How Coffee Is Grown in Zhanjiang’s Volcanic Soil

When you think of global coffee regions, places like Ethiopia, Colombia, or Hawaii come to mind—but what about southern China? The Leizhou Peninsula in Zhanjiang, Guangdong, has long been home to China’s earliest commercial coffee farms, thanks to its volcanic soils and subtropical climate. But how did coffee get here, and why did it thrive in this unexpected corner of the country?

The answer lies in a mix of history, soil, and climate: the Leizhou Peninsula, especially its southern zone, has the right volcanic rock soils, consistent warmth, and enough rainfall to support robust coffee farming—conditions similar to those in parts of Southeast Asia and Latin America. This area became China’s first coffee-growing hub as early as 1946.

A Brief History of Coffee in Leizhou

Coffee has been cultivated for over 2,000 years, originating in tropical Africa. Today, major production is in Latin America, Africa, and Asia, with Europe and North America as the top consumers. In China, coffee was first introduced to Taiwan in 1884, then to Yunnan by a French missionary in 1892, and later to Hainan by overseas Chinese in 1908. But the earliest recorded coffee cultivation in Guangdong happened in 1946 on the Leizhou Peninsula, initiated by a returned overseas Chinese from Malaysia.

The Man Who Brought Coffee Home: Chen Jingyao

Chen Jingyao, originally from Qingqiao Township in Xuwen County (now part of Zhanjiang), fled his hometown in the 1920s due to banditry and ended up working in the tin mines of Malaya (now Malaysia). There, he managed to secure land, grew rubber trees, and began experimenting with food crops like sweet potatoes and pineapples. At some point, he was tasked with growing coffee for European colonists—and succeeded. By the time he returned to Xuwen around 1945, he had brought back seeds of the Arabica Typica variety (referred to in the source as “Arabic small-seed”).

He planted these at his home in what is now Xiakeng Village, Xiadeng Town (formerly known as Kenzi Market in Qingqiao Township). By 1949, a few plants flowered and bore fruit, though nobody paid much attention at the time.

The First Commercial Coffee Garden in Southern China

In the early 1950s, the Leizhou Peninsula underwent large-scale rubber cultivation, and the state-run Yuebei Farm established its headquarters in Xiakeng. In 1953, technicians at Nanhua Farm (part of Yuebei) tried planting 500 large-bean coffee seeds in poor soil—with no success. But local technician Lin Hua, also a returned Malaysian overseas Chinese, learned of Chen Jingyao’s successful trees. He convinced the farm to acquire 1.4 kilograms of seeds from Chen, which were then used to grow 2,880 seedlings. These were transplanted in spring 1955 across 16.95 acres (about 6.86 hectares) near the nursery of Farming Team Two—and they thrived. This plot became the earliest commercial coffee garden in both Guangdong and Guangxi provinces.

Why Coffee Grows Well in Leizhou

Coffee, a tropical evergreen shrub belonging to the Rubiaceae family, produces the beans we know as seeds inside bright red to purple berries. For healthy growth, coffee demands specific conditions:

• Climate: Thrives between 25°N and 25°S latitude (the “coffee belt”), but not all areas within this zone are suitable.
• Soil: Must be loose, deep, well-drained, and fertile, with a pH of 6.0–6.5—ideal for strong root systems.
• Environmental Preferences: Coffee prefers sheltered, cool, partially shaded, and humid environments with minimal wind. The plant is shallow-rooted, with upright growth dominated by a single main stem, paired leaves (sometimes three), and white, fragrant flowers. Its fruits are oval berries that turn red or purple when ripe, with varying fruit shapes depending on the variety.

The volcanic, well-drained soils of southern Leizhou, combined with sufficient warmth and rainfall, meet these requirements exceptionally well—making it one of the few places in China naturally suited to coffee farming.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was coffee first grown in Guangdong?

Coffee was first introduced and cultivated in Guangdong in 1946 on the Leizhou Peninsula, specifically in Xuwen County. This makes it the earliest known coffee-growing area in the province.

Who introduced coffee to the Leizhou Peninsula?

Coffee was introduced to the Leizhou Peninsula by Chen Jingyao, a returned overseas Chinese from Malaysia. He brought back Arabica Typica seeds around 1945 after learning to grow coffee while working in Malaya’s tin mines.

Where is the first commercial coffee garden in southern China?

The first successful commercial coffee garden in southern China was established in 1955 on the Nanhua Farm (Yuebei Farm system) in Xiakeng, Xuwen County. It covered 16.95 acres and used 2,880 seedlings grown from 1.4 kg of coffee seeds sourced from Chen Jingyao’s trees.

What kind of soil is best for coffee in Leizhou?

Coffee in Leizhou grows best in volcanic, loose, deep, well-drained soils with a pH between 6.0 and 6.5. These conditions mimic those of classic coffee-growing regions and support strong root development and healthy plant growth.

Why did early coffee trials in Leizhou fail in 1953?

An initial 1953 attempt to grow coffee at Nanhua Farm failed because the seeds were planted in poor soil that was infertile, under-fertilized, and affected by pests. The later success in 1955 used seeds from Chen Jingyao’s thriving trees and better growing practices.

What coffee varieties were first grown in Leizhou?

The earliest coffee grown in Leizhou was the Arabica Typica variety (referred to locally as “Arabic small-seed”), brought back from Malaysia by Chen Jingyao. Later trials also included large-bean varieties, but these initial efforts failed due to site selection issues.

Recommended FrontStreet Coffee for Coffee Growing Fans

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