China is the largest producer and consumer of wheat in the world. Wheats cultivated in China include winter and facultative wheats and spring wheats sown in both autumn and spring, mostly in rotation with other crops such as maize and rice. Wheat is grown in 30 of China’s 31 provinces within 10 major agro-ecological zones established based on wheat type, growing season, major biotic stresses, and varietal response to temperature and photoperiod. [A history of wheat breeding in China]

As far as national production is concerned, major winter wheat production is primarily in the central area of the nation, while major spring wheat production comes from the northern regions of China. The major growing areas for winter wheat are Shandong and Henan. Shandong produces 21.2 percent and Henan produces 20.4 percent of the nations winter wheat supply. Winter wheat in China is planted in September and October, and it is harvested in late May and June. The main growing areas for spring wheat are Heilongjang and Inner Mongolia. Heilongjiang accounts for 26.5 percent of the nations spring wheat production and Inner Mongolia produces 24.4 percent of all the spring wheat in China. The spring wheat in China is planted in March and April, and it is harvested from mid July through August. [SpectrumCommodities]

Spring wheat area was reduced from 6 million ha to 1.5 million ha since late 1990s.