Gaolan Heshangtou Wheat

The “Heshangtou” is one of the high-quality wheats grown in the arid northern mountainous regions of Gaolan. It is characterized by drought resistance, disease resistance, and being pollution-free, containing various nutrients required by the human body such as protein. It has high gluten content and excellent taste. Legend has it that during the Ming and Qing dynasties, it was offered as a tribute for royal consumption and enjoys a high reputation in the northwestern region. Locals use “Heshangtou” wheat flour to make “longevity noodles,” and the baked “shaoguozi” is a beloved food among people in the Lanzhou area. The history of growing “Heshangtou” wheat in Gaolan dates back to the late Yuan and early Ming dynasties, spanning more than 500 years. According to the *Lanzhou Annals · Agricultural Annals*, “Wheat has been cultivated in the Lanzhou area for 5,000 years, and during the Han dynasty, wheat production was second only to millet and grain.” Before the Ming dynasty, wheat cultivation in the Lanzhou area was limited to the suburbs near the urban district. The vast region to the north of Lanzhou city, now encompassing areas such as Gaolan, Yongdeng’s Qinchuan, Jingtai, and Baiyin, was historically inhabited by ethnic groups such as the Qiang, Rong, Xiongnu, Xianbei, Tubo, and Mongols, who primarily led a nomadic lifestyle.

Gaolan Heshangtou Wheat

　　Gaolan Heshangtou Wheat is a product certified with a geographical indication for agricultural products.

　　Premium Wheat Variety “Heshangtou”

　　The “Heshangtou” is one of the high-quality wheats grown in the arid northern mountainous regions of Gaolan. It is characterized by drought resistance, disease resistance, and being pollution-free, containing various nutrients required by the human body such as protein. It has high gluten content and excellent taste. Legend has it that during the Ming and Qing dynasties, it was offered as a tribute for royal consumption and enjoys a high reputation in the northwestern region. Locals use “Heshangtou” wheat flour to make “longevity noodles,” and the baked “shaoguozi” is a beloved food among people in the Lanzhou area. The history of growing “Heshangtou” wheat in Gaolan dates back to the late Yuan and early Ming dynasties, spanning more than 500 years. According to the *Lanzhou Annals · Agricultural Annals*, “Wheat has been cultivated in the Lanzhou area for 5,000 years, and during the Han dynasty, wheat production was second only to millet and grain.” Before the Ming dynasty, wheat cultivation in the Lanzhou area was limited to the suburbs near the urban district. The vast region to the north of Lanzhou city, now encompassing areas such as Gaolan, Yongdeng’s Qinchuan, Jingtai, and Baiyin, was historically inhabited by ethnic groups such as the Qiang, Rong, Xiongnu, Xianbei, Tubo, and Mongols, who primarily led a nomadic lifestyle.

　　In the early Ming dynasty, land was reclaimed for wheat cultivation, but this was not yet the “Heshangtou” we know today. The current “Heshangtou” wheat is the result of long-term natural selection and selective breeding by local farmers under the dry climate and strong sunlight of Gaolan. Since the Yuan dynasty, the climate in Gaolan has become increasingly arid. According to meteorological observations since liberation, Gaolan has an average annual precipitation of 266 mm, an annual evaporation rate of 1,807 mm — seven times the precipitation. Most rainfall in Gaolan is concentrated in July, August, and September, accounting for 80% of the annual total. The average relative humidity is 54%, absolute humidity is 6.6 millibars, and the aridity index is 1.89, making drought the main weather disaster affecting agricultural production. Data analysis shows that in an average decade, six years experience spring or early summer droughts, and a midsummer drought occurs once every two years. The probability of drought occurrence is 87%, consistent with the folk saying “nine out of ten years are drought years.” Another climatic feature of Gaolan is the intense sunlight. The accumulated temperature at or above 5°C averages 3,216.6°C, and at or above 10°C it is 2,802°C, with a frost-free period of 144 days. Survival of the fittest is the law of biological evolution, and the “Heshangtou” wheat is the refined product of natural selection over 500 years of cultivation.

