Fresh alert! Hangzhou's signature Tangqi loquats are now in peak season

If there’s one Hangzhou specialty fruit people look forward to most in May, Tangqi loquats definitely make the list. Known as the “Home of Loquats in China,” Hangzhou’s Tangqi has been famous for over a hundred years. The loquats grown here are known for their thin skin, juicy flesh, and great flavor, attracting buyers from across China. Some even place orders two months in advance.

Want unlimited loquats this season? Here’s a handy guide to Tangqi loquats, from picking the best fruit to experiencing the fun of harvesting them yourself.

How to Pick the Best Loquats

Check the Color 

Loquats with a deep golden or orange color are usually sweeter and more flavorful. Try to avoid ones that look pale yellow or slightly green.

Check the Bottom

If the “navel” at the bottom of the loquat forms a clear five-pointed star shape, it usually means the fruit is fully ripe and sweet. If the bottom looks tightly closed instead, the taste is  more likely to be sour or tart.

Look at the Fuzz 

Freshly picked loquats usually have a layer of soft fuzz on the skin. If a loquat looks completely smooth with no fuzz left, it may have been stored for a long time or handled by many shoppers.

Check the Shape

Go for teardrop-shaped loquats if you can. They usually have thinner skin and more flesh, making them more satisfying to eat than rounder ones.

Where to Buy Loquats

Address: Tangqi Loquat Central Sales Area

South side of Tangqi No. 2 Kindergarten (about 120 meters east of the intersection of Lvyin Street and Yuanman Road)

By Bus:

Take Metro Line 9 to the last stop, Long’an Station. Exit from Exit C, then transfer to Bus 400M at the gate of Qianyuan Central Primary School. Get off at “Guangji Road & Renmin Road Intersection” stop and walk a short distance to the destination.

By Car:

Visitors can navigate directly to “Tangqi No. 2 Kindergarten” , parking is available near the area.

Where to Pick Loquats

Address: Tangbei Fresh Fruit Modern Agricultural Park, Tangbei Village, Tangqi Town

As the largest greenhouse loquat cultivation base in all of Tangqi, its owner opened the greenhouse picking experience as early as May 6. They sell around 30 to 40 jin (about 15–20 kg) of loquats a day. Some customers even place orders two months in advance, and many buyers even come from faraway places like Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, and Harbin.。

Greenhouse Loquat Picking: Now Open

Pick Up Fee: 100 RMB per person

Take-away Price: 50 RMB per jin (about 0.5 kg)

Outdoor Loquat Picking: Expected around May 20

Pick Up Fee: 60 RMB per person

Take-away Price: 30 RMB per jin (0.5 kg)

(All visitors can enjoy unlimited eating once inside the orchard.) （进园后均可以无限畅吃。）

Source: Hangzhou Release