Osmanthus blooms in Pucheng, fueling tourism, economy

As the sweet-scented osmanthus flowers reach full bloom in Pucheng County, east China's Fujian Province -- known as "China's hometown of osmanthus" -- the region is experiencing a surge in tourism and a thriving flower-processing industry.

A thousand-year-old osmanthus tree located in Linjiang Town has become a major draw, attracting visitors from across the country.

Tourist Wu expressed delight at the experience.

"On the way to Pucheng, the plants lining both sides are all osmanthus trees -- it was such a pleasant surprise. When the wind blows, it carries a sweet fragrance, making me very much refreshed and happy," said a tourist surnamed Wu.

The blooming period is also a harvest season. In Pucheng's Xianyang Town, workers are busy collecting osmanthus flowers to produce this year's osmanthus tea.

Beyond tea, the orange osmanthus flowers are processed into various specialty products including osmanthus honey and pastries. The local industry now spans seedling cultivation, fresh flower harvesting, scented tea processing, and cultural tourism, forming an integrated supply chain that extends well beyond sightseeing.

The Naoli River National Nature Reserve in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province is witnessing its autumn peak of migratory birds, with the vast wetland serving as a key stopover for feathered travelers heading south.

Among the arrivals, rare birds including white-naped cranes, red-crowned cranes and oriental storks have been seen foraging and resting on the shallow flats and meadows. Large flocks of ducks and geese have also gathered in the reserve, at times circling in the air and at times feeding on the water.

To keep these migratory birds safe, local conservation authorities have launched a special protection campaign, carrying out integrated sky-ground monitoring, stepping up patrols in key areas, and conducting hazard inspections, bird rescue and public awareness activities to keep migration routes open.