China’s durian appetite cultivates new growth for South-East Asian orchards

NANNING, China: At a fruit logistics centre in Pingxiang near the Friendship Pass, a key gateway for Asean produce in south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, the recent May Day holiday saw tourists and wholesalers crowding around neatly stacked durians, lured by the promise of fresher taste and hard-to-beat prices. “Many visitors come for the border experience and pick up some durian as the ultimate souvenir,” said Liu Xian, a local stall operator. Industry insiders note that this is more than a seasonal craze; it is a structural shift. “As Chinese consumers grow more knowledgeable about varieties, ripeness, and texture,…