Hohhot showcased its wide array of high-quality, specialty agricultural products at the ninth China International Food & Ingredients Expo, which took place from April 18 to 20 in Dongguan. Tasting sessions of local delicacies such as Wuchuan buckwheat, quinoa, and seabuckthorn introduced visitors to the city's distinct flavors.

Exhibitors and customers taste Hohhot's agricultural products. [Photo/WeChat account of Hohhot]

This growing national presence of Hohhot's "local treasures" reflects its robust agricultural strategy. The city has developed seven major industrial chains – dairy, corn, meat, forage, potato, grains and oil, and urban agriculture – and implemented 296 major projects with over 34.8 billion yuan ($4.8 billion) invested in just three years.

An event highlight was the Wuchuan Quinoa Sci-tech Courtyard, where quinoa seeds developed through aerospace-induced mutation began sprouting. In 2024, the center partnered with the Bolivian International Quinoa Center and regional research institutes to breed high-yield varieties. Their innovations include lactose-free quinoa yogurt and beverages rich in flavonoids and polyphenols, over 50 times higher than traditional quinoa.

Other star products included Tuoxian county chili, Qingshui River fragrant millet, rice-field crayfish, and the renowned Hasuhai Lake carp. Thanks to technological advances and rich natural resources, Hohhot is turning its unique local products into national brands, transforming "local specialties" into "golden signatures".

Workers process Hohhot's Tuoxian county chilis. [Photo/WeChat account of Hohhot]