Authorities and farmers in east China are striving to secure a bumper harvest through scientific approach.
In Taizhou City of east China's Jiangsu Province, smart technology is being leveraged to support the growth of over 2.7 million mu (180,000 hectares) of rice, which is currently in the fruiting stage.
As effective management of diseases and pests is crucial during this period, farmers are using drones for efficient and precise spraying operations, and monitoring crop development.
Based on the analysis of the data collected by drones, agricultural experts are able to develop tailored field management strategies for farmers.
"With the use of digital technologies such as the Internet of Things and big data, drones can autonomously monitor crop growth and manage fields in real-time," said Chen Cheng, a local drone operator.
In an agricultural demonstration park in Huzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province, the practice of cultivating rice together with black-spotted frogs has proved successful, with healthy rice growth accompanied by the cheerful croaking of frogs in the fields.
This symbiotic approach benefits both crops and frogs: the fields serve as feeding grounds for the frogs, who eat pests. In return, the frogs' feces helps fertilize the fields for the rice to grow.
At the Weishan Lake, a crab breeding base in Jining City of east China's Shandong Province, farmers are celebrating a crab harvest. Nets filled with crabs are brought ashore, sorted, packaged, and sent to market.
Local farmers have adopted advanced crab breeding technology that allows for real-time monitoring of water temperature and quality in the lake, along with intelligent early warnings for aquatic diseases.
"The water quality of the Weishan Lake is improving significantly. My 50 mu (about 3.33 hectares) of crab pond is seeing a bumper harvest, and this year's orders are much higher than in previous years," said a local crab farmer.
East China provinces secure bumper harvest with scientific methods
China has announced 16 "film-plus" consumption pilot cities to advance economic and social development by expanding movie viewership and innovating cinema-related spending.
The pilot program focuses on cultivating new growth in film attendance, upgrading cinema consumption models, and expanding the film derivatives market. By integrating the silver screen with broader retail and service sectors, the initiative seeks to turn the popularity of films into a sustainable economic driver. As one of the selected pilot cities, Wuxi in east China's Jiangsu Province has unveiled a promotional campaign to stimulate local consumption through cinema-related incentives for the upcoming Spring Festival, which begins on February 17 this year. The campaign includes 12 million yuan (about 1.74 million U.S. dollars) in movie vouchers, along with 8 million yuan in "film-plus" benefits covering food delivery, dining, hotels, and transportation.
"I intend to see 'Pegasus 3' during the Spring Festival. Upon completion, the ticket stub entitles me to discounts at a designated restaurant. Wishing everyone a joyful and happy new year," said Li Huiru, an audience in Wuxi.
"During the Spring Festival holiday, audiences can claim a 20-yuan discount voucher for a single ticket on designated third-party platforms starting at 10:00 every day," said Ren Yan, an assistant at the marketing department of Wuxi Big World Cineplex.
Meanwhile, Qingdao in east China's Shandong Province has leveraged its large-scale film and television production base, the Oriental Movie Metropolis, to attract a number of major productions, including the "The Wandering Earth" and "Creation of the Gods" film series, for on-location shooting. The film industry has also driven local cultural and tourism consumption, drawing many visitors to "check in" at filming locations.
To further stimulate consumption, local authorities have incorporated movie stubs into initiatives supporting the broader local economy.
"We have launched a series of ticket-stub promotional activities. Consumers can follow the instructions on designated platforms to upload their ticket stubs and generate coupons. These benefits can be used for extra discounts at more than 700 local merchants in Qingdao, including restaurants, hotels, tourist attractions, and shops," said Zhang Xiaoyu, an official with the film division of the Publicity Department of the Qingdao Municipal Party Committee.
China lists 16 pilot cities for "film-plus" consumption to drive economic growth
