From Tradition to Modernization: The Standardization Journey of Pubei Chenpi | Pubei Chenpi

Pubei, a county in Guangxi, China, is paving a path from traditional craftsmanship to modern, standardized production with its unique Chenpi industry. Official data shows that as of 2024, the cultivation area of Dahonggan (a variety of mandarin orange) in Pubei has reached approximately 170,000 mu (about 11,333 hectares), with the entire industry chain's output value exceeding 6 billion RMB, demonstrating its leading position in the region. However, the growth in industrial scale also places higher demands on the stability and consistency of product quality.

The production techniques of Pubei Chenpi have a long history, reportedly dating back to the late Qing Dynasty, and were inscribed on the list of intangible cultural heritage of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in 2023. Its core craft has evolved from the traditional "ten-steaming and nine-sun-drying" to the more refined "thirteen techniques," covering the complete process from harvesting to aging. This production method, rooted in tradition, lays the flavor foundation for Pubei Chenpi.

Pubei Chenpi sun-drying scene Image source: Baidu Baike

However, relying solely on traditional experience is far from enough to achieve large-scale industrial development. To address the challenges in industrial development, Pubei has been vigorously promoting the modernization and digitalization of the industry in recent years. Among these efforts, the construction of intelligent public warehouses is particularly noteworthy. According to reports, the first Chenpi intelligent public warehouse in Guangxi, which was officially put into use in February 2025, has introduced advanced technologies such as temperature and humidity control, AGV robots, and AI visual inspection, aiming to reduce storage losses by more than 15% and increase efficiency by four times. In addition, the "one-item-one-code" blockchain traceability technology also provides the possibility for transparent management throughout the entire process from cultivation to sales.

Pubei Chenpi Intelligent Public Warehouse Image source: Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (2025-07-02)

Standards are the cornerstone of industrial upgrading. To solve the past problem of "chaotic enterprise standards," Pubei is committed to building a standardization system covering the entire industry chain. According to reports, the local area has formulated 16 related standards and is currently researching and formulating 6 more, striving to achieve the goal of "unified flavor and unified quality." Recently, this effort has made landmark progress. In January 2026, the Pubei Chenpi entire industry chain standard system passed expert review. The system includes more than 300 standards, covering various links from basic general use to the integration of agriculture, culture, and tourism. The expert group believes that the system is forward-looking and instructive, and is of great significance for promoting the branding and high-quality development of Pubei Chenpi.

From the century-old intangible cultural heritage techniques to the digitally driven intelligent warehousing, and then to the industry-leading entire industry chain standards, the transformation story of Pubei Chenpi is not only an exploration of the modernization of a local specialty but also provides a valuable reference for how traditional agricultural products can build quality trust in a globalized market.

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