As winter frost retreats, a unique human tide sweeps across northeastern China. Thousands of farmers from Heilongjiang province board specially chartered trains, bound for the vast Sanjiang Plain – the heartland of China's rice production. This 20-day agricultural sprint offers participants a chance to earn over 10,000 yuan ($1,388), equivalent to nearly half a year's income for many rural households.
The Rice Express
Journalist Xu Yi documented this annual migration aboard a train where generations collide. Veteran farmers carrying decades of planting wisdom share carriages with tech-equipped youth monitoring soil pH levels via smartphone apps. 'My grandfather taught me to judge soil quality by its smell,' says 24-year-old Li Wei, holding up a digital moisture meter. 'Now we use both methods.'
Economic Lifeline
The migration represents more than agricultural labor – it's a carefully orchestrated economic ecosystem. Local authorities coordinate transportation and lodging, while agricultural cooperatives provide precision farming tools. For recipients, the earnings often fund children's education or home renovations. 'This work puts my daughter through university,' explains 52-year-old Wang Hong, carefully arranging seedling trays.
Food Security Frontline
With China accounting for 28% of global rice production, this seasonal effort carries national significance. The Sanjiang Plain's output helps maintain strategic grain reserves amid climate challenges and global market fluctuations. As planting concludes each May, participants return home – their temporary exodus complete until next spring's thaw.
