Grapes provide rich pickings

Tourists flock to Suntuan village as the grapes ripen in vineyards in August. The village in Liaocheng, Shandong province, has a history of grape plantation stretching back more than three decades. Almost all households grow grapes over a total area of 80 hectares, accounting for 91 percent of the village's cultivated land.

"I didn't expect there to be such a large grape base and many people are coming to pick grapes," said Liu Ziqiang, a college student who recently came to the village to enjoy the summer vacation.

Authorities have invited agriculture experts to give villagers professional services, from seedling cultivation to business management. A grape trading market that integrates purchases and sales has been established, following the development path of large-scale planting and brand management.

The village also integrates the traditional grape industry with rural tourism and modern technology to enable villagers to increase their income.