Mayan jujubes, a celebrated specialty of Sanshan Island in Dongshan Town, have recently entered the harvest season, drawing many visitors to the island for the fun of fruit-picking. Named for their horse-eye-like shape, the jujubes are known for their large size, thin skin, small pits, and thick, juicy flesh. Each fruit weighs about 15 grams on average, significantly larger than ordinary jujubes. The island boasts a 1,000-year history of cultivating this fruit, and is home to over 600 ancient jujube trees that are more than a century old.
This year’s Mayan jujubes are of excellent quality. Regular-grade fruits sell for 20 yuan per kilogram, while premium large ones command 30 yuan per kilogram, and demand far outstrips supply.
The 2026 Taihu Cultural-Tourism Sanshan Island Mayan Jujube Picking Season kicked off alongside the Islanders’ Experience Day, featuring the debut of “Ma Xiaotian”, a playful cartoon jujube mascot. In recent years, the village has hosted an annual jujube festival, turning the small fruit into an invitation for tourists to stay overnight and savor the island life at a leisurely pace, while boosting local incomes.
