International and local families enjoy autumn beauty and celebrate harvest during the "Take Dad to Farm" event. [Photo/jiading.gov.cn]
A celebration unfolded at the digital unmanned farm in Shanghai's Jiading district on Oct 19, as dozens of international and local families gathered for the "Take Dad to Farm" event.
The event offered activities like rice harvesting, field art, and rice pudding making, transforming the fields into an open-air classroom.
The day began with an introduction to traditional farming tools. A host explained the uses of tools like hoes and rakes, sparking curiosity among participants. Families then ventured into the fields for a rice-harvesting competition. Eight-year-old Yang Zexi and his father worked in harmony—his father cut the rice stalks while Yang gathered and bundled them. "It's tiring to harvest rice by hand, but it's so rewarding," said Yang.
Danny, a Dutch resident, led the expatriates in creating field art. Using watercolors and crayons, they captured the picturesque landscape. Petra from the Czech Republic, attending with her family, expressed delight at painting outdoors for the first time. "The vastness of the rice fields is incredibly relaxing," she said.
Danny, who has lived in Jiading for six years, shared his growing affection for the city. "The beauty of this digital farm inspires me. Seeing the drone demonstration for pesticide spraying was astounding and shows how advanced Chinese agriculture has become," he remarked.
The day concluded with crafting rice pudding and bread, calligraphy sessions, and a guqin performance, among other entertainment. Participants left with a deeper appreciation for autumn's beauty and modern agricultural innovations, all set against the stunning backdrop of golden rice fields.
Participants create field paintings. [Photo/jiading.gov.cn]