Baiquan Kidney Beans

Baiquan Kidney Beans

Baiquan Kidney Beans are a geographical indication agricultural product.

　　Baiquan County is a nationally recognized advanced agricultural eco-county. Its traditional product—kidney beans—is renowned both domestically and internationally for its pure quality, diverse varieties, and pollution-free cultivation. With an annual planting area of 200,000 mu and a commercial yield of 20,000 tons, the beans were awarded Grade A Green Food certification by the China Green Food Development Center in 2000. The county was also named “Hometown of Chinese Kidney Beans” by the Organizing Committee of the China Specialties Promotion and Publicity Campaign.

　　Baiquan County was among the first national pilot counties for ecological agriculture. After more than 20 years of ecological farming development, the county’s ecological environment has been fundamentally improved, creating ideal microclimatic conditions for producing green, pollution-free kidney beans.

　　Kidney bean cultivation has long been a traditional practice in Baiquan County, with farmers accumulating extensive experience over the years. The county maintains an average annual planting area of around 100,000 mu, yielding over 12,000 tons. Especially since being named “Hometown of Chinese Kidney Beans” by the China Specialties Promotion Committee in 2000, the local government has seized this rare business opportunity to vigorously develop the kidney bean industry. As a result, numerous specialized kidney bean production villages, hamlets, and large-scale growers have emerged across the county.

　　In recent years, strong market demand for kidney beans has driven high enthusiasm among farmers, leading to a steady expansion of planting areas. Growers strictly adhere to green food standards in cultivation and management, significantly improving bean quality. Many foreign buyers who have visited Baiquan praise the region’s natural ecological environment and scientific farming practices, especially the high quality of its kidney beans. Baiquan’s kidney beans are now exported to countries and regions such as the United States, Japan, South Africa, and the Middle East, forming a distinctive specialty industry that has boosted related sectors and delivered remarkable economic, ecological, and social benefits.

　　Geographical Scope

　　Baiquan County is located between 125°30′13″–126°33′04″ east longitude and 47°17′51″–47°52′52″ north latitude. The protected geographical area spans 250,000 hectares, encompassing towns and townships such as 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 covers 7,400 hectares. The county lies in central-western Heilongjiang Province, eastern Nenjiang Region. It borders Hailun to the east across the Tongken River, neighbors Mingshui to the south, connects with Yi’an to the west, and links to Keshan and Kedong to the north. Covering a total area of 3,599.15 square kilometers, the region generally transitions from the foothills of the Lesser Khingan Mountains in the west to the Songnen Plain in the east, with elevations ranging from 241 to 325 meters.

　　Natural Ecological Environment and Humanistic-Historical Factors

　　(1) Soil and Topography: The overall terrain of Baiquan County slopes slightly from east to west and from south to north, gradually flattening from east to west, forming a square-like landscape. The county has a high forest coverage rate, with over 1.23 million mu of artificially planted forests, accounting for 23% of the total area. The main soil types in cultivated land are black soil, meadow soil, and chernozem. The land boasts fertile qualities, with alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen at 213 PPM, available phosphorus at 47.1 PPM, quick-acting potassium at 286 PPM, and organic matter at 3.4%.

　　(2) Hydrology: The county features well-developed water systems, including the Tongken River, Shuangyang River, and Runjin River, with a total water storage capacity of 12.9 billion cubic meters. In recent years, Baiquan has invested heavily in water conservancy projects, constructing over 30 reservoirs and ponds to support farmland irrigation.

　　(3) Climate: Baiquan has a mid-temperate continental monsoon climate, characterized by long, cold winters; distinct spring and autumn seasons; and short summers. The annual accumulated temperature is 2,441°C, with annual precipitation of 325.7 mm. The county enjoys an average of 2,544.6 hours of sunshine annually and a frost-free period of 120 days, making it suitable for the growth of most northern crops—especially favorable for kidney bean cultivation.

　　(4) Humanistic-Historical Background: Kidney beans originated in the Central Plains of China and have been cultivated by ancestors for over 5,000 years. Ancient texts such as the *Yellow Emperor’s Classic* (“Planting the Five Grains”), the *Rites of Zhou* (“Grains Suited to Five Varieties”), and the *Book of Songs* (“Holding the Tender Beans”) all reference traditional crops—namely millet, grain, beans, wheat, and rice—where “beans” primarily refers to kidney beans and other legumes. With the rapid development of farming in Northeast China’s black soil region about 110 years ago, kidney beans were introduced to Baiquan and quickly became a staple in local diets, especially among farmers. They were regarded as essential table fare and hailed as “gems of the black soil” and “refined grain for farmers.” Cooked, mashed, or dried and ground into flour, the beans were sweetened into pastes for fillings in various staples and desserts. Wrapped in glutinous millet, wheat, corn, sticky rice, or even potato starch skins, these bean-filled foods were delicious, appetite-whetting, and filling—serving as vital sustenance in times of hardship. Among urban dwellers, kidney bean–based sticky rice cakes were considered even more precious than refined grains. Especially in rural areas, as Lunar New Year approached, every household would wash millet and make sticky rice cakes, with villagers gathering around hearths and candles to joyfully prepare stacks of them in preparation for the holidays, often continuing until the Little New Year (Lunar January 23). Throughout the first lunar month, sticky rice cakes were eaten at least once a day. During the summer weeding season, they were also a key source of energy. This tradition has given rise to a unique dietary culture. “Plump kidney beans, fluffy rice cakes, red bean paste, sticky rice buns” remain a distinctive and time-honored tradition in Baiquan’s farming households, still highly appealing to tourists today. During the planned economy era, Baiquan kidney beans were a top export product, mainly shipped to Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. Even today, as living standards have risen and food security is no longer a concern, the charm of kidney bean foods—especially sticky rice cakes—has not diminished but has grown stronger. Across Baiquan’s streets, alleys, and rural markets, the calls of local vendors selling these distinctive treats can often be heard. As a result, the area has seen a surge in individual, specialized, and private businesses dedicated to making rice cakes and sticky buns. These flavorful, aromatic foods have become a fashion trend, a lifestyle, and a symbol of Baiquan’s culinary culture.