Xilaozangying village – located in Tumd Right Banner, Baotou, North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region – is home to Stachys Sieboldii Sci-tech Backyard.

A 50-mu (3.3 hectares) experimental field in front of the backyard grows crops such as stachys sieboldii, corn, chicory, and rehmannia. [Photo/Baotou news network]

The village has a long tradition of planting stachys sieboldii. In 2021, Professor Sun Wenxiu from the College of Food and Engineering at Inner Mongolia Agricultural University led a research team to the village.

They launched a sci-tech research project on stachys sieboldii, covering the entire industrial chain from germplasm resource development, planting techniques, and field management to deep processing, by-product recycling, livestock breeding, and further processing.

The Stachys Sieboldii Sci-tech Backyard has now established a production line for stachys sieboldii-based pickled products, developed its own brand, and expanded sales nationwide.

Members of Sun's team pick stachys sieboldii to make pickled products. [Photo/ Photo/Baotou news network]

In 2024, the backyard received the title of Most Beautiful Sci-tech Backyard from the China Rural Special Technology Association. It was also recently recognized as one of the top 10 agricultural sci-tech backyards in Inner Mongolia.