China's early-season rice yield stood at around 28.17 billion kilograms this year, exceeding the threshold of 28 billion kilograms for four consecutive years, data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed on Friday.
The output dropped by 0.6 percent year on year, primarily due to heavy rain and flooding in the country's leading grain-producing regions since April, the NBS explained.
The NBS also noted that the sown areas for China's early-season rice remained largely stable. The early-season rice planting area nationwide was 71.322 million mu (around 4.75 million hectares) this year, up 0.5 percent compared to the previous year.
China's early rice output exceeds threshold of 28 billion kgs for four consecutive years
Ice and snow have become a wealth for northern regions in China to draw visitors with various winter activities.
On Sunday, an ice skating marathon kicked off in Baishan City of northeast China's Jilin Province, where participants struggled on the ice to win.
"The racetrack for the marathon is circular this year, allowing more spectators to watch the entire process of our marathon challenge, which would further inspire us contestants," said Wang Wenli, one of the participants.
An ice and snow fair opened on the same day, attracting thousands of tourists and winter sports lovers to this festive celebration of ice and snow.
In Zhangjiakou City's Chongli District of north China's Hebei Province, a series of winter sports activities kicked off on Saturday. Top athletes from across the country, along with performing artists from Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, delivered captivating performances for visitors.
As a co-host city with Beijing of the 2022 Winter Olympics, Zhangjiakou has seen booming ice and snow economy and become a popular destination for ski enthusiasts from home and abroad.
Another attraction in Chongli launched a winter carnival, featuring an ice and snow fair and an exciting ski show, drawing a large crowd of tourists.
"The snow trail is long and the slope is perfect for skiers of all levels. I look forward to advancing my snow skills here," said Zhang Junfei, a skiing enthusiast.
"It is very convenient to drive here from Beijing -- just a little over two hours on the expressway, and the road conditions are wonderful. The atmosphere here during the snow season is fantastic," said Hao Zhiyi, another skiing enthusiast.
Northern regions draw visitors with rich winter activities