LANZHOU, June 8 (Xinhua) -- Lanzhou beef noodles, a 200-years-old specialty of northwest China's Gansu province, will enter college canteens across China to help increase income of local rural residents.

A total of 200 food counters serving Lanzhou beef noodles will open this fall semester in local college canteens in Shandong, Fujian, Anhui and other provinces in the country.

Cooperation agreements were signed on Thursday between a Gansu-based noodle company and enterprises from those provinces to ensure the famous hand-pulled noodles enter those canteens.

Zhao Kai, deputy head of the Gansu provincial education department, said it would promote employment of skilled workers in the province and boost the sales of local agricultural products like beef, garlic and pepper.

More than 20 Lanzhou beef noodle counters have been opened in college canteens since Gansu became a pilot area for targeted poverty alleviation by connecting farms and college canteens last year.

Gansu has so far sold over 1,000 tonnes of potatoes to college canteens since the end of 2018.