Xuanhua, China - 150 kilometers away from Beijing, there is the Shanggujun once guarded by “flying general” Li Guang in Western Han dynasty.  Over the 2000 years of history, Shanggujun, now the Xuanhua district of Zhangjiakou city in Hebei province has been a hotly contested spot. Today, standing on the old city walls, what meets the eye is the immense greenery of fruitful grape vines. The most ancient and distinctive vineyards of China are located right here.

On Sept. 9, René Castro, Assistant Director-General of FAO, Vincent Martin,  FAO Representative in China, as well as Tong YuE, director of Center for International Cooperation Services of the Ministry of Agriculture, Zhao Lijun, deputy division chief of the department of international cooperation of MOA, and Xu Ming, section chief of the Center for International Cooperation Services of MOA, went to Xuanhua district of Zhangjiakou city, to visit the traditional vineyard system which was recognized as GIAHS by FAO in June, 2013.

In 2002, with the support of international organizations like Global Environment Fund and country partners, FAO launched the initiative on the protection of GIAHS, aiming to discover, preserve, utilize and spread globally important traditional agricultural production system, which involves agricultural resources and biodiversity, traditional knowledge and techniques, agricultural ecology and cultural landscape, as well as sustainable development model of agriculture.

China is one of the first countries to make a response and participate in the initiative. Now China have 11 GIAHS sites, more than any other country in the world. Moreover, China is a staunch supporter, strong promoter and model leader of GIAHS and has made remarkable contribution to the promotion of GIAHS worldwide, drawing praises from international community. Today’s Xuanhua is a typical industrial city, with agriculture accounting for less than 1% of its economy. However, it still preserves thousands of mu of traditional funnel-style vineyard. According to the history, the funnel-framed grape planting has been practiced for 1300 years. The hanging frame is like a huge lotus basin. The round hole in the center is 2 meters wide and 40 centimeters deep. The surface of the frame is expanding in circles. The branches and vines at all layers are distributed on the round frame.  The funnel-shaped frame has many advantages: it could centralize the fertilizers, water and sunshine, it saves soil, water and manpower, and it is suitable for courtyards in cities. Under the frame people could grow vegetables and plants for extra income. In midsummer, the temperature in the garden is two to three degrees lower than surrounding areas.

The traditional antifreeze technique used by grape farmers in Xuanhua has amazed experts on agriculture heritage both home and abroad. According to Cao Xinghui, researcher and vice director of Chinese Association of Agricultural Science Societies, after pruning the vines in winter, farmers would put them into antifreeze trenches, cover them with straws and a thin layer of dirt which could help the vines survive minus 20 to 30 degrees. This method ingeniously uses air as a kind of antifreeze material which is very effective. The thin layer of dirt won’t harm the branches and sprouts in spring. In recent years, freeze damage would occasionally happen to the vineyards in the North of China. The method with thousands of years’ history could ensure grape vines survive winter.

During the one-day tour, Castro visited four traditional vineyards, asked farmers about the cultivation, maintenance and transportation of grapes, and watched the performances and display of folk craft. After tasting the sweet juicy grapes, he couldn’t help but gave a thumb-up, highly praising the perfect combination of Chinese traditional agriculture and modern agricultural management.

While sitting with grape farmers, Vincent Martin said the beautiful traditional vineyards have left him a deep impression. So many verdant and secluded traditional vineyards located in downtown are easily accessible to citizens and constitute a heaven of peace. Families could drink tea, enjoy beautiful views and have fresh fruits under the grape vines, experimenting a rural experience in the middle of Xuanhua city.

Xuanhua abounds with milk grapes and purple grapes, with the milk grapes of extraordinary quality and rich in sugar. Zhangjiakou Hongyuan Grape Planting Cooperative is one of the largest traditional vineyards in Xuanhua district. Through cooperation with 50 local smallholder famers, it is not only selling the grapes locally but nationwide by cooperation with online dealers and delivery companies. The delivery men are living in the cooperative to ensure fast delivery. Mr. Qiao, director of the cooperative, said not only his wife and nearby famers are working with him, but his son is helping with the tourism promotion of vineyards and brings lots of guests to experience picking grapes. Their yearly income increased by 30%. They don’t have to find work in other places anymore, because the vineyards could perfectly satisfy their life needs. Next year they will provide accommodation to guests and make the agritainment economy more colorful.