Where are China's walnut production areas? A complete overview of the main growing regions nationwide

  China has a long history of walnut cultivation. Walnuts were introduced to China by Zhang Qian on his mission to the Western Regions in the 3rd century BC. The place of origin of the walnut is Iran, and today walnuts are distributed throughout every part of China. After long-term careful breeding, there are now many new walnut varieties, and walnuts from each region have their own characteristics.

Pictured: walnuts

  China's walnut production areas

  Walnuts are widely distributed in China, from Heilongjiang in the north to Yunnan and Guizhou in the south, from Xinjiang in the west to Shandong and Liaoning in the east. Walnuts can be found in most parts of the country. The autumn walnuts produced in the Qinling area of Shaanxi are large, full in shape and high in yield. In addition, other areas of Shaanxi also produce some other varieties, which are also of good quality. The walnuts of Shanxi are of somewhat better quality, as only traditional fine varieties are grown there. The walnuts produced near the mountainous areas of Hebei are even better, and most of them are wild varieties.

  Several famous walnut production areas and fine varieties

  Pinggu, Beijing: Pinggu is mainly a production area for ornamental walnuts (wenwan walnuts), most famously the old-tree menjian lion's head. Pinggu's official hat walnut is also very famous and is traditionally the standard for shape. Because they are basically wild, the yield is not high and the walnuts are not large.

  Jixian, Tianjin: This is Tianjin's only walnut production area and has produced many famous varieties. Jixianwalnutshave a bold and beautiful shape with clear veins, and are similar to the walnuts of Pinggu, Beijing.

  Cotton walnut (the main edible walnut) is widely distributed across most of the north due to widespread cultivation by people, but the good-quality ones are found in the dry-climate areas of Shanxi, Shaanxi and Xinjiang.

  Walnut production areas are widely distributed in China, and the varieties, shell thickness and size of walnuts differ from one production area to another. This also reflects the relationship between plants and regions, and when choosing walnuts you can also select them according to variety and production area.