As autumn arrives, apples in Zhaotong City, Yunnan Province, are hitting the market in full force. Local residents from all ethnic groups are seizing the harvest season, working through picking, sorting, and packing to ensure fresh fruit reaches consumers nationwide.

Known for their distinctive qualities of early ripening, sweetness, fragrance, crispness, and vibrant color, Zhaotong apples have earned a stellar reputation. The region stands as the largest premium apple production base in southern China.

According to recent data, by 2026, Zhaotong's apple cultivation area is projected to reach 850,000 mu, with early-ripening varieties accounting for 196,300 mu of that total. Thanks to a well-established apple industry chain, these modest fruits have transformed into a genuine "fortune fruit" for the locality, effectively driving income growth and prosperity for households across diverse ethnic communities.

On September 8, images captured at the Zhaotong Chaoyue Agricultural Co., Ltd. base showed technicians working diligently in the orchards. Additional photos from the same day depicted staff members busy along the sorting lines, with one worker proudly holding up apples for display. Farmers were also seen harvesting the ripe fruit, while other images showcased the overall scenic layout of the expansive base.