Harvesters hum between paddy fields as skyscrapers loom in the background. [Photo/tidenews.com.cn]

Golden waves of rice ripple through Hangzhou's paddy fields near a CBD in Xiaoshan district, where harvesters hum between skyscrapers — creating a striking blend of urban steel and rural poetry.

Located in Xiaoshan's Yingfeng sub-district, the project has entered its rice harvest season. Early-ripening varieties are already being reaped, with large-scale harvesting set to continue from Oct 25 to Nov 10. This year's total yield is expected to exceed 2,000 metric tons.

Among the iron harvesters are a father and son surnamed Wan from Anhui province. Traveling across China with their combine harvester, they work from dawn to late night during the busy season. "It's hard work, but seeing farmland so close to skyscrapers is amazing," said the father.

Since its launch in 2021, the project has turned an urban plot of land into a productive and scenic patch of farmland. "We focus on high-yield crops like hybrid rice varieties, with average outputs of over 9,000 kilograms per hectare," said Xu Jinsong, manager of the project.

Despite last year's viral fame, Xu emphasized the project's commitment to food security over tourism. "Traffic is a bonus, but our priority is good harvests, not becoming an internet hotspot," he said.

Harvesters work from dawn to late night during the busy season. [Photo/tidenews.com.cn]