Red Bayberry Festival in Shiping County, Honghe

Chinese Name: 石屏县杨梅文化节
English Name: Red Bayberry Festival in Shiping County, Honghe
Location: Shiping County, Honghe

Overview of Shiping Red Bayberry

Shiping red bayberry is a type of evergreen fruit tree belonging to the family Myricaceae. It is characterized by its drought resistance, ability to thrive in poor soil, robust growth, and high yield, preferring warm and humid conditions. The geographical indication protection area for “Shiping red bayberry” covers six townships in Shiping County, Yunnan Province, stretching 88 kilometers north to south and 59 kilometers east to west. The cultivated area spans 6,666.7 hectares, with an annual total production of 75,000 tons.

About Shiping County

Located in the southern part of Yunnan Province, Shiping County experiences a subtropical plateau monsoon climate. The altitude ranges from 259 to 2,551.3 meters, with an average annual temperature of 18.2°C. The effective accumulated temperature above 10°C is 6,105.5°C, with annual sunshine hours totaling 2,300 and annual rainfall between 850 and 1,100 millimeters. The county features a pronounced three-dimensional climate. With its beautiful mountains, numerous rivers, and the presence of Yilong Lake—one of Yunnan’s nine major plateau lakes—Shiping’s unique geographical position and natural conditions make it an ideal place for cultivating high-quality, high-yield red bayberries.

Development History

Shiping County began planting large red bayberries in 1985, making it the first county in Yunnan to introduce this variety from Zhejiang Province. The trees successfully bore fruit in 1991, yielding large, vibrantly colored berries with a balanced sweet and sour taste. After years of trial and exploration, the red bayberry received high praise in 1993 from provincial and state experts for its excellent quality, good taste, abundant flesh, small pits, bright color, and moderate sweetness. That same year, the fruit was widely promoted and introduced across the county.

The red bayberry industry in Shiping County has evolved into an integrated “ecological tourism” sector, with the “Bayberry Festival” held annually in May, attracting numerous visitors from within and outside the province to enjoy the sights and flavors of this delightful fruit. In February 2011, “Shiping red bayberry” was awarded the Agricultural Product Geographical Indication Registration Certificate by the Ministry of Agriculture of the People’s Republic of China.