Gannan County has a long history of sunflower cultivation. Its sunflower seeds have been certified as green food by the China Green Food Development Center. Characterized by high yield, large seed size, bright colour and delicious flavour, they nourish the brain, protect the liver, tonify the kidneys, lower blood pressure and reduce cholesterol, winning wide favour from merchants at home and abroad.

In 2000, Gannan was named China’s Hometown of Sunflowers, serving as a national-level green sunflower production base and a national demonstration county for water-saving irrigation. Situated in northwest Heilongjiang at the southern foot of the Greater Khingan Range, the county spans 4,792 square kilometres with 2.97 million mu of cultivated land, 800,000 mu of which is planted with sunflowers annually. It receives average annual precipitation of 455 millimetres with sufficient sunlight, and soil organic matter exceeds 3.6%. The county governs 5 townships, 5 towns and 95 administrative villages, with a total population of 370,000, including over 248,000 agricultural residents and 140,000 rural labourers, providing abundant manpower for sunflower planting and processing. In August 2000, the Organizing Committee of China’s Hometown of Specialties officially awarded Gannan the title of China’s Hometown of Sunflowers.

Sunflower cultivation is widespread across Gannan. Its premium "Gankui Series", carefully bred by Heilongjiang’s only county-level sunflower research institute, is especially popular among growers. Large sunflower seeds of the Gankui Series sell well nationwide and are exported overseas.

Leveraging its brand reputation as China’s Hometown of Sunflowers, Gannan vigorously promotes its sunflower industry, forming an industrial chain integrating scientific research, planting bases, farmers and processing enterprises. It hosts the country’s largest sunflower production and trading market with an annual trading volume of 350 million jin, making sunflower seeds the county’s pillar industry. In 2002, a 40,000-mu raw material base centred on Qiqihar Ganglian Processing Enterprise obtained Grade A Green Food certification from the China Green Food Development Center. In 2004, Gannan was designated a national standardized production base covering 500,000 mu of green food sunflower raw materials by the same authority.

Baiquan County is a national advanced county for ecological agriculture. Its traditional kidney beans enjoy a global reputation for pure texture, fine varieties and pollution-free growth. Annual planting area reaches 200,000 mu with an annual commodity output of 20,000 tonnes. Certified Grade A Green Food in 2000, it was also named China’s Hometown of Kidney Beans by the Organizing Committee for the Recommendation and Promotion of China’s Hometown of Specialties. As one of China’s first pilot counties for ecological agriculture construction, Baiquan has thoroughly improved its ecological environment over more than 20 years of ecological farming, creating a unique microclimate ideal for green, pollution-free kidney bean cultivation.

Kidney bean farming has a long-standing tradition in Baiquan, and local farmers have accumulated rich planting experience. The county averages around 100,000 mu of kidney bean plantings annually with an output exceeding 12,000 tonnes. After receiving the title of China’s Hometown of Kidney Beans in 2000, the county government seized the huge commercial opportunity to expand the kidney bean industry, developing numerous specialized villages, hamlets and large-scale growers dedicated to kidney bean production.

In recent years, stable market prices have boosted farmers’ enthusiasm for planting, leading to expanding cultivation areas year by year. Growers strictly follow green food standards for planting and management, greatly improving bean quality. Foreign merchants visiting Baiquan praise its pristine ecological environment and scientific management, and speak highly of its superior kidney beans. Baiquan kidney beans are exported to the United States, Japan, South Africa, the Middle East and other regions, forming a core characteristic industry that drives related sectors and delivers remarkable economic, ecological and social benefits.

Baiquan County lies between 125°30′13″–126°33′04″ E longitude and 47°17′51″–47°52′52″ N latitude. The protected geographical indication area covers 250,000 hectares, including Baiquan Town, Fengchan Township, Changchun Town, Dazhong Township, Xingnong Town, Xinghua Township, Shangsheng Township, Guofu Town, Xinsheng Township, Sandao Town, Xingguo Township, Ainong Township, Fuqiang Town, Longquan Town, Yongqin Township and Shizhong Township. The current kidney bean planting area within the protection zone stands at 7,400 hectares.

Located in the west-central part of Heilongjiang and the eastern segment of the Nenjiang region, it borders Hailun across the Tongken River to the east, Mingshui to the south, Yi’an to the west, and Keshan and Kedong to the north. The total county area is 3,599.15 square kilometres, forming a transitional zone from western plains to eastern hills at the foot of the Lesser Khingan Range and the heart of the Songnen Plain, with elevations ranging from 241 to 325 metres.