A journey through the 'shared countryside'

Earlier this month, I received an invitation to participate in an episode of the series Transformation of Zhejiang Over the Past 20 Years. the Impressions of China in Foreigners' Eyes. I was intrigued to learn that the Green Rural Revival Program of Zhejiang province was awarded the Champions of the Earth title by the United Nations in 2018, which aroused my curiosity about this region. Through further research, I encountered a term known as the "Cailu Experience". But what exactly does this mean? The only way to find out was to head to Cailu village.

As I strolled through the picturesque countryside of Cailu, I gazed out over the fields and noticed a reaping machine plowing the fields, but there was no one behind the wheel. When I approached the reaping machine, I saw someone using what appeared to be a cellphone to control the machine.

"Rice transplanters, drones, driverless tractors, and other modern agricultural tools are all available, so the whole production process from sowing, fertilization, harvesting, and drying is now automated," Li Xiang, of Dongyang Certusnet Corporation and the project manager of Dongyang Cailu 5G Smart Agriculture, explained. "One person can plant hundreds of mu of fields."