GLOBALink | Dandong strawberries: a must-try sweetness in NE China's Liaoning

SHENYANG, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Donggang City of Dandong, northeast China's Liaoning Province has become the country's largest strawberry production and export base, with a cultivation history of over a century. The strawberries of Donggang are known for their plump shape and sweet taste thanks to the favorable planting conditions.  

With the Changbai Mountain blocking the cold air from the north and the Yellow Sea bringing warm and humid air from the south, Donggang enjoys a milder climate compared with other cities in northeast China. Sufficient sunlight, rainfall, and fertile soil rich in organic matter make the city conducive to cultivating high-quality strawberries. 

Donggang Strawberries, which have made a name for themselves on the market, are a recognized Geographical Indication (GI) product in China. This status certifies the fruit's unique qualities which are tied by its specific region of origin.

Currently Donggang boasts a stable strawberry planting area of over 200,000 mu (about 13,333 hectares). More than 100,000 farming households in the city are engaged in strawberry cultivation. As the strawberry industry is a key driver of local social and economic development, authorities have been boosting investment in talent development, brand building, and financing support to further upgrade the strawberry-based economy here.

New technologies have also elevated both the yield and quality of strawberries. Farmers can monitor and control the temperature of greenhouses on their smartphones, keeping the temperature between five and 28 degrees Celsius.