Smart technology and expanding export channels are transforming citrus farming in Fucheng Village, southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality, offering a vivid example of rural revitalisation in action.

At harvest time, mandarins blanket the village’s hillsides. Alongside farmers, drones now shuttle fruit from elevations of about 500 metres to processing centres below in just two minutes. What once took nearly an hour on foot is now completed with remarkable efficiency.

At the foot of the slopes, automated conveyor belts handle washing, sorting and waxing, while pre-cooled containers set at zero degrees Celsius prepare the fruit for shipment. Within an hour of picking, mandarins are ready to head overseas.

According to the Chinese Society of Citriculture, China produces more than 65 million tonnes of citrus annually, the highest in the world. In Fucheng, growers are planting late-ripening varieties and adopting data-driven systems to enhance quality and remain competitive in an increasingly crowded market.