As an agricultural county, Jiayu boasts fertile land, giving rise to many fruit plantations.

"Both my nephew, who is a university student, and niece, who is a senior high school student, like picking herbs on my land," says Zhi Yun, a middle-aged owner of the 7.3-hectare Nanjia Vineyard, which is three kilometers away from the county seat and specializes in grapes, yellow peaches, sweet persimmons, cherries, figs, mulberries, loquats and crape myrtle flowers.

"They both say the potherbs remind them of the taste of spring and that picking them helps them let off steam after school," he says.

Long Yu contributed to this story.

Contact the writer at huangzhiling@chinadaily.com.cn