As temperatures rise across much of China in early May, growers in Xining, Qinghai Province, are preparing for the summer supply season of cold-climate vegetables.

At a planting base covering more than 53 hectares, producer Ma Ying is growing selenium-rich potatoes and purple garlic for local markets, wholesale channels, and direct online sales through Taobao. Early-season varieties are expected to enter the market within two months, while open-field crops are forecast to peak around September.

© Xining Municipal Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Affairs

According to the report, Qinghai’s high altitude, cool summers, large day-night temperature differences, and lower pest pressure support the production of cool-weather crops during summer months when hotter regions face supply gaps. Cold-climate vegetables are typically grown in areas where temperatures range between 17°C and 25°C.

In 2025, Xining’s cold-climate vegetable planting area reached 17,467 hectares, up 6.6 per cent year-on-year, while production increased 8.1 per cent to 714,600 tons.

The region has expanded infrastructure investment to support production and distribution. Nearly 800 million yuan (US$111 million) has been invested in greenhouse upgrades, integrated water and fertilizer systems, and cold storage facilities. Xining has also established 10 vegetable production bases larger than 667 hectares and 53 bases larger than 67 hectares.

More than 80 per cent of Xining’s vegetables were sold outside Qinghai last year, including shipments to Beijing and provinces such as Henan, Shaanxi, and Sichuan. Qinghai vegetables have also entered the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area supply chain. In June 2025, construction began on a distribution center supplying eight to 10 vegetable varieties and more than 200,000 tons of produce to the region.

Qinghai has also developed a 10,000-ton export base for plateau cold-climate vegetables. According to the province’s government work report, “Qinghai-branded” agricultural products are now exported to 54 countries and regions, while green and organic agricultural and livestock output exceeded 1.46 million tons.

Alongside vegetables, growers in Qinghai are also expanding production of products such as goji berries using drip irrigation and integrated water-fertilizer systems.

Source: Global Times