Tourists enjoy the fun of picking flat peaches in the pantao orchards in Shengou village, Jishishan county, Linxia Hui autonomous prefecture, Gansu province. [Photo provided to gogansu.com]

In autumn, the pantao (flat peach) orchards in Shengou village, Jishishan county, Linxia Hui autonomous prefecture, are bustling with activity. Farmers are busy harvesting, sorting, packaging, and boxing the ripe, juicy flat peaches, and tourists flock to the orchards for a fun fruit-picking experience.

Lu Chunxia, who manages the peach plantation, says the fruit has been ripe for about a week. "The peaches are exceptionally sweet, with plump flesh, small pits, and a subtle fragrance. They taste amazing," she explains. Due to differences in soil and climate compared to their native Huaibei region in Anhui province, these flat peaches mature about 20 days later, allowing harvesting to continue until around China's National Day.

The peach cultivation process requires labor, from flowering to pruning, bagging, fertilizing, and weeding. Lu and her husband have employed over a dozen local women since April, providing nearby job opportunities and boosting incomes.

In 2016, the couple carefully selected over 500 saplings from Huaibei and planted them near their home. After eight years of dedicated care, these saplings have grown into a 30-mu (about 2 hectares) orchard.

In recent years, Jishishan county has focused on developing highly-efficient agricultural products suited to local conditions. By leveraging its ecological advantages, the county has continuously improved its specialty fruit industry, increasing farmers' incomes and injecting vitality into rural revitalization efforts.