Where are the main lychee producing areas distributed?

Lychees are produced in southwestern, southern and southeastern China, with cultivation being most intensive in Guangdong, Guangxi and southern Fujian. They are also cultivated in southeastern Asia, and there are records of their introduction in Africa, the Americas and Oceania.

Lychee, together with banana, pineapple and longan, is known as one of the “four great fruits of the southland.” The lychee originated in southern China. It is a subtropical fruit tree, an evergreen tree about 10 m tall. The fruit skin has scale-like protrusions and is bright red to purple-red. When fresh, the flesh is translucent and curd-like, with a fragrant and delicious taste.

The lychee is a famous fruit tree with a long history of cultivation in southern China, and it is generally accepted that its place of origin is the tropical and subtropical regions of southern China. According to reports, in recent years wild lychees have been found in remote tropical forests in Hainan and Yunnan, providing direct evidence for the above conclusion.

There are many documents concerning lychee throughout China's dynasties. The earliest records are found in the Han Dynasty's "Shanglin Fu" and "Yiwu Zhi," and the Jin Dynasty's "Nanfang Caomu Zhuang," among others. There are also quite a few special articles or books recording lychee through the ages, about 10 or more kinds as currently known; in Wu Qijun's "Zhiwu Mingshi Tukao Changbian" alone, 6 kinds are transcribed. Cai Xiang's "Lizhi Pu" and Wu Yingkui's "Lingnan Lizhi Pu" are both representative and relatively comprehensive monographs on lychee, giving detailed accounts of historical materials, producing areas, varieties, cultivation, insect pests, phenology, processing and consumption, and other aspects. Cai's work focuses on materials from Fujian, while Wu's work is based on Guangdong's experience and famous varieties, so each has its own characteristics. These documents provide extremely valuable historical materials for lychee research. There are many cultivated varieties of lychee, distinguished by traits such as maturity period, color, prominence of the small nodular protrusions, and flesh flavor. Famous varieties include Guangdong's Lanyuehong and Yuhebao (early-maturing); Heitu and Huaizhi (mid-maturing); Guailu and Nuomici (late-maturing), among others. Fujian's famous varieties include Zhuangyuanhong, Chenzi and Lanzhu, and Lanzhu not only has good quality but is also suitable for planting in mountainous areas. In addition, Sichuan's Dahongpao and Nanmuye are also famous local varieties.