Agricultural communities such as Cishan and Banpo appeared along the Yellow River in north China before 6000 BC, growing foxtail and broomcorn millet and raising pigs, dogs and chickens. Other domesticated plants included cabbages and fruits such as apricots, jujube, peaches, persimmons, plums and hazelnuts.
At the same time wet-rice farming was established in the Yangzi River delta at sites such as Pengtoushan, spreading to southern China, northern Thailand and Taiwan by 4000-3000 BC.
At Hemudu, thick layers of carbonized rice husks have been found dating to 5000 BC; here rice was being grown along with other water-loving native plants with edible leaves or roots, including water caltrop, fox nut, lotus and arrowhead.
In the south, water buffalo and pig were the main animal domesticates. These early farmers complemented their diet with wild fish, plants and animals.
By 1100 BC, soyabeans were being cultivated in a crop-rotation regime with millet in north China.
