As the summer heat fades and the White Dew solar term approaches, the scent of chestnuts fills the air, signaling the arrival of early autumn flavors. Across the East and West Mountains, chestnut clusters weigh down the branches, announcing that Wuzhong's "sweet and soft" seasonal treat is here. This year, Wuzhong District's chestnut cultivation spans over 3,600 mu, with the vast majority concentrated in Dongshan Town and Jinting Town, with the main harvest expected to hit the market in early September.

Dongshan currently has approximately 1,400 mu of chestnut trees, with the "Jiantuan Chestnut" as the dominant variety. Known for its light yellow flesh, plump texture, and sweet, soft consistency, it has earned the nickname "Dongshan Egg Yolk Chestnut." Other varieties include the White Hair Chestnut, Jiantou Chestnut, Chawan Chestnut (also called Zhawan Chestnut or Early Mid-Autumn), Early Chestnut (June White), and Little Gold Lacquer Chestnut. The fruiting season runs from September to October each year, and Dongshan chestnuts are prized for their large size, vibrant color, easily peeled inner skin, and excellent quality. Because the flesh is tender and not easily stored, the chestnuts are vacuum-sealed and refrigerated after shelling, ensuring this soft, sweet treat reaches your hands fresh from the branches.

To the north of Lingyuan Temple in Dongshan Town stands a "veteran" of Suzhou chestnuts—a nearly 370-year-old tree. Standing about 20 meters tall with a trunk circumference of 2.15 meters, it produces nearly 100 jin of chestnuts annually, earning it the title of "King of Suzhou Chestnuts."

The history of chestnut cultivation on the West Mountain dates back to the Tang Dynasty, when large-scale planting had already begun on the island, with nearly every household growing chestnut trees. Today, the island boasts over 2,200 mu of chestnut orchards. The signature variety, "Jiujiazhong," features delicate flesh with a hint of osmanthus fragrance, named for the fact that "nine out of ten households grow this variety." Chestnut trees bloom between April and June, with the fruiting period running from August to October. When ripe, chestnuts resemble little "hedgehogs," covered in green, spiky shells. Once fully mature, the spiky husks naturally split open to reveal the brown nut inside. A gentle tap with a pole sends the "hairy chestnuts" tumbling to the ground.

Shelling chestnuts is a skilled craft—the outer spiky husk is prickly to handle, and the inner skin is stubbornly clingy. At ancient village entrances, villagers often gather to shell chestnuts together, their fingers working swiftly as brown husks fall away and golden kernels pile up in basins. Everyone is welcome to visit Wuzhong this early autumn, hold a steaming, fragrant chestnut in hand, and enjoy a delightfully "chestnut-ful" season.