As the year comes to a close, the gentle winds sway through the rice paddies. Under the warm autumn sun, the golden fields are alive with layers of rippling rice waves. This tranquil landscape, once serene, now resonates with the rhythmic hum of machinery. It's time for the annual harvest of Beijing's premium rice, known as "Jingxi Rice."

In the core cultivation area of Jingxi Rice in Shangzhuang Town, Haidian District, there's a bustling and productive scene in the rice fields to seize the harvest season. As the combine harvesters pass through the rolling rice waves, neat rows of rice stubble remain. The plump, golden grains flow from the harvester's chute, filling sacks destined for the granary.

"In recent years, we have added '7233' and 'Jingxi Rice No. 3' to the original 'Yuefu' and 'Shangxiang No. 1' rice varieties. The average yield per mu has increased from 650 jin to over 900 jin, with processed rice producing around 600 jin per mu. While stabilizing the planting area, the yield of Jingxi Rice per mu has increased by 37%, and the planting benefits have improved year by year," explained a key official from the core production area.

"Currently, more than 95% of farming, management, and harvesting are mechanized within the protective cultivation area of Jingxi Rice. Due to sporadic rainfall in late autumn this year, the moisture content of the rice is higher than the same period in previous years, resulting in a delayed harvesting time. However, due to the longer growth period of rice in the fields compared to previous years, suitable sunlight and temperature have facilitated the accumulation of dry matter, resulting in better rice quality than in previous years," said Wang Qianyu, a staff member of the Agricultural Management Section of the District's Agriculture and Rural Bureau.

Jingxi Rice, also known as "Yudao," is an agricultural brand originating from rice seeds brought back by Emperor Kangxi during his southern inspection tour. In 2015, it obtained geographical indication registration protection certification for agricultural products, and in the same year, it was declared a significant agricultural cultural heritage in China. Currently, the total planting area of Jingxi Rice in Haidian District is about 2000 mu, with a yield of approximately 1000 tons, accounting for more than 40% of the district's grain output.

In recent years, Haidian District has been vigorously preserving and promoting Jingxi Rice culture. They have established the Jingxi Rice Park, organizing events such as transplanting and harvesting festivals, attracting a large number of citizens for leisure experiences. In the next step, Haidian District's Agriculture and Rural Bureau will continue to work on a variety of measures. Their primary focus will be to improve the quality of Jingxi Rice, emphasize the rice field's ecological landscape and standardized production, and create a high-end agricultural platform integrating excellent ecological environment, beautiful farmland landscapes, and high-quality rice products to promote the development of the Jingxi Rice industry culture.

Translator: Hu Guoman

Reviewer: Bai Jing