Here’s a rough guide to fruits you are likely to come across in your travels around China including there seasons. The Chinese name for fruit is Shuǐguǒ ( 水果).

Chinese Pear (Táng lí-唐梨)

Season: Autumn



Passion fruit (Bǎixiāng guǒ-百香果/熱情果)

Season: midsummer



Common Fig (Wúhuāguǒ-無花果)

Season: July and September



Persimmon (Shì-柿)

Season: September to December.



Star Fruit (Yangtao – 楊桃)

Season: September to April



Chinese plum (Li zi – 李子)

Season: April to May



Green Plum (Oume – 青梅)

Season: April to May



Yumberry (Yángméi – 楊梅)

Season: May to June



Pomegranate (Hóng shíliú – 紅石榴)

Season: August to September



Guava (Fān shíliú – 番石榴)

Season: June to September



Mango (máng guǒ-芒果)

Season: June to August



Lychee (Lìzhī – 荔枝)

Season: May to July



Longan (Lóngyǎn – 龍眼)

Season: August to September



Loquat (Pípá – 枇杷)

Season: January to April



Wampee (Huáng pí – 黃皮)

Season: June to July



Indian gooseberry (Yóu gānzi – 油甘子)

Season: August to September



Mangosteen (shān zhú-山竹)

Season: April



Dragon fruit ( huǒ lóng guǒ-火龙果)

Season: Usually available year round in warmer months



Durian (Liúlián – 榴莲)

Season: June to August



Kiwi Fruit (mí hóu táo-奇异果)

Season: January



Goji Berries or wolfberries (Gǒuqǐ – 枸杞)

Season: Year round in dried form



Monk Fruit (Luóhànguǒ – 罗汉果)

Season: Mostly available in dried form from herbal medicine shops



Jujube (zǎo – 枣)

Season: Available all year round in dried form



Kumquats (jīn jú-金橘)

Season: January to March



More useful translations:

orange – Liǔ chéng – 柳橙

mandarin orange – Gān – 柑 / 橘

lemon – Níngméng – 檸檬

pineapple – bō luó – 菠萝

strawberry – cǎo méi – 草莓

pear – lí – 梨

papaya – mù guā -木瓜

apple – píng guǒ- 苹果

grape – pú tao – 葡萄

pomegranate – shí liú – 石榴

peach – táo zi – 桃子

watermelon – xī guā – 西瓜

banana – xiāng jiāo – 香蕉

muskmelon – xiāng guā – 香瓜

apricot – xìng – 杏

coconut – yē zi – 椰子

cherry – yīng táo – 樱桃

pomelo / shaddock – yòu zi – 柚子

Useful: a guide to Southern China fruits and their health benefits – Fruits native to Southern China

A simple game to learn translations: http://www.digitaldialects.com/Chinese/Fruit_text.htm

Video: Fruit vocabulary in Mandarin Chinese

This post was first published Feb 20, 2014 and last updated Sep 2018.