Lychees from Haikou, located in China's Hainan Province, are gaining momentum as the harvest season begins with Lixia, marking the start of summer on the lunar calendar.
Known for their sweet and slightly tart flavor, Haikou's early-ripening lychees are seeing rising demand online, drawing buyers from across China.
Delivered from tree to consumer within 36 hours, these lychees are reaching both domestic and international markets, including the United Arab Emirates and Russia.
Lychee cultivation in Haikou's volcanic cluster dates back over 2,000 years. In June 2017, the region's traditional lychee farming system was recognized as a nationally significant agricultural heritage site, notable for its wild grafting techniques.
Lychees are a staple in local cuisine, featured in dishes such as chilled lychees with saltwater, lychee-infused chicken soup, lychee puffs, and smoothies. The sector has also seen product innovation, with new offerings like lychee tea drinks, fragrances, dried lychees, honey, and lychee-flavored beer.
The lychee boom is also boosting tourism in Haikou. Cultural workshops in historic villages, summer lychee markets, and flower field runs are drawing visitors to the region.
Production in Haikou is projected to reach 87,900 tons by 2025, with estimated sales surpassing 1.6 billion yuan (approximately $223 million). On the first day of harvest, sales contracts totaled 220 million yuan (around $30.7 million), and pre-orders across the country reached 411 million yuan (about $57.5 million), reflecting a surge in both bulk purchasing and online transactions.
Source: People's Daily Online
