In early winter, the Taihang and Yanshan Mountains are adorned with vibrant foliage and the fragrance of apples. On November 10, the Hebei Province 2025 Mountain Apple Evaluation and Promotion Event, themed "From Taihang to Yanshan—Superior Taste, Truly Premium," along with the Qinglong Apple Regional Public Brand Production-Sales Matchmaking Conference, concluded successfully in Qinglong Manchu Autonomous County, Qinhuangdao City, Hebei Province. This industry event, which gathered expertise and showcased development achievements, has injected new momentum into the high-quality development of Hebei's mountain apple industry and marked a new chapter in the brand upgrade of Qinglong's specialty agricultural sector.

**Quality-Driven Growth for Industrial Upgrading** Located along the 40-degree north latitude golden planting belt, Qinglong benefits from the unique volcanic soil of the Yanshan Mountains, an average annual sunlight duration of 1,600 hours, and a mountainous climate with a 15°C diurnal temperature difference. These natural advantages endow Qinglong apples with high sweetness, firm texture, and excellent storage and transport resilience. As a benchmark event for mountain apple industry upgrades and brand value enhancement in Hebei, the choice of Qinglong as the host location underscores its reputation as a premium apple-producing region in the Yanshan Mountains.

In recent years, Qinglong has prioritized specialty agricultural development as a key driver of rural revitalization, focusing on five major industries: forestry fruits, livestock, medicinal herbs, edible fungi, and coarse cereals. The county has implemented an innovative development model centered on leading enterprises, specialty industrial clusters, e-commerce logistics, and brand empowerment to boost farmers' incomes. Among these, the forestry fruit industry stands out as Qinglong's leading agricultural sector, with chestnut plantations covering over 1 million mu (66,667 hectares) and apple orchards exceeding 210,000 mu (14,000 hectares), making it a "golden industry" for local farmers.

During the evaluation session, premium apples from major production areas across the province competed for recognition. A panel of authoritative experts rigorously assessed entries based on appearance, intrinsic quality, flavor, and safety indicators. Qinglong's "Fuji Stripe Red" and "Orin" varieties were crowned "Apple Kings." Industry experts also gathered to discuss quality improvement, brand building, and technological empowerment.

To advance high-quality apple production, Qinglong has deepened collaborations with universities and research institutions, promoting advanced technologies such as orchard transport vehicles, hail protection equipment, and integrated water-fertilizer systems. Innovations like dwarfing dense planting and green pest control have achieved dual goals of water and fertilizer savings alongside quality and efficiency gains.

"Every apple undergoes meticulous manual weeding, organic fertilization, and multi-stage sorting to ensure consumer safety," said Li Tiewai, head of the Qinglong Guofeng Apple Cooperative.

**Brand Building to Expand Industrial Value** Branding serves as the core engine for industrial upgrading and a critical competitive edge in the market. The event unveiled the upgraded "Qinglong Apple" regional public brand, complementing the "Satisfaction Qinglong" all-category regional public brand to create a dual-brand empowerment strategy. The upgrade enhances visual identity, promotional systems, product quality standards, and market positioning, boosting market recognition and premium potential while integrating more farmers into the branded development chain.

Qinglong has vigorously advanced regional public brand construction, establishing a "full-category + single-category" brand matrix. The county now boasts 691 agricultural trademarks, with the "Satisfaction Qinglong" brand ranking among China's "Top 10 Emerging Regional Agricultural Public Brands." Single-category brands like "Qinglong Chestnuts" (a national geographical indication) and "Qinglong Millet" have gained strong market traction.

"By linking planting, processing, and sales through branding, we amplify ecological and quality advantages to establish 'Qinglong Apple' as a premium mountain apple brand with reputation and market appeal," said a Qinglong agriculture official.

**Production-Sales Integration to Streamline Industry Circulation** Enhanced brand value has unlocked smoother sales channels. At the matchmaking conference, local enterprises and cooperatives secured partnerships with buyers from Beijing, Tianjin, and Shanghai, bridging the "orchard-to-table" gap.

"From precision grading on sorting lines to traceable QR codes and cold-chain logistics, Qinglong's apple supply chain is increasingly robust, fueling our confidence in its market potential," buyers noted.

Qinglong Yukangnong Agricultural Development Co. signed an agreement with China Agricultural Innovation Port Cross-Border E-Commerce Industrial Park Co. to expand online apple sales, leveraging e-commerce to reach broader markets.

Live-streamed promotions showcased Qinglong apples alongside real-time sorting and shipping processes. The Yukangnong team handles over 2,000 daily orders, while the Duyuanhu E-Commerce Logistics Park in Taojunshan Village employs intelligent sorting and direct-to-township delivery to overcome mountainous logistics challenges.

Since 2021, Qinglong's "Three-Level Secretary" e-commerce initiative has digitized rural sales. Today, its county-township-village e-commerce logistics network supports nearly 4,000 active online stores, employs 15,000 people, and has secured partnerships with "Hema County" and "Hema Village," positioning Qinglong as a hub for specialty agricultural production and distribution. In 2024, the county's online retail sales exceeded 2.6 billion yuan, with outbound express deliveries surpassing 2.76 million parcels—doubling in two years.

This event not only highlighted Hebei's mountain apple industry achievements but also served as a pivotal platform for resource integration, technical exchange, and brand enhancement. Qinglong will continue leveraging its Yanshan Mountain advantages to advance standardized planting, branded operations, and industrial development, ensuring lasting momentum for regional specialty industries and further burnishing the "Qinglong Apple" as an ecological and prosperity emblem.