Oil-tea camellia enters harvest season in Shangcheng, C China's Henan

Oil-tea camellia seeds are spread out in the sun to dry in a village in Changzhuyuan township, Shangcheng county, central China's Henan Province. (Photo/Hong Xiaoyan)

Oil-tea camellia has entered its harvest season in October in Changzhuyuan township, Shangcheng county, central China's Henan Province. The autumn wind brings the fragrance of oil-tea camellia flowers and fruits everywhere in local villages.

Shangcheng county lies at the heart of the Dabie Mountains and has a long history of oil-tea camellia cultivation. The local government has been working to develop and expand the oil-tea camellia industry, aiming to achieve economic development and increase farmers' incomes.

By 2022, the oil-tea camellia planting area in the county had reached 336,000 mu (22,400 hectares). In 2022, The county's fresh oil-tea camellia fruit production surpassed 50,000 tonnes, resulting in a production of 3,000 tonnes of tea oil. The output of this industry is worth 577 million yuan ($78.87 million).