Fig production areas are mainly distributed in Xinjiang, Shandong and other regions

The fig originated along the Mediterranean coast and in West Asia, and is one of the fruit trees with a very long history of cultivation; it was later gradually introduced into China. At present, many provinces in both the north and south of the country grow it, but because of differences in climate conditions, the scale of the production areas and the style of the fruit vary markedly from place to place.

The best-known fig production area in China is undoubtedly Xinjiang. Places such as Atushi have long been called the hometown of figs; with abundant sunshine and large day-night temperature differences there, the fruit accumulates sugar fully and its flavour is especially rich. The Weihai area of Shandong is an important production area along the eastern coast; figs there have already formed large-scale cultivation and have also obtained geographical indication protection. In addition, Jiangsu, Sichuan, Yunnan, Guangdong, Guangxi and other places also have scattered or patchy cultivation.

In terms of growth habits, figs like warmth and sunlight, and are fairly drought-tolerant, but their cold tolerance is limited, so open-field cultivation is quite difficult in areas that are too cold in winter. Therefore, the dry, warm region of Xinjiang and coastal areas with relatively mild winters are often more likely to form concentrated production areas. As for varieties, the main varieties cultivated differ from place to place; fruit colours include green-skinned and purple-skinned types, and the ripening time also varies earlier or later with the climate of each region.

For consumers, fresh figs have thin skins and are juicy, and do not keep or ship well, so long-distance transport easily causes losses; fresh fruit from local or nearby production areas is usually fresher. Production areas farther away mostly focus on drying and processing, and dried figs are a common finished product. When buying, it is worth paying attention to the place of origin and the marketing season; buying in season makes it easier to find fruit of ideal quality.