Simiao rice, known for its crystal-clear grains and delicate fragrance, is often hailed as the "jade among rices" and represents Guangdong's most competitive and distinctive premium rice variety. As the birthplace of Simiao rice, Guangdong ranks among the top Indica-rice-producing areas in terms of the rate of high-quality rice. In recent years, the planting area of Simiao rice has stabilized at over 6 million mu, with a yield exceeding 3 million tons, accounting for nearly 30% of Guangdong's total rice-growing area and production.

In 2025, the planting area of Simiao rice in Guangdong reached about 7.42 million mu. The five most widely cultivated varieties were Nanjingxiangzhan (1.35 million mu), 19Xiang (1.19 million mu), Meixiangzhan 2 (1.15 million mu), Xiangyaxiangzhan (0.64 million mu), and Qingxiangyou19xiang (0.63 million mu).

A total of 31 Simiao rice varieties have been recognized by the Guangdong Simiao Rice Industry Alliance. Among them, traditional varieties such as Xiangyaxiangzhan and Meixiangzhan 2 continue to maintain large planting areas in major Simiao-rice-producing regions thanks to their exceptional quality. Meanwhile, Qingxiangyou19xiang and Huahangxiangyinzhen have been nationally recognized as super grain varieties.

Guangdong has built one national-level Simiao rice industrial cluster, two modern agricultural industrial parks, 14 Simiao rice industrial towns, and 38 provincial-level modern agricultural industrial parks. Guangdong is also home to 65 provincial-level leading agricultural enterprises specializing in rice production, including three national-level leading agricultural enterprises.

Guangdong boasts 10 national Geographical Indication agricultural products in the rice category, including Zengcheng Simiao rice, Luofu Mountain rice, Lianshan rice, Luoding rice, Maba Youzhan rice, Taishan rice, Hakka rice, Longmen rice, Haifeng Youzhan rice, and Enping rice.

广东丝苗米产业加速发展

丝苗米，晶莹透明，芬香可口，素有“米中碧玉”之美誉，是广东最具优势和特色的优质稻类型。作为丝苗米发源地，广东省稻米优质率位居籼稻产区的前列，近年丝苗米种植面积稳定在600万亩以上，产量超300万吨，占全省水稻面积和产量的近三成。

2025年广东丝苗米种植面积达742.1万亩，种植面积前五的品种分别是南晶香占（135万亩）、19香（119万亩）、美香占2号（115万亩）、象牙香占（64万亩）、青香优19香（63万亩）。

经广东丝苗米产业联盟认定的丝苗米品种有31个，其中象牙香占、美香占2号等老品种凭借特优质品质，在丝苗米主产区保持较大种植面积；青香优19香、华航香银针被国家认定为超级稻品种。

全省累计建设丝苗米国家级产业集群1个、现代农业产业园2个、产业强镇14个、省级现代农业产业园38个。以水稻为主营业务的省级重点农业龙头企业65家，其中国家级重点农业龙头企业3家。

广东拥有10个稻米类国家地理标志农产品，包括增城丝苗米、罗浮山大米、连山大米、罗定稻米、马坝油粘米、台山大米、客都稻米、龙门大米、海丰油占米、恩平大米。

文｜记者 李程 马灿 赵映光
图｜受访者提供（除署名外）
译｜魏薇
审 | 郑奕玲