The autumn rice harvest began at Jiyusha Farm in Zhongshan's Henglan town on October 10 with the season's first cutting. Farm owner Liang Huantang harvested 160 mu (about 10.67 hectares) of late-season rice that day, producing 84.5 tonnes of wet grain, equivalent to 528.13 kg per mu.

The first cutting marks the start of the city's autumn harvest.

Liang Huantang inspects the quality of the rice grains.

An expanse of adjoining rice paddies.

Mechanized farming operations.

Mechanized, smart farming is like a magnet drawing young people back to their hometowns. (Photo by Wen Bo)