Southern fruits sweeten life in Zhangye

Ganquan snow peaches are grown in Ganzhou district of Zhangye, Gansu province. [Photo provided to gozhangye.com]

Ganzhou district in Zhangye is leveraging its climate and facility-based agriculture to test out southern fruit varieties, pioneering a "growing southern fruits in the north" model that has the potential to inject new momentum into rural vitalization.

Inside intelligent greenhouses in Suzhan village, golden chayotes, bright lemons, and red pitaya thrive despite the winter weather.

The village has built 238 such greenhouses and integrated 160 mu (10.67 hectares) of mixed fruit picking gardens, cultivating fruits like pitaya, passion fruit, and lemons.

Using mobile temperature-controlled technology, each greenhouse is expected to generate about 100,000 yuan ($14,409.67) in value.

Gansu Wantong Agricultural Technology Development, a pioneer in the initiative, has successfully grown southern fruits by improving soil and optimizing climate control. Its 22 greenhouses, where high-value crops like pitaya and banana are grown, each earn over 100,000 yuan, with annual revenue reaching 3 million yuan.

The initiative has enriched urban fruit supply and boosted farmers' incomes. Nearly 20 cooperatives and enterprises in Ganzhou now grow over 20 southern varieties across more than 160 mu, making it a new driver of rural prosperity.