Hidden agricultural gems wow locals, nonlocals alike

This winter's robust domestic tourism market has seen growing numbers of people from the south visiting the north and vice-versa, and governments in various regions have followed suit by sending out free samples of each other's specialty products for people in different regions to try.

Heilongjiang province sending cranberries to the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, and Sichuan province sending caviar to Harbin are just a couple of examples of the friendly exchanges of goods made this winter.

The upshot of these exchanges has not only been that people from outside of a region get to know that region's specialty products, but also, even those inside those regions have been shocked to learn what their own regions produce.

The wave of surprise among locals who had no idea what their region produces has led many to start exploring the products of their hometowns.

From Xinjiang's rainbow trout to Anhui's foie gras and Shanghai's saffron, it turns out that each region has its own hidden treasures.

When it comes to foie gras, many people immediately think of France. However, in Huoqiu county, Lu'an, Anhui province, one can find authentic French-style foie gras. Lu'an has a history of raising geese and is known for its local white geese.

In recent years, the area has begun industrial upgrading, introducing the world-renowned Landes goose, a breed specifically used for foie gras production, originally from France. The local soil and climate in Lu'an are suitable for its growth. Huoqiu has become the largest foie gras production base in the country, with over 140 farms raising Landes geese, producing over 5,000 metric tons of foie gras, and with an annual output value of nearly 2 billion yuan ($280 million).

When it comes to agricultural specialties from Xinjiang, most people immediately think of Hami melons, Aksu apples and raisins.

However, Nilka county in Xinjiang also produces rainbow trout. With the glacial meltwater from the Tianshan Mountains, Nilka boasts an excellent natural environment for the farming of cold-water fish. In 2014, a local company invested in and built a breeding base in Nilka, importing fish eggs from abroad. The trout from Nilka are not only sold throughout China but also find their way onto tables around the world.

The current trend of uncovering hidden agricultural specialties in various regions began with the exchange of 100,000 boxes of high-quality cranberries from Heilongjiang to Guangxi. This not only shocked locals but also astonished people across the country, who were amazed to learn that Heilongjiang produces cranberries.

It is a common perception that cranberries are mostly imported from North America. However, as early as 2014, cranberries were introduced from North America to Fuyuan county in Heilongjiang. By last year, the area under cranberry cultivation had reached 280 hectares, with an output of around 3,000 tons, making it the largest cranberry cultivation base in the country.

Fu Qiang, president of Northeast Agricultural University, explained that Heilongjiang is located in the "world's small berry planting zone", with significant climatic advantages. The region is abundant in small berries such as blueberries, blackcurrants, raspberries and sea buckthorn. The annual output value of small berry processing enterprises in the province exceeds 3 billion yuan, ranking first in the country.

This fervent exploration of local agricultural products is ongoing. In this process, people are beginning to find out more about their own hometowns.

Other surprising local specialties include caviar from Ya'an, Sichuan, the annual production of which in 2022 reached 50 tons, accounting for 12 percent of the global market; saffron, a precious Chinese medicinal ingredient, from Chongming, Shanghai, which has been made into various products such as beauty masks, alcohol and cakes in recent years; and matcha from Tongren, Guizhou province, which boasts the world's largest single matcha workshop.

Moreover, the hairy crabs from Yuncheng, Shanxi province, and the Australian lobsters and South American prawns from Chongqing have also surprised locals.