Strawberries from Pinglu, a county in Yuncheng city in Shanxi province, northwest China, have entered their harvest period. Different from the traditional ground planting, these strawberries are grown in hanging belts on scaffoldings in greenhouses.

Compared with the traditional ground planting, strawberries grown on shelves yield over 30 percent more per unit area, and the incidence of pests and diseases has decreased.

The strawberries are cultivated without soil, using high organic matter substrates such as peat and vermiculite. A combination of automated irrigation and fertilizing ensures precise fertilization, water saving and fertilizer reduction.

The greenhouses have intelligent monitoring equipment, which collects real-time data such as temperature and humidity, substrate electrical conductivity value and nutrient content. Thanks to this, the cultivation is done scientifically, with a significant reduction of pesticides.

Strawberries grown on shelves have also created a new leisure agricultural scene, integrating "production, picking and sightseeing." Tourists can enjoy a stroll and pick the fruit.