As autumn approaches, major agricultural production areas in China have been rolling out measures to secure a bumper harvest with new machinery and technologies. As the harvest season for rice and corn reaches its peak in southwest China, Sichuan Province in the region allocated 600 million yuan (about 84.3 billion U.S. dollars) to boost crop yields. In its Santai County, 390,000 mu (about 26,000 hectares) of rice crops have benefitted from agricultural techniques such as centralized seedling cultivation, appropriate dense planting, and mechanical harvesting, all aimed at increasing yields.
"This year, our rice crops were planted more densely than last year. The average yield per hectare can reach 10,500 kilograms, and even 12,000 kilograms at the most," said Lin Hongmei, a major grain farmer in Minglang Village, Santai County.
Meanwhile, nearly 10 million mu (around 660,000 hectares) of corn crops in Guizhou Province are being harvested. Local farmers are using new agricultural machinery specially designed for mountainous regions, raising the comprehensive mechanization rate of major crops to a record 55 percent.
In Henan Province, central China, corn crops have entered the mid-to-late filling stage. The crop fields in Nanyang are equipped with systems dubbed "soil fertility boosters." These tent-shaped facilities can spread fermented manure in accordance with crop needs, replacing chemical fertilizers and providing a solution to local livestock waste.
At the same time, cash crops are also at their peak harvest in many regions.
In Xintan Town of Jiangsu Province, east China, the gorgon fruit harvest is in full swing. Beyond selling fresh gorgon fruits, local farmers have introduced new special equipment for deep processing in order to boost their income.
"All our products are sorted with a laser sorter. The selected gorgon fruits are smooth, round, and beautifully colored. Very popular on the market," said You Weiping, head of the Weiping Family Farm in Xintan Town.
In Laoling City of Shandong Province, east China, 100,000 mu (around 6,600 hectares) of jujube trees are ready for harvest. To promote the local jujube industry, the city government invested 2 million yuan in protecting jujube trees and introduced 19 jujube processing enterprises to further increase farmers' income.
New methods introduced to secure autumn harvest in China
The rising popularity of Guochao, also known as the trend of "China-chic", has contributed to a consumption boom and more diversified consumption scenarios ahead of the Mid-Autumn Festival.
China-chic refers to fashion trends native to China, which incorporates unique native cultural elements into the latest trends.
For this year's Mid-Autumn Festival, the brand-new event "The Empress's Mid-Autumn Feast" at the Mingtang Tiantang Scenic Area in the National Archaeological Site Park of Sui-Tang Luoyang City in central China's Henan Province has attracted many visitors.
Through interactive experiences such as the performance of court music and dance, and the Empress Wu Zetian bestowing incense, it recreated the Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations in the Tang Dynasty (618-907) palace, allowing visitors to fully immerse themselves in the festive atmosphere of the holiday.
The "Hanfu craze" in Luoyang City has led to an increase in the number of tourists visiting scenic spots and has extended the overall economic chain. This trend has boosted the popularity of services such as Hanfu rental, makeup and styling, and professional photography, making them widely popular.
In Luoyang's Luanchuan County, activities such as the "Fairy Palace Moon Viewing Party" at the peak of the Laojun Mountain, which stands over 2,000 meters above sea level, have driven a surge in business for the Hanfu stores at the mountain's summit, leading to a peak in consumer activity.
"This year's Mid-Autumn Festival is witnessing an increase of over 50 percent in Hanfu rentals and sales, as well as travel photography services, compared with the same period last year. With such beautiful scenery as a backdrop, the demand for traditional China-chic consumption remains strong," said Jin Ge, owner of a Hanfu store atop the Laojun Mountain.
Driven by the rise of China-chic, creative cultural products are continuously updated with new offerings.
At a glazed glass workshop in Zibo City, east China's Shandong, skilled workers were busy crafting creative glassworks featuring lively jade rabbits, a symbol of the Mid-Autumn Festival.
As soon as the products hit the market, they quickly became popular both online and offline.
"While inheriting tradition, we've been exploring something new, developing creative products that better meet current market demands, thus winning the favor of a wide range of consumers," said Liu Jianhua, deputy general manager of Xiye Workshop.
The Mid-Autumn Festival, celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese lunar calendar, is a cherished occasion for family reunions in China. It falls on September 17 this year.
China-chic boom fuels consumption for Mid-Autumn Festival
