Qixia, a major apple-producing region in east China, is embracing a digital transformation expected to bring about higher overall benefits as its apple harvest season begins this year.
As the "apple capital of China," the county-level city in Shandong Province has more than 130 years of history of apple cultivation, with an area of over 60,000 hectares of apple planting and an annual output of more than 2 million tons.
But now, traditional farming methods are being merged with intelligent digital farming technologies.
Growers at an apple orchard are picking the ripe apples with a "personal farming assistant" in pocket providing tailored growing advice.
"Through this large screen, we can clearly see the growth of the apple trees and the platform will inform the farmers about the apple tree's growth status for precise picking," said Li Guoyong, head of a local supply and marketing cooperatives.
The transformation is visible at the local cooperatives' control center, where wall-mounted screens display real-time data from thousands of trees.
And the system goes beyond simple monitoring. Farmers receive precise picking schedules, automated irrigation controls, and customized fertilizer recommendations based on soil testing.
"On the smart platform, we can get a tailored planting program for ourselves so that we can save time and effort to avoid detours. The result is very positive," said Cheng Xianshi, an apple grower.
Qixia apples are seeking new breakthroughs in industrial transformation and upgrade by promoting on e-commerce platforms and improving cold chain and logistics services.
All orchards spanning 2,667 hectares in Qixia have been equipped with digital management devices so far, with the overall efficiency from apples preliminarily estimated to increase by eight percent.
China's apple embraces digital transformation amid harvest season
A new direct passenger flight route from Ningbo City of east China's Zhejiang Province to Cambodia's capital Phnom Penh opened on Wednesday, which also marked the first international flight out of the city's airport in 2025.
The new flight departs from the Ningbo Lishe International Airport at 13:30 and takes just under four and a half hours to reach the Cambodian capital. Operated by Cambodian airlines, it is scheduled to fly every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, with the return flight departing Phnom Penh at 07:40 local time on the same days.
The direct route provides an important travel option for tourists, especially those from Ningbo and the surrounding areas. Pang Cuili, a Ningbo resident who had to transit in Shanghai for a midnight arrival in Phnom Penh, said the new service now offers much greater convenience.
"We'll fly at 13:30 and arrive at around 16:50. It’s very convenient [timing] for us to check into the hotel after arriving," she said.
As the capital and largest city of Cambodia, Phnom Penh has long been an important international aviation hub in Southeast Asia, with the new route giving a further boost to the economic and cultural exchanges between Ningbo and ASEAN countries.
"Today marks the first flight of Ningbo Airport's regular direct passenger service to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The opening of this route is also an important move for the airport to help implement the Belt and Road Initiative, enriching international passenger transport routes, and further speeding up the recovery of the international market," said Chen Qiaoyu, manager of the Market Development Department at the Ningbo Lishe International Airport.
As Cambodia Airlines' first route out of Ningbo Airport, the new service also signals the airline's broader plans to connect various parts of China with Cambodia in the coming year.
Ningbo airport launches first direct flight to Phnom Penh
