Special Local Products of Anyi

Zhulu loquat grown in Anyi County has two varieties: red-sand loquat and white-sand loquat, among which the red-sand variety is superior. The fruit has bright color with thin peel that is easy to strip off. It features thick, tender flesh, abundant juice, a sweet taste with slight sourness and a refreshing delicate fragrance.

Anyi boasts a long history of cultivating Zhulu loquat. As early as the Song Dynasty, poet Dai Min wrote: Ducklings paddle in ponds with shallow and deep water; Plums ripen beneath partly cloudy skies. I drink to my heart’s content from east garden to west, Picking all golden loquats off the tree.

According to county annals, Zhulu loquat became well-known across the province and beyond in the 10th year of the Tongzhi reign of the Qing Dynasty. At present, the annual output reaches 75,000 to 100,000 kilograms.

Loquats ripen earlier than peaches and plums, filling the gap in the fruit supply season. Locals say the loquat blooms in autumn and winter, bears fruit in spring and ripens in summer, absorbing water all year round. Eating loquats helps eliminate phlegm, regulate lung function, relieve coughs and invigorate the stomach. The seeds can be processed into starch and used to extract alcohol. Both leaves and blossoms are valuable medicinal materials. In particular, amygdalin contained in the leaves has anti-cancer effects. Anyi County is expanding loquat cultivation and promoting comprehensive development and utilization of the fruit.

Rice noodles are a traditional staple popular among people in regions south of the Yangtze River. There are numerous producing areas, yet Zongshanlong rice noodles from Huangzhou Township, Anyi County enjoy the finest reputation, which has stood the test of time. Anyi County Annals compiled in the 10th year of the Tongzhi reign of the Qing Dynasty records: "Rice noodles are produced in many places, most notably Zongshan."

Made from high-quality local rice through elaborate manual procedures including soaking, filtering, boiling, extruding and air-drying, these noodles feature exclusive exquisite craftsmanship. They are pure white, flexible, smooth and uniquely flavorful. They can be boiled, stir-fried or tossed cold, always serving as the first dish on banquet tables. Tasting Zongshan rice noodles has become a highlight for tourists visiting Anyi, making it a famous business card of the county.

Shibi glutinous rice flour is a time-honored premium product of Anyi County. Processed from fine rice with a combination of traditional craftsmanship and modern technology, it is an excellent daily food, an ideal gift and high-grade raw material for food production. Purchasing Shibi glutinous rice flour while touring the thousand-year-old ancient villages in Anyi is a memorable pleasure for travelers.

Anyi County enjoys a sound pollution-free ecological environment. At the Shajing Ponkan base on the southern hills of Shajing Village, newly cultivated ponkan mandarins boast medium size, bright red peel, well-balanced sweet and sour flavor with lasting aftertaste and long shelf life. The fruits are pollution-free green produce and rank among the top ponkan varieties. They sell well nationwide and always fall short of demand. In 1999, the base was designated a high-quality fruit production base by Nanchang City and a green agricultural base by Jiangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences.

The Anyi Tile-Grey Chicken is an excellent indigenous breed naturally selected over generations, with distinctive local characteristics. It is a dual-purpose poultry valued for its meat and medicinal effects, integrating nutrition, dietary therapy and health care. The breed is named for its grey plumage.

The chicken has tender meat and delicious fresh gravy, rich in amino acids and trace elements while low in fat and cholesterol. It is highly adaptable, thrives on coarse fodder and has strong disease resistance. It is especially suitable for free-range rearing in orchards, woodlands and grasslands, feeding mainly on grass and insects, making it perfect raw material for green health food.

Since ancient times, folk prescriptions using this chicken have been widely passed down and renowned worldwide. It is used to treat sunstroke, typhoid fever, infantile convulsions and habitual miscarriage in women.