Origin of selenium melon

Se-sand melon, also known as "Gobi watermelon" and "watermelon grown in cracks in stones", is mainly produced in the area around Xiangshan Mountain in zhongwei, Ningxia. Therefore, it is also called "Xiangshan selenium sand melon".

In this harsh environment, Zhongwei farmers have gradually explored a set of methods of pressing sand to grow melons in dry land. "Wear fur coat in the morning and gauze in the afternoon, and eat watermelon around the stove at night", which is a true portrayal of the area around Xiangshan Mountain in zhongwei, Ningxia.

Xiangshan Township is located in the arid core area, with an average annual rainfall of less than 2mm and evaporation as high as 2,4mm, which is a typical extremely arid area. The township, with 9 administrative villages, 47 natural villages, 2,888 households and 11,286 people, is engaged in the selenium sand melon industry.