In 2026, Shangyang Town, Yangjiang City, plans to plant about 20,000 mu (approx. 1,333 hectares) of watermelons. The main varieties include Sweet King, Black Beauty, and Qilin Watermelons. The first batch is expected to hit the market around Qingming Festival (in early April).
In a field in Shuangyu Village, greenhouses and small plastic tunnels are arranged in contrast to traditional open-field farming.
"Last year, the trial watermelons grown under small tunnels were crisp and fiber-free, and well-received by the market. This year, we'll continue with small tunnels and also test greenhouse cultivation," said Sun Xuquan, head of the Shangyang Watermelon Technical Association, pointing at the sheds.
Shangyang has a long history of watermelon farming. Farmers have built strong expertise, though open-field cultivation remains dominant.
Since 2024, the town's agricultural technicians have guided farmers to build small tunnels to prevent low-temperature damage, improving seedling survival rates and yield stability. By 2026, driven by large growers, greenhouse cultivation has expanded to over 40 mu (approx. 2.7 hectares).
Author: Liu Yue
Photo: Nanfang Plus, Yangxi Weibao
