A train races through vast corn seed production fields along the Lanzhou-Xinjiang Railway in Wujiang town, Ganzhou district, Zhangye, Gansu province, on July 17, 2024. [Photo provided to gogansu.com]

Early on July 17, 2024, as the sun cast its radiant morning light, a train thundered along the Lanzhou-Xinjiang Railway, passing through the vast corn seed production base in Wujiang town, Ganzhou district, Zhangye, Gansu province.

In the height of summer, the soon-to-be-harvested corn seed fields at the foot of the Qilian Mountains flourished, resembling a verdant carpet sprawling across the landscape. Farmers bustled about, harvesting their crops amidst the lush, emerald woodlands.

The Lanzhou-Xinjiang Railway and the S237 highway, both traversing the region, were alive with the movement of trains and vehicles, painting a picturesque scene of rural ecological beauty.

Situated at the base of the Qilian Mountains, Ganzhou district in Zhangye, Gansu province, is renowned as a "golden" zone for corn seed production. With a stable cultivation area of approximately 600,000 mu (40,000 hectares), the region produces over 300 million kilograms of corn seeds annually, accounting for more than 40 percent of China's field corn seed supply. This makes it the largest seed production base in the country.

In recent years, Ganzhou has continuously advanced its beautiful countryside initiative. The result is a series of captivating rural landscapes, characterized by fertile fields teeming with life, a rich agrarian atmosphere, distinct cultural features, and an aesthetically pleasing living environment, all of which combine to create harmonious and picturesque villages.