also ripened a month earlier than similar varieties. In 2008, it was designated as a fruit for the Beijing Olympics, and in 2010, it became a designated fruit for the Shanghai World Expo, winning awards at various agricultural exhibitions. At its peak, its price was 2-3 times higher than similar varieties, yet it still sold out.
Following the first wave of "kiwifruit fever" sparked by Xiuwen kiwifruit, Shuicheng Hongyang kiwifruit directly pushed Guizhou's kiwifruit industry to a second peak!
The kiwifruit trellises covering the mountains are the hope of the people of Liupanshui.
Today, Shuicheng boasts a "kiwifruit corridor" stretching for miles, with fruit vines and trellises covering the hills. Shuicheng has thrived, not only shedding its "poverty" label but also sharing its cultivation and reform experiences across the province, helping 33,900 people escape poverty.
In the golden autumn, the vines and clusters of Hongyang kiwifruit sing not only a sweet harvest melody but also a triumphant song of prosperity!
Guizhou's kiwifruit harvest is bountiful, and farmers are sorting and organizing the kiwifruit.
In addition to red-hearted and green-fleshed kiwifruit, Guizhou also boasts varieties such as Jinyuan and Jinyan, with golden flesh that is refreshingly sweet and delightful. The "soft date kiwifruit" from the distant northeast, small and smooth, occasionally peeks out from the lush foliage. No matter the variety, as long as it takes root in this land, it grows exceptionally sweet.
A dazzling array of colors and blossoms—this is the undisputed "Kiwifruit Kingdom"!
Guizhou kiwifruit also includes yellow-fleshed varieties.
Why is Guizhou kiwifruit so sweet?
What is the secret behind Guizhou kiwifruit's repeated "sweet miracles"? First and foremost, thanks must be given to the mountains' bounty.
The Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau rises abruptly, scattering countless mountains and valleys, and supporting the world's only high-quality kiwifruit growing region with an average elevation above 1,000 meters.
The rugged Liupanshui area is a paradise for kiwifruit.
Low latitude and high altitude mean ample sunlight and significant day-night temperature differences. Under the sun, the fruits grow vigorously, accumulating sugars and flavor compounds; at night, the cool temperatures allow the fruits to rest peacefully, minimizing sugar consumption. Only such ideal sunlight can nurture the sweet and fragrant "Guizhou fruit."
The sunlight is abundant but not harsh, complemented by ample rainfall and a mild climate—all thanks to the mountains' protection. Towering ridges form a natural barrier, allowing cold air from the south and warm air masses from the north to converge here, creating continuous rainfall. Millions of years of weathering have shaped the karst landscape, with slightly acidic soil that is ideal for fruit cultivation. Particularly rare is the rich humus and excellent drainage, which tenderly care for the kiwifruit's delicate roots.
The Guizhou Xiuwen Gubao Kiwifruit Base is the core park of Xiuwen kiwifruit.
With numerous mountains and significant elevation variations, the climate is vertically distributed and ever-changing. From 600 meters to 2,000 meters above sea level, from warm to cool, from humid to dry, various kiwifruit varieties can freely choose their homes. Of the 54 kiwifruit species worldwide, 52 are native to China, and over 30 of them can thrive in Guizhou. Each place has its own scenery, each place its own flavor—the richness and abundance of the "Kiwifruit Kingdom" are not easily replicated.
The mountains also provide an additional layer of protection for kiwifruit—the relatively isolated environments between mountains make it difficult for diseases to spread, fundamentally reducing pesticide use. Coupled with the fresh air and minimal pollution in the mountains, Guizhou's fruits always carry a touch of wild, carefree charm, adding to their appeal.
Breathing freely under the sunlight—this is the carefree Guizhou kiwifruit.
Though kiwifruit grows in the wild, it is extremely delicate: it fears scorching sun in summer and harsh frost in winter, with strict growing conditions year-round. If displeased, it readily falls ill. Such a finicky temperament is only soothed by Guizhou's mountains, which tame it perfectly.
Kiwifruit is not the only fruit blessed by the mountains. Dragon fruit, passion fruit, cherries, plums, blueberries... Guizhou's vast landscapes accommodate tropical, subtropical, and temperate climates, and thus countless varieties of sweetness. Given just a little time, these mountain spirits can astonish everyone's taste buds.
Without the mountains' utmost favor, how could they be so vibrant and captivating?
The sweetness of "Guizhou fruit" is also nurtured by sweat and hard work.
The mountains shelter the fruits, but they do not always bring blessings. The deep valleys and high peaks make it difficult to establish large-scale, standardized planting areas—this is the first challenge. The treacherous roads make it hard to transport ripe fruits out of the mountains, leaving them to rot—this is the second challenge. How many mountain paths were traversed, how much land measured, to develop the current hundreds of thousands of acres of orchards?
From building mountain orchards to seedling cultivation, from cultivation management to harvesting and processing, every detail was meticulously addressed to establish standardized planting practices and create renowned brands like "Xiuwen Kiwifruit" and "Liangdu Mini Red."
Kiwifruit is delicate and waits for no one; sorting and processing must be done quickly.
Building roads through mountains and bridges over rivers, the crisscrossing highways have given the "precious fruit" golden wings. Nowadays, fruit farmers no longer worry about being unable to transport kiwifruit out—every harvest season, over a hundred thousand tourists come to pick the fruit in the mountains, and fruit merchants from all over drive in to "snatch" the produce. The real concern now is having enough fruit to go around.
The processing industry for kiwifruit is also flourishing everywhere. When there are too many fresh fruits to eat, they can be made into preserves, juiced, or brewed into fruit wine. The vines and leaves are used in medicine, the roots are steeped in wine, and there are also kiwifruit sparkling water, kiwifruit lactic acid drinks, kiwifruit health products, kiwifruit cosmetics... Perhaps there are a million ways to fully utilize every part of the fruit, each representing infinite possibilities.
Preserves, ice cream, fruit wine... the ways to enjoy kiwifruit are endless.
For a very long time, the global market only knew "kiwifruit" but not "mihoutao" (the Chinese name for kiwifruit). As the homeland and a major producer of kiwifruit, we somehow lacked confidence. This situation is being redefined by Guizhou kiwifruit—in recent years, Canada and Russia have joined the annual autumn rush to Guizhou to snatch the fruit, often lamenting, "We came too late and didn’t get enough."
One day, the whole world will recognize Chinese kiwifruit, and all of China will witness the rise of Guizhou kiwifruit.
Kiwifruit is the sweetest hope.
Sweet memories and a sweet future are all contained in this sweet fruit. Won’t you come and take a bite, and join us in embracing this sweet dream?
Map Editor | Sun Lu Header Image | uitti
Unsigned images in the article: Visual China Group
Publicity Department of the CPC Guizhou Provincial Committee
Zhong Weimin, Associate Researcher, Fruit Tree Science Institute, Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences