Old Man

Horticulture in China – Current Landscape and Growth Outlook

China is one of the world’s largest producers of horticultural crops, playing a dominant role in fruits, vegetables, flowers, tea, herbs, and greenhouse farming. With a population of over 1.4 billion and a rapidly modernizing agriculture sector, China’s horticulture industry has become essential—both for domestic food security and for the global supply chain.

1. Overview of China’s Horticulture Sector

China leads the world in the production of:

Vegetables (largest global producer)
Fruits (apples, citrus, pears, grapes, berries)
Tea (green tea leader)
Floriculture and ornamental plants
Traditional Chinese medicinal herbs
Greenhouse vegetables and high-value crops

The country’s horticulture systems combine traditional methods with advanced technologies such as greenhouse climate control, fertigation, drip irrigation, hydroponics, and smart-agriculture monitoring.

2. Key Horticultural Products in China

Vegetables

China grows more than 600 million tonnes of vegetables annually, supplying over 50% of global production. Popular crops include:

Tomato
Cabbage
Onion
Garlic
Carrot
Leafy greens
Ginger
Potato

Vegetable exports go primarily to Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.

Fruits

China is a top producer of:

Apples
Citrus (orange, mandarin, lemon)
Watermelon and melon
Grapes
Kiwifruit
Banana
Pears
Dragon fruit and other tropical fruit in southern provinces

China is also growing rapidly in berry production—especially blueberries, cherries, and strawberries driven by domestic demand.

Tea and Medicinal Crops

China’s famous tea-producing regions—Yunnan, Fujian, Zhejiang, Anhui—produce:

Green tea
Black tea
Oolong
Pu’er tea
White tea

The country also has a large market for medicinal plants such as ginseng, goji berry, astragalus, angelica root, and chrysanthemum.

Flowers and Ornamentals

Yunnan Province is China’s “Floral Hub,” exporting roses, lilies, carnations, chrysanthemums, and orchids worldwide.

3. Regional Distribution of Horticulture in China

Northern China

Apples (Shandong, Shaanxi)
Pears and grapes
Greenhouse vegetables (Hebei, Beijing, Inner Mongolia)

Southern China

Citrus, banana, mango, longan, lychee
Tea plantations
Tropical flowers

Western China

High-altitude fruits (Tibet, Qinghai)
Medicinal herbs
High-quality grapes

Eastern China

Vegetable hubs
Fresh-cut flower markets
Tea production in Zhejiang and Fujian

4. Technology & Innovation in Chinese Horticulture

China’s horticulture is transforming with:

● Greenhouse Farming

Large-scale controlled-environment agriculture (CEA) using:

Polyhouse structures
Glass greenhouses
Hydroponics
LED grow-light systems

● Smart Agriculture

Digital tools for horticulture:

IoT sensors for soil & climate
AI yield prediction
Drone spraying and monitoring
Automated irrigation systems

● Fertigation & Soil Nutrition

Chinese horticulture heavily relies on fertigation systems that blend water and nutrients, increasing efficiency and reducing fertilizer waste.

● Cold Chain Expansion

New cold storage infrastructure supports fruit and vegetable exports to new markets.

5. Challenges in China’s Horticulture Sector

Soil degradation from overuse of chemicals
Climate change affecting fruit flowering and yield
Water scarcity in northern regions
Labour shortages due to urban migration
Need for organic and sustainable production systems

China is responding through policies encouraging:

Organic farming
Eco-friendly pest control
Precision irrigation
Digital monitoring in farms

6. China’s Growing Role in Global Horticulture Trade

China exports:

Garlic, ginger, onion
Apples, pears, citrus
Tea
Fresh-cut flowers
Frozen and processed vegetables
Medicinal herbs

Major importing countries include:

Southeast Asia
Middle East
Europe
Russia
North America (specific products)

The Belt and Road Initiative has also expanded agricultural trade channels.

7. Future Outlook (2025–2030)

The next five years will see:

Rapid expansion of greenhouse horticulture
Large-scale adoption of AI and robotics
Increased demand for organic fruits & vegetables
Rising fruit processing (juice, dried fruit, puree)
Strong growth of China’s fresh fruit exports
More investment from private agribusiness and global buyers

China will continue to lead in horticulture production and is expected to become even more dominant in fruit & vegetable value-added processing.