The World’s Pepper Capital! What makes Guizhou “trade globally”?

The harvest season for Guizhou chili peppers is roughly in July and August, which also marks the peak period for chili pepper trading. But as soon as May began, trucks loaded with bright red chili peppers were already appearing on the roads leading into Guizhou. Sichuan's 、 Hunan's 、 Henan's 、 Xinjiang's Chili peppers from major production regions are now heading toward Guizhou; and there are also imports from overseas—Korea, Myanmar, Vietnam... Even the famed “devil’s pepper” from India is flowing in, wave after wave, along the arteries of the highways.

Zunyi Xiazhi Town's “China Chili City” Today, this place is not only the largest chili distribution hub in China but also a global trading center for chili peppers. In 2021, the volume of dried chili pepper transactions here reached 280,000 tons, driving an additional 550,000 tons in the secondary market and generating a total transaction value of approximately 9 billion yuan. Centered around this hub, an intricate network for chili pepper trading has been established, with new listings posted here every single day. Dried Chili Price Index It is even stirring the entire world. “Chili Broker” of the heart.

During chili season in Chilli City, piles of chili peppers are everywhere, and the air is filled with a spicy aroma. Photo by Chen Weihong 
The confidence behind setting global chili prices naturally stems from the excellent quality of Guizhou chili peppers. Take a stroll through Chili City, and you’ll find that the typical price of domestic chili peppers is 6 to 7 yuan per jin. Chilies from India and Myanmar are even cheaper. Yet in Guizhou, chili peppers can fetch a high price of over ten yuan per jin—and demand consistently outstrips supply. Chili seasoning and hotpot brands from across the country all regard this highly prized Guizhou chili as a secret ingredient for enhancing flavor.

The “Guizhou Pepper” will never rest on its laurels; instead, it continues tirelessly to overcome numerous hurdles.

First is the “germplasm bottleneck.” Guizhou boasts a wide variety of high-quality chili pepper strains, which certainly represents an advantage—but it could also become a challenge. With too many varieties available, the yield of any single variety may actually fall short, making it difficult to support large-scale industrial production. To address this, researchers must not only preserve high-quality varieties but also “select the best from among the good,” while simultaneously focusing on centralized seedling cultivation and standardized farming practices. They need to create consistently favorable growing conditions in the ever-changing mountainous environment, ensuring that the most fragrant, richest-flavored, and market-preferred varieties are widely promoted.

Of course, modern processing capabilities must keep pace as well. The leading enterprise, “Lao Gan Ma,” can produce over 3 million bottles of chili products per day. Brands such as “Gui San Hong,” “Hong Man Po,” and “Zun La” are all vying to excel, and industrial parks have sprung up like bamboo shoots after a spring rain, thanks to strong local support. Today, Guizhou Province alone boasts 623 chili-drying production lines, capable of drying 11,700 tons of chilies each day—delivering extraordinary efficiency and effectively “nourishing” the chili industry.

Three hundred years ago, the straightforward, robust, and intensely flavorful chili pepper wasn't universally loved—only those living deep in the mountains truly appreciated its unique charm. Today, amid our fast-paced lifestyle and diverse culinary landscape, the chili’s vibrant character is winning over everyone. The exquisite flavors painstakingly crafted by the people of Guizhou are now astonishing the world. 
The vibrant red industry and fiery dreams are burning with the intensity of a raging fire. Aren’t you eager to savor the exquisite flavor of “Guizhou Pepper” and join us in this culinary extravaganza?