Since last August has a subtropical high pressure zone been dominating and causing long-term high temperatures in Guilin. This, in turn, has had a negative impact on the production of passion fruits, which again was followed by rising prices. The selling price for a kilogram of passion fruits is currently approximately between 2,3 and 2,8 euros, while last year prices were 0,2 to 0,6 euros cheaper.
A passion fruit farmer living behind the mountain with the Reed Flute Caves, mister Hu Lin, explains: “I plant my passion fruits on the soil that lies scattered between my fields. Passion fruits require specific conditions to grow successfully: a tropical but cool and refreshing climate and plantations high above sea level. Especially cool summers are beneficial to their growth. If temperatures in summer are too high then this will reduce the time in which the plants will bear fruits. The best season to plant passion fruits in Guilin is every year from April to October. Due the impact the climate has had this year, a lot of passion fruits blossomed without bearing fruit. The output per hectare is a lot lower than previous years, so prices will be slightly higher this year.”