Basic Introduction to Kunyu Mountain Chestnuts
Kunyu Mountain Chestnuts are a specialty of Wendeng District, Weihai City, Shandong Province, and are protected under the national agricultural product geographical indication. The geographical indication application for protection covers an area within the Wendeng District of Weihai City, from Dianzitou Village in Jieshi Town in the north, to Wolong Village in Zhangjiachan Town in the east, to Wanjiazhai Village in Xiaoguan Town in the south, and to Xitanjia Kou Village in Gejia Town in the west. It spans 359 administrative villages across six towns—Gejia, Jieshi, Songcun, Zetou, Zhangjiachan, and Xiaoguan—as well as Huanshan Subdistrict.
Kunyu Mountain Chestnuts are a distinctive type of nut in the Wendeng District of Weihai City. They have medium-sized husks, heart-shaped fruits with tender yellow flesh that is finely textured, sweet, and fragrant, with a uniform shape. The outer skin is crisp and thin, blackish-brown in color, not particularly glossy, and can be easily peeled open with a fingernail without sticking to the flesh. Chestnuts can be eaten raw for their crisp sweetness, or stir-fried for a fragrant flavor. They can also be ground into flour or made into various dishes and pastries. Kunyu Mountain Chestnuts are popular due to their high quality and are sold in major cities across China, as well as exported to neighboring countries such as South Korea and Japan.
Kunyu Mountain is located in the eastern part of the Shandong Peninsula and is one of the regions in Shandong with a long history of chestnut cultivation and high-quality produce. The chestnut plantation area covers 400 hectares, encompassing 359 administrative villages within seven towns (offices) in the Wendeng District: Jieshi, Gejia, Xiaoguan, Zhangjiachan, Songcun, Zetou, and Huanshan. Harvest occurs in September and October. Depending on variety and quality, the price of fresh chestnuts ranges from 10 to 20 yuan per kilogram, with an annual income per mu (about 667 square meters) of 3,000 to 5,000 yuan, making it a significant source of income and a means of prosperity for farmers in the Kunyu Mountain region of Wendeng.
The Kunyu Mountain National Nature Reserve has a temperate monsoon continental climate characterized by mild temperatures, pronounced seasonal winds, concurrent rainfall and heat, abundant precipitation, moist air, small temperature differences, ample sunlight, and stable forest ecosystems. These favorable natural conditions provide an excellent environment for the growth of Kunyu Mountain Chestnuts.
Product Characteristics
Sensory Features: Kunyu Mountain Chestnuts have medium-sized husks, heart-shaped fruits with tender yellow flesh that is finely textured, sweet, and fragrant, with a uniform shape. The outer skin is crisp and thin, blackish-brown in color, not particularly glossy, and can be easily peeled open with a fingernail without sticking to the flesh. Chestnuts can be eaten raw for their crisp sweetness, or stir-fried for a fragrant flavor. They can also be ground into flour or made into various dishes and pastries.
Intrinsic Quality Indicators: Kunyu Mountain Chestnuts are rich in nutrients. According to test results from the Ministry of Agriculture's Food Quality Supervision, Inspection, and Testing Center (Jinan), Kunyu Mountain Chestnuts contain protein ≥7%, starch ≥45%, total sugar ≥18%, zinc ≥10mg/kg, calcium ≥80mg/100g. The fruit has health benefits including tonifying the spleen and improving energy, nourishing the kidneys, and strengthening the waist.
Historical and Folklore
The cultivation history of Kunyu Mountain Chestnuts dates back over 2,000 years. Before the Qing Dynasty, there were few instances of seed collection and seedling cultivation, with most growth occurring naturally from fallen seeds. After 1980, introductions and domesticated cultivation began gradually. Kunyu Mountain Chestnut varieties are cold and drought-resistant, with lifespans reaching up to 300 years.
Awards and Honors
In 2016, they were approved as a protected national agricultural product geographical indication.