Nanshan litchi may hit the market next week

The early-maturing variety of Nanshan litchi, Feizixiao, is anticipated to reach the market around June 5, according to Zeng Yani, an agronomist at Xili Orchard. The other two varieties, Guiwei and Nuomici, are expected to be available around June 15.

Clusters of ripe Nanshan litchi hang heavily on the branches at Xili Orchard. Shenzhen Economic Daily

This year, total litchi production in Nanshan District is expected to reach 5,000 tons, a harvest larger than last year. However, output will largely depend on weather conditions, Zeng said. Harvesting is projected to continue through early July.

As one of the most popular summer fruits, litchis always garner a lot of attention as summer approaches.

The main litchi varieties in Nanshan include Feizixiao, Guiwei, and Nuomici, with the latter two being the dominant varieties with the highest yields.

The entrance to Xili Orchard, a key hub of litchi cultivation in Shenzhen known for its ancient trees and high-quality harvests. Photo from WeChat account “蛇口消息报”

Xili Orchard, the main growing area for litchis in Shenzhen, has a large litchi farm and employs a team of agricultural experts.

The orchard manages over 20,000 litchi trees in Yueliangwan and Lilin parks and Niucheng Village that cover an area of over 2,000 mu (133 hectares). The oldest trees in the orchard are over 300 years old.  The litchi planting area in Nanshan District this year is 22,500 mu.

Unlike the extreme weather conditions last year, the temperatures in January and February of this year were low and the weather was dry with plenty of sunshine — highly favorable conditions for litchi flowering. As a result, the flowering rate of all litchi varieties in Nanshan has reached over 90%, according to Zeng.

The orchard plans to open its litchi field in Niucheng Village to local residents, offering them the opportunity to pick fruit in person. Interested residents are encouraged to stay tuned for the latest updates.

Shoppers browse fresh litchis at a bustling local market in Shenzhen, captured in this 2024 file photo. Shenzhen Evening News

Nanshan litchi is celebrated for its distinctive flavor and superior quality, particularly those fruits harvested from ancient trees, which distinguish them from other litchis in Guangdong.

"Through our experimental measurements, we found that the Guiwei and Nuomici varieties from ancient litchi trees have higher amino acid content compared to ordinary litchi trees. In particular, their natural fumaric acid content is more than 200 times higher than that of regular litchis," said Zeng. Fumaric acid is a key indicator for distinguishing taste and flavor in food.