Basic Introduction to Xincun Ginkgo
The Xincun Ginkgo Industry Development Zone is the largest production base for ginkgo nuts, leaves, and seedlings in China, as well as a major distribution center for ginkgo seedlings and a variety of ginkgo products. The area leads the nation in ginkgo tree output and is known as the “Ginkgo Hometown.” It has 11 primary and secondary schools. The township government is located in Xincun, which is 19 kilometers southwest of Tancheng County, on the east bank of the Yishui River. There are companies such as Lvyuan Co., Ltd., cotton spinning, coatings, building materials, and arts and crafts factories.
Centered around an ancient ginkgo forest belt along the Yishui River levee, the Xincun Ginkgo Industry Development Zone spans over 2,000 meters north to south and 600 to 1,000 meters east to west. It is a national 3A tourist attraction, with nearly 20,000 ginkgo trees aged from 100 to over 1,000 years. This is currently the world's largest and oldest ancient ginkgo forest with the highest quality, representing a living cultural heritage in Chinese agricultural history. It holds deep and rich historical and cultural value, significant scientific and economic value, and notable ecological value. Vision determines the way forward. A large number of farmers in Xincun, endowed with entrepreneurial acumen, seized business opportunities by processing their own ginkgo nuts and leaves into popular specialty products like five-spice ginkgo nuts, honey-coated ginkgo, ginkgo vinegar, and ginkgo noodles. These products not only reached wholesale and retail markets in major cities like Shanghai, Nanjing, and Guangzhou, but also attracted tens of thousands of tourists to come and taste them. Capitalizing on the abundant local ginkgo tourism resources, an investment of more than 500,000 yuan was made to guide farmers to build over 100 “Ginkgo Homes” using ginkgo wood in the old ten-thousand mu ginkgo forest. Most of the daily necessities in these homes were made from natural ginkgo wood. Since the beginning of this year, they have attracted over 3,000 tourists. At the same time, to leave visitors with something to remember, the local authorities have increased efforts in developing ginkgo souvenirs. They invested 1.2 million yuan to develop 11 series and 36 varieties of “original ecology” ginkgo souvenirs, including ginkgo leaf quilts and carved crafts. Currently, there are 12 manufacturers of ginkgo souvenirs in the industrial zone, achieving annual sales revenue of over 10 million yuan.
Geographical Scope
Xincun Ginkgo is located within Xincun Township, Tancheng County, Shandong Province, at the southernmost tip of Shandong. It borders Pizhou City, Jiangsu Province, to the south and is connected to Matou Town, Tancheng County, to the north. To the east, it is bordered by the Jinghu Expressway, and to the west, it is adjacent to the Yishui River. The township covers 25 administrative villages, with a population of 36,000 and a geographical area of 3,600 hectares, including 2,800 hectares dedicated to ginkgo cultivation. Along the Yishui River, there is a 10-kilometer stretch of ancient ginkgo clusters with over 23,000 fruit-bearing trees over 100 years old, including the “Old Sacred Tree,” recognized as the world's largest male ginkgo tree. Geographical coordinates: between 118°09′-118°12′ East Longitude and 34°33′-34°36′ North Latitude. Annual yield: 120 tons, annual income: 64 million yuan.
Product Characteristics
(1) External Sensory Features: The seeds are drupe-like, with long stalks hanging down, elliptical, oblong inverted-ovate, ovate, or nearly globose, 2.5-3.5 cm long, and 1.5-2 cm in diameter; the pseudaril is fleshy, covered with white powder, and pale yellow or orange when mature; the seed coat is stony and white, often with 2 (rarely 3) longitudinal ridges; the inner seed coat is membranous and pale reddish-brown.
(2) Internal Quality Indicators: The kernel is rich in starch, protein, and other nutrients. Cooking: It can be paired with beef, mutton, pork, or poultry eggs and prepared in various ways such as stir-frying, steaming, braising, stewing, simmering, boiling, roasting, and many more to create delicious dishes. (Popular dishes include Whole Duck with Ginkgo, Chicken with Ginkgo in Brown Sauce, Chicken Stewed with Ginkgo, Chicken Diced with Ginkgo, Steamed Eggs with Ginkgo, Tofu Skin Porridge with Ginkgo, Honey-Coated Ginkgo, Ginkgo Congee, Ginkgo Sago, Ginkgo Zongzi, Steamed Bread with Ginkgo Kernels, Ginkgo Cake, Ginkgo Mooncakes, Ginkgo Cheese, and Sugar-coated Ginkgo without Nuts, etc.). Raw consumption: Commonly soaked in hot water and drunk like tea. Various processed products like roasted ginkgo and ginkgo beverages and wine have been developed. According to the Compendium of Materia Medica, “Cooked ginkgo warms the lungs, benefits qi, calms asthma, reduces cough, minimizes urination, and stops leukorrhea. Raw ginkgo reduces phlegm, detoxifies, and kills insects.” Modern science has proven that ginkgo kernels have antibacterial effects against E. coli, diphtheria bacilli, staphylococci, tubercle bacilli, and streptococci. Traditional Chinese medicine has used ginkgo kernels to treat asthma, chronic bronchitis, pulmonary tuberculosis, leucorrhea, leukorrheal discharge, and nocturnal emission. Ginkgo kernels also help remove blemishes, smooth wrinkles, and treat sores and ringworm. Ginkgo kernels, especially the embryos and cotyledons, contain small amounts of ginkgo acid, ginkgo phenol, and ginkgo alcohol. Both raw and cooked consumption should be limited.
(3) Safety Requirements: Standards for air, irrigation water, surface water, and pesticide use are GB3095—1996 Air Quality Standards; GB5084—1992 Irrigation Water Quality Standards for Farmland; GB3838—1988 National Surface Water Quality Standards; GB4285—1989 Safe Use Standards for Pesticides. These standards apply until they are revised, after which the latest national standards will be followed. Ginkgo fruits have passed the quality inspection by the municipal agricultural quality center.