Jujube, a unique fruit species native to China is extensively cultivated in the Jinshaan Canyon at the middle reach of the Yellow River. The Jia County is recognized as the place with the longest history of jujube cultivation & boasts an over-one-thousand-year-old jujube community. The community presents the whole domestication process of jujube from wild sour jujube, via half-cultivated sour jujube, cultivated sour jujube to cultivated jujube.

Frequent droughts occur in the Jia County suffers, making the jujube trees “life-saving plants” for the locals, who place their hope on the jujube trees. At the same time, the jujube trees are significant in preventing sandstorms and conserving water and soil on the sparsely vegetated loess plateau. The proposed GIAHS (the System) is a strong evidence of China being the origin of jujube, its domestication and scale cultivation. It also constitutes an important germplasm bank for the future development of the jujube industry. Besides, the System is of outstanding eco-functions, and culture significance. In conclusion, the System is worthy of protection efforts.