Farmers across China busy reaping autumn bumper harvest

As autumn harvest season is approaching, farmers across China are busy reaping crops and fruits by mainly applying mechanized harvesting while embracing another bumper harvest.

Since September, more than 190,000 mu (about 12,667 hectares) of rice in Suiyang County of southwest China's Guizhou Province has embraced the mature period.

Farmers were busy reaping rice, and harvesters were operating at full capacity across the fields. Local authorities have worked to enhance the construction of agricultural infrastructure, formulate planting plans in advance, step up the popularization of technologies, cultivate talents of agricultural machinery, implements various measures to increase grain production and organizes professional service teams for agricultural machinery, effectively improving the comprehensive production capacity of grain and driving the efficient and high-quality development of agriculture.

In Beitun City of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, 143,000 mu (about 9,533 hectares) of sunflowers is bracing for the harvest season.

By optimizing planting techniques, promoting disease-resistant varieties, and rotating crops, local farmers have seen another bumper harvest of sunflowers this year, with an increase of about 30 kilograms per mu (about 0.067 hectare).

"I've planted 210 mu (about 14 hectares) of sunflowers this year. Now all sunflowers have been harvested, with the yield reaching about 320 kilograms per mu, which is 30 kilograms higher than last year," said Dong Yifan, a local farmer.

This year, the estimated yield of sunflowers will rise to about 36,000 tons in Beitun City. The harvest is expected to be completed in mid-September, and the processed sunflower seeds will be exported to more than a dozen cities at home and abroad.

Currently, it is the harvest season for pears grown in Korla City of Bayingolin Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang. And more than 400,000 mu (about 26,667 hectares) of pears have gradually matured and entered the harvest period.

Thanks to the favorable weather, the Korla pear, which is known for its fragrance and juicy flesh, has seen a bumper autumn harvest this year, with the total output expected to reach more than 390,000 tons.

"I have a pear orchard of 150 mu (about 10 hectares), and the yield of pears is more than one ton per mu this year, which means an income of 3,000 yuan per mu. And my annual net income is more than 200,000 yuan," said a local farmer.

"The Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching, so the market demand for pears is large. We pick pears in the field and then directly send them to Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai in east China. The daily sales earn about 300,000 to 400,000 yuan, with a sales volume of about 20 tons," said Zhanghui, head of fruit and vegetable sales.

This year, local government of Korla City has rolled out the standardized management mode to improve variety breeding, planting technology, the integration of water and fertilizer and pest control, with the ratio of commodity pears soaring by 20 percent.

More than 100,000 mu (about 6,667 hectares) of high-quality pear garden have been newly built in 2024.

Farmers across China busy reaping autumn bumper harvest

Farmers across China busy reaping autumn bumper harvest

Moon-themed lantern shows and a series of traditional performances have been held across China, enlivening the holiday spirit during the three-day Mid-Autumn Festival break.

On Mid-Autumn Festival night, moon-gazing is a time-honored and cherished tradition. In Shanghai, it has become popular to gather at lakesides or riversides where the moon's reflection can be seen in the water.

During the festival, the city's Yuyuan Garden created various moon-themed installations, combining them with mythological stories from the Classic of Mountains and Seas. They also featured folk performances, themed lantern displays, and special light shows, offering a unique festive experience.

"I think this is a must-visit spot in Shanghai, especially given how beautiful it is. Plus, it incorporates traditional Chinese culture, which perfectly aligns with the atmosphere of the Mid-Autumn Festival. I really love it - it's all about family and reunion," said a Shanghai local surnamed Zhang.

In Baizhang Town, Hangzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province, a unique Fish Lantern Cultural Festival was held at the Shuttle Museum, a museum dedicated to weaving shuttles.

Villagers and tourists paraded along the roads and stream banks, holding exquisite peach blossom fish lanterns. The lanterns, vibrant and lifelike, symbolized the wish for "abundance every year and good fortune."

In Datong Ancient Town, Tongling City, east China's Anhui Province, the nighttime water dragon lantern performance and cultural night market have been bustling with activity during the holiday.

Dragon dancers skillfully waved the dragon lanterns, which spiraled and soared, creating various formations over the water.

The molten iron fireworks show, a folk art performance of throwing molten iron to create a fireworks-like display, was held on the river, creating a rare sight for spectators as countless golden sparks shot into the night sky of the ancient town before falling into the lake.

A drone performance was launched in Jingzhou City, central China's Hubei Province during the Mid-Autumn Festival. A thousand drones formed images of "Goddess of the Moon Chang'e," the "Jade Rabbit," and "Kongming Lanterns," creating poetic scenes together with the Moon afar.

"It's my first time watching a drone show, and I find it truly spectacular," said a tourist named Yu Duoduo.

In Dunhuang City, northwest China's Gansu Province, visitors gathered on the peaks of Mingsha Mountain to admire the stunning reflection of the Moon in the lake.

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.

Lantern shows, traditional performances delight moon-gazers during Mid-Autumn Festival