China is one of the ancient countries that grow bananas in the world. At present, most of the main banana varieties planted abroad are imported from China. Bananas are distributed in tropical and subtropical areas within the latitude of 30 degrees in the east, west and southern hemisphere.
Alexander the Great saw bananas during his expedition to India. After the discovery of America, bananas were introduced to the New World from the Canary Islands, first planted in Hispaniola, and soon spread to other islands and continents. The growing area has become a staple food in many areas. Bananas appeared in the American market in the19th century.
The origin of bananas is Southeast Asia (including southern China), and its centers may be Malay Peninsula and Indonesian Islands. At present, the wild ancestors of bananas and several Aga banana subspecies with diploid seeds can be found in the forests of Malaysia.
Southern China is one of the origins of bananas, with a cultivation history of more than 2,000 years. As early as the Warring States Period, there were already bananas for textile use in Zhuangzi (after 369 BC) and Qu Yuan's Nine Songs (343-277 BC).