A modern greenhouse complex in Liulang, a town in Wanzhi, a district of Wuhu, a city in east China's Anhui Province, constantly attracts visitors. The complex is Wuhu Lezhai Ecological Park, a smart farm created by Chen Yuanyuan. The complex is always warm, green and thriving, even when it is bitter cold outside.
"As the country's 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030) has started, I will lead my fellow villagers in developing the agriculture and in living better lives," says Chen. The young woman, who was born in 1992, has led her fellow villagers toward shared prosperity by developing agriculture through technological innovation. Her work has earned her numerous honors, including Anhui Provincial Rural Revitalization Youth Pioneer, Anhui Youth May Fourth Medal, and Anhui Provincial March 8th Red-Banner Pacesetter.
From Nurse to Farmer
Chen's parents used to grow grapes in Yangzhou, a city in east China's Jiangsu Province. In 2015, her father decided to return to Wuhu to cultivate and harvest grapes. Chen accompanied her father to conduct research. The area's ecological environment, fertile soil and favorable investment policies gave Chen and her father confidence. The same year, the family moved back to Liulang, acquired 218 mu (14.5 hectares) of land, and began their entrepreneurial journey.
At that time, Chen was studying nursing at Southeast University, in Jiangsu. Two years later, Chen completed her studies and became an emergency room nurse in Jiangsu.
One summer day, in 2017, Chen and her parents were eating lunch when a sudden, heavy rain storm began. Her family's vineyard was at risk. Her parents immediately rushed into the orchard. "Grapes can become 'sick' if they're rain soaked for too long," Chen recalls. She joined her parents in the orchard, and the three struggled to save the crop. The experience caused Chen to realize traditional farming methods alone were insufficient to ease her parents' burdens. Chen wondered if she could use technology to help her parents grow grapes. In March 2018, she resigned from the hospital and returned home to become a new farmer.
Technology-Driven Upgrades
Chen was determined to break from traditional farming methods. While she was conducting field research, Chen discovered IoT (Internet of Things) technology could be a game changer. At that time, the technology was rarely used in fruit growing, and ready-made equipment was not available. Chen's husband, Gu Baoliang, who had studied communication engineering, suggested she customize and develop a smart system for the vineyard. In early 2019, the couple established Letaotao Family Farm, the first smart farm in Wuhu.
Through their joint efforts, Chen's family established an R&D center on the farm, invested 2.26 million yuan (US $0.33 million) in research and built experimental and demonstration bases. A range of new technologies was utilized; for example, pipeline spray and ozone water sterilization replaced traditional chemical pesticides, achieving zero pesticide residue, zero heavy metals and zero pollution. Also, an intelligent, water-saving, drip-irrigation system, which precisely controls water and fertilizer use, was implemented, significantly saving water resources. A smart weather station and online-monitoring system have been implemented, enabling precise, 24/7 farm management. "My phone is the central control hub. The greenhouse data updates in real time, allowing remote operations," Chen explains.
Use of the technology has helped improve the quality and yields of the grapes. More than 30 fruit varieties have also been developed in the farm, including yellow peaches, nectarines and plums, with a QR code traceability system to give consumers full transparency and peace of mind.
Shared Prosperity
"Farming is vulnerable to natural disasters; sometimes, technology can't help," Chen says, while recalling the heavy snowfalls in 2018 and 2022. During those two crises, local government agencies stepped in to help area farmers. Even though the two storms caused huge losses to Chen's farm, the government's support strengthened her resolve to help her fellow villagers achieve shared prosperity.
"To scale up agriculture, teamwork is essential," Chen says. She recognizes the difficulties in promoting new agricultural technologies in rural areas; for example, the shortage of young laborers, the aging workforce, and older farmers' reluctance to deviate from traditional methods.
To tackle such challenges, Chen in 2021 helped establish a volunteer science and technology service team and an alliance of fruit- and vegetable-growing enterprises. The team of volunteers organize regular exchanges and training sessions in the fields, and invite specialists, tech-innovation leaders and university students to provide guidance to farmers. Chen has helped establish online and offline training platforms, which have benefited more than 30,000 people.
Chen has also helped alliance members sell their produce on e-commerce platforms, to expand their market reach and increase product value. In 2025, Letaotao Family Farm achieved more than 3.96 million yuan (US $0.58 million) in output, the farm received more than 78,000 visitors, created 470 jobs, and provided an average annual income in excess of 40,000 yuan (US $5,882) per worker. The farm has been recognized as a National Civilized Women's Post, and as a National Ecological Farm.
When asked about the future, Chen says her plan is to turn the smart farm into a platform for parent-child farming experiences, to allow city residents to enjoy rural life, and to witness the unique charm of rural revitalization.
Photos from Interviewee
(Women of China English Monthly July 2026)
Editor: Wang Shasha
