How Coffee Came to Be Grown in Zhanjiang, China

When you picture global coffee origins, Ethiopia, Colombia, and Vietnam might come to mind—but what about southern China? Despite being far from traditional coffee-growing zones, the Leizhou Peninsula in Zhanjiang, Guangdong, has been growing coffee since 1946. The question isn’t whether it can be done, but how a remote Chinese region became one of the country’s first coffee hubs.

The earliest recorded coffee cultivation in mainland China began in 1946 on the Leizhou Peninsula in Zhanjiang, introduced by returned overseas Chinese Chen Jingyao. By 1955, the area had established the first successful coffee plantation in southern China, covering 16.95 acres with 2,880 seedlings.

The Origins of Coffee Farming in Southern China

Coffee has been cultivated for over 2,000 years, originating in tropical regions of North and Central Africa. Today, major production is centered in Latin America, Africa, and Asia, with Europe and the Americas as the primary consumers. In China, coffee growing emerged in the late 19th century: Taiwan (1884), Yunnan (via a French missionary in 1892), and Hainan (brought by overseas Chinese in 1908). But it was Guangdong’s Leizhou Peninsula—specifically in 1946—that holds the title for the earliest coffee cultivation on the mainland.

The Pioneering Farmer: Chen Jingyao’s Story

Chen Jingyao, an overseas Chinese from Qianqiao Township, Xuwen County, fled his hometown in the 1920s amid bandit unrest. He traveled through Hainan and eventually settled in Malaya (now Malaysia), working in tin mines. Over time, he acquired land, grew rubber trees, and supplemented his income with crops like sweet potatoes and pineapples. A pivotal moment came when a local estate owner asked him to cultivate coffee for European tastes. Chen learned to manage the crop successfully, gaining hands-on knowledge of tropical coffee farming.

After World War II, Chen returned to Xuwen County around 1945–1946. He brought back arabica typica (small-seed) coffee seeds from Malaya and planted them at his home in what is now Xiawan Village, Xiagiao Town, Xuwen County. By 1949, a dozen plants bore small amounts of fruit, although the significance went unnoticed at the time.

The First Successful Coffee Plantation in Guangdong

In the early 1950s, large-scale rubber cultivation began on the Leizhou Peninsula’s southern edge, with the establishment of the Yuebei (Western Guangdong) Farm Administration headquartered in Xiawan. In 1953, the Nanhua Farm of Yuebei Farm tried planting 500 large-seed coffee seeds in poor soil conditions—with no success. Fortunately, Lin Hua, a Malayan-returnee technician at the farm, learned that Chen Jingyao’s coffee plants were fruiting. He acquired 1.4 kilograms of seeds from Chen, which the farm then used to produce 2,880 seedlings. These were transplanted in spring 1955 to 16.95 acres near the nursery of Farm Team Two. This planting marked the first successful, sizable coffee garden in Guangdong and southern China.

Why the Leizhou Peninsula Can Grow Coffee

Coffee thrives in tropical and subtropical climates, typically between 23.5°N and 25°S latitude—known as the “coffee belt.” The Leizhou Peninsula offers several key advantages:

• Soil: Volcanic-origin soils that are loose, deep, well-drained, and rich in organic matter.
• Climate: Abundant sunlight and heat, ideal for coffee’s growth cycle.
• Soil pH: Optimal range of 6.0–6.5 supports strong root development and plant vigor.
• Topography & Microclimate: Sheltered valleys and hilly terrain provide partial shade and moderate temperatures, mimicking conditions in traditional coffee regions.

Coffee plants prefer calm winds, mild temperatures, semi-shaded environments, and consistent moisture. They are shallow-rooted with distinct branching patterns, glossy green leaves, and produce fragrant white flowers followed by red to purple elliptical fruit, each containing seeds (commonly called beans) with varied fruit-stem (berry apex) shapes depending on variety.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where was coffee first grown in mainland China?

Coffee was first cultivated in mainland China on the Leizhou Peninsula in Zhanjiang, Guangdong, in 1946, introduced by returned overseas Chinese Chen Jingyao.

Who brought coffee to the Leizhou Peninsula?

Chen Jingyao, originally from Xuwen County, brought back coffee seeds from Malaya after learning to grow coffee there in the 1920s–1940s. He planted the first seeds in his hometown around 1946.

When did the first successful coffee farm start in Guangdong?

The first successful commercial-scale coffee farm in Guangdong started in 1955, when Nanhua Farm of Yuebei Farm transplanted 2,880 coffee seedlings on 16.95 acres in Xiawan (formerly Xiawan Village, Xiagiao Town).

What kind of coffee seeds were first planted in Zhanjiang?

The first seeds were arabica typica (small-seed variety) brought from Malaya by Chen Jingyao. Later, larger-seed varieties were also introduced but failed due to poor site selection before the successful 1955 planting.

What soil and climate conditions are best for coffee in Leizhou?

Ideal conditions include volcanic, loose, deep, well-drained soils with pH 6.0–6.5, abundant sunlight and warmth, and a semi-sheltered microclimate—all present on parts of the Leizhou Peninsula.

How did coffee farming begin in southern China?

Coffee farming in southern China began with trial plantings in Yunnan (1892) and Hainan (1908), but the first successful and documented large-scale cultivation occurred in Guangdong’s Leizhou Peninsula starting in 1946 and expanding in 1955.

Recommended FrontStreet Coffee for Coffee Origin Exploration

Try FrontStreet Coffee’s Yirgacheffe for bright floral and citrus notes, or their Ethiopia Huakui for delicate berry and jasmine tones—both single origins that highlight the complexity possible in well-grown arabica. For a deeper cup, their PWN Golden Mandheling offers earthy sweetness with low acidity. These beans reflect the diverse profiles possible from properly cultivated coffee, much like the pioneering efforts in Leizhou. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.