The Liguang Almond
Liguang almonds, harvested every July, are known as Dunhuang’s “King of Fruits”. The almond is said to have originated from the area of Hetian in Xinjiang, but having gone through long-term natural growth and artificial development, it has become a species in Dunhuang.
It is said that after Li Guang, a famous general of the Han dynasty, fought in Dawan, this species was taken to Dunhuang from Xinjiang and named after him. His namesake almond now has a cultivation history of more than 2000 years.
The Liguang almond is as big as a plum, the skin is thin and yellow, the color is fresh and bright, and there is plenty of juice inside. It contains sugar, calcium, phosphor, iron, vitamin and various other nutritional elements inside. It can be produced into the almond can-food, almond sauce, almond wine, etc. It is also an important ingredient for pastries, cold food and candy.
The almond is resistant to cold and dry atmospheres; therefore, they can grow strongly and healthily in the oasis of Dunhuang, where the climate is very dry. Every March, the villages around Dunhuang are filled with almonds, giving people the artistic conception of "going into a village where there are so many flowers nearby."
By: Jiang Haiwen
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