　　The “Heshangtou” wheat is an annual herbaceous plant of the Poaceae family, featuring a well-developed fibrous root system capable of extending over 300 cm into the soil. Most secondary roots concentrate within the 20–50 cm plow layer, facilitating optimal absorption of water and nutrients needed for growth. Its stem is upright and hollow, consisting of 4–6 internodes. In newly sandy soil and years with normal rainfall, the tillering-to-spike ratio of “Heshangtou” can exceed 10%. The tillers are small with narrow leaves and lack wax powder. The plant stands 122 cm tall and produces spike-like inflorescences, with each spikelet having 2–3 flowers. The spikes are awnless, conical in shape, with reddish husks that tightly close upon maturity, preventing seed loss. The kernels are oval and red, medium to small in size and slightly elongated. When sprouting, the coleoptile is hard, thick, and long, with a pointed tip resembling a cone, enabling it to pierce through hard sand or soil layers, aiding in drought-resistant and early sowing. “Heshangtou” wheat is of high quality, particularly due to its elevated protein content, resulting from photosynthesis and respiration under strong sunlight and significant diurnal temperature variation. Measurements from the provincial academy of agricultural sciences and Gansu Agricultural University show that “Heshangtou” wheat has a thousand-kernel weight of 35 g, flour whiteness of 74.81%, slight yellowness of 15.9%, and crude protein content of 16.02%. In areas like Baipo, Daheng, and Shiqing in Heishi Township, the crude protein content reaches 18.54%, lysine 0.54%, dry gluten 13.9%, wet gluten 37.05%, and sedimentation value 29.8%. Compared to other wheat varieties, its crude protein is 2–4 percentage points higher, lysine 0.1–0.2 points higher, and gluten content 4–5 points higher. “Heshangtou” is a hard wheat variety; when the kernel is bitten, the fracture surface is glassy with a hardness of 14.9, also higher than other types. Its flour is fine and somewhat gritty, with low fiber content, easy digestibility, and good taste — making it the ideal ingredient for making pulled noodles and steamed buns in the Lanzhou region. In the 1970s, Guo Moruo, then president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, accompanied Cambodian Prince Norodom Sihanouk on a visit to the suburbs of Lanzhou. Villagers served them “Heshangtou” noodle soup, which received high praise from both Guo and the prince.

　　The “Heshangtou” wheat exhibits exceptional drought resistance, tolerance to poor and saline-alkali soils. It can still flower and bear fruit in extremely arid soils with as little as 5–10% moisture, and grows normally when soil salt content does not exceed 0.3%. When sowing, no fertilizer is needed for new sandy soil; for medium sandy soil, a light application of chemical fertilizer during sowing is sufficient (typically 10 kg of urea or ammonium nitrate per mu). No additional fertilizer is required during the growth period. Another feature of “Heshangtou” is its high efficiency, low cost, and pollution-free cultivation. The cost to produce one kilogram of “Heshangtou” is only about 0.18 yuan, compared to around 0.8 yuan for irrigated wheat. The market price of “Heshangtou” is over 30% higher than that of irrigated wheat. Because it requires almost no chemical fertilizers or pesticides during cultivation, it is truly a pollution-free green food product.

　　“Heshangtou” wheat has long been the staple crop in arid regions. In the 1950s, over 200,000 mu were planted countywide, increasing to around 360,000 mu in the 1960s. With the development of water conservancy, the planting area remained at approximately 200,000 mu in 1980. After 1986, the area planted with “Heshangtou” ranged between 100,000 and 120,000 mu, with an average yield of about 75 kg per mu. Among these, around 80,000 mu of dry sandy land produced an average of 100 kg per mu, while 40,000 mu of early land produced about 45 kg per mu.

　　Entering the 21st century, agricultural development has shifted toward a market economy, transitioning from quantity-focused to quality- and efficiency-oriented models. “Heshangtou” wheat, with its advantages of high quality, high returns, low cost, and being pollution-free, is set to become the preferred choice for quality and efficiency-driven crop farming. In terms of cultivation techniques, building on the gravel-mulching method, developments such as plastic film mulching and straw mulching can be introduced. Rainwater harvesting and drip or sprinkler irrigation systems can help stabilize the yield of “Heshangtou” at around 100–120 kg per mu.

　　Geographic Scope

　　Gaolan County is located in central Gansu and the northern suburbs of Lanzhou, between 36°05′ and 36°50′ north latitude and 103°32′ and 104°22′ east longitude. It covers a total area of 2,556 square kilometers with a population of 168,300, of which 150,100 are agricultural residents, accounting for 93% of the total. The terrain features alternating mountains and valleys, sloping from northwest to southeast, with an average elevation of about 1,700 meters. It borders Baiyin City and Yuzhong County to the east, the urban area of Lanzhou to the south, Yongdeng County to the west, and Jingtai County to the north. The county seat is 45 km from both Lanzhou and Baiyin cities. The production area of Gaolan Heshangtou Wheat includes five towns — Zhonghe, Shidong, Jiuhe, Shuifu, and Heishichuan — encompassing 34 administrative villages, with an annual planting area of 690 hectares and a total annual output of 1,350 tons.