As a key agricultural region in the heart of Shaanxi's Guanzhong Plain, Xianyang is renowned for its fertile land and abundant produce, earning the nickname "The Heartland of Guanzhong." Today, this rich land is not only a core area on China's geographical map but also a frontrunner in the high-quality development of county-level economies. By strengthening specialty agriculture, developing industrial clusters through supply chains, and integrating "industry + cultural tourism," Xianyang has not only enhanced its agricultural prowess but also revitalized its rural economy with robust vitality.

**Strengthening Local Specialties to Secure the "Vegetable Basket"** "Tomatoes are in full harvest! Selling for over 3 yuan per jin, my three-acre plot yielded more than 5,000 jin, bringing in over 150,000 yuan. This was unimaginable before!" said Yang Zhongmin, a farmer from Yunlong Vegetable Cooperative in Jingyang County, Xianyang, with a smile. Jingyang County is Shaanxi's first national-level vegetable standardization demonstration county, with vegetable cultivation spanning 393,000 mu, yielding 1.8452 million tons and generating 2.51 billion yuan in output value in 2024—accounting for about 18.53% of the county's total agricultural output.

Liu Yong, deputy director of Jingyang County's Vegetable Industry Service Center, explained that the county has built 33 vegetable parks, each covering 100 mu, and hosts three provincial-level and nine municipal-level leading enterprises, with the industrial chain's total output value reaching 3.88 billion yuan.

Meanwhile, in Binzhou City, located in the Weibei Plateau, apple orchards are brimming with fruit. Farmers are busy picking, sorting, and packing. "Our apples are smooth, sweet, and crisp, highly sought after in the market, truly achieving premium prices," the farmers said. Binzhou, a key fruit-producing area in Xianyang, specializes in apples, pears, and dates, with an annual output of 545,000 tons and a value of 2.3 billion yuan.

Xianyang's agriculture bureau highlighted that the city has identified 48 rural specialty industries across five categories, including unique crops and specialty foods. "Xianyang Fu Tea" has been listed as a national "local specialty," while "Binzhou Pears" and other products have received national recognition. The "Xianyang Malanhong" apple brand is valued at 8.972 billion yuan, ranking fourth in China's regional fruit brand value rankings.

**Expanding Park Economy to Build Industrial Clusters** Xianyang's agricultural modernization strategy focuses on industrial parks and supply chain integration. In Sanyuan County's Qinghe Food Industrial Park, Yili Dairy operates 10 production lines with a daily capacity of 777 tons and annual sales exceeding 1.3 billion yuan, driving growth in feed, breeding, logistics, and packaging industries while creating over 1,100 jobs.

The park has attracted over 30 major food companies, including Wahaha and Delisi, with an expected total output value of 11 billion yuan by 2025. Sanyuan aims to become Northwest China's largest modern food industrial hub.

In Jingyang County, Jingyun Modern Agriculture Co. operates an automated vegetable seedling center, producing over 20 million high-quality seedlings annually. The county has four modern seedling factories with an annual supply capacity of 170 million seedlings, supporting local and international markets, including Hong Kong, Macau, Kazakhstan, and Russia.

Xianyang has cultivated 91 "chain leader" enterprises and 259 "chain team" enterprises, with over 1,000 new business entities integrated into supply chains. The city boasts 210 municipal-level or higher leading enterprises, including six national-level and 81 provincial-level ones.

**Deepening Industry-Tourism Integration to Boost Regional Growth** To unlock the full potential of "The Heartland of Guanzhong," Xianyang is merging industry with cultural tourism. In Sanyuan County, the Tianqi Modern Leisure Agriculture Sightseeing Park, originally a winery, has transformed into a tourist hotspot offering wine tours, fruit picking, and outdoor activities. The park has invested 120 million yuan, created 200 jobs, and revitalized rural areas by turning "barren slopes into green spaces, villages into scenic spots, and farmers into shareholders."

Yuejiapo Village in Jingyang County leverages its proximity to the Zhengguo Canal Scenic Area to develop homestays and rural tourism. The village plans to expand into food processing and recreational activities, ensuring visitors enjoy a memorable experience.

Xianyang's cultural tourism bureau aims to promote new formats like "vegetables + orchards + picking + study tours," building agricultural culture experience centers and themed exhibitions to integrate primary, secondary, and tertiary industries, enriching the legacy of "The Heartland of Guanzhong."