The shape of the vertical farm at Yusangang village is similar to a Fujian tulou. [Photo/WeChat account: lsnews]

Yusangang village – located in Liandu district, Lishui, in East China's Zhejiang province – has made a name for itself in recent years with advent of its innovative vertical farm, the shape of which is similar to a Fujian tulou which is a large, ancient Chinese enclosed and fortified earthen building.

"Isn't that amazing? Vegetables grow on the wall without soil," said He Peng, a tourist from Zhejiang's Jinhua city. 

By adopting mist farming technology, a nutrient solution is directly sprayed on the roots of the vegetables, so the vegetables do not need soil, but can grow after absorbing enough nutrients and light, explained Fu Jian, who is responsible for the vertical farm.

The facility is about 18 meters high and 30 m in diameter. The building is made of light materials such as steel tubes, which can effectively prevent damage from wind, rain, snow and earthquakes.

Vegetables grow on the surfaces without soil in the vertical farm. [Photo/WeChat account: lsnews]

"The vertical model allows the planting area to be expanded by three or four times the traditional cultivation mode," Fu explained.

He added that the vegetables absorb nutrients more efficiently compared with traditional soil cultivation and the growth cycle can be shortened. 

As a fascinating mist plantation science popularization base, the facility is also a popular tourist attraction.

According to Fu, the facility was completed in August 2020. During the National Day holiday that year, it attracted 20,000 visitors and earned more than 1 million yuan ($156,913).

Helped along by the facility, Yusangang village has developed a lucrative rural tourism industry that integrates fruits and vegetables picking, science popularization and agritainment.