The off-season fruits and vegetables cultivated in greenhouses in Qingcheng town, Yuzhong county, Lanzhou, Gansu province, have hit the local market.

Branches are covered in cherry tomatoes in a greenhouse in Qingcheng town, Yuzhong county, Lanzhou, Gansu province. [Photo by An Fangjiang]

In the fruit-picking and sightseeing garden, farmers are seen busy harvesting cherry tomatoes, eggplants and watermelons.

"The two solar-heated greenhouses are a ready source of money for me," said a villager surnamed Zhang, adding that it is estimated that this year's income will be 80,000 to 100,000 yuan ($ 11,483.2 to $14,353.7) after deducting the overheads.

A villager harvests eggplants in a greenhouse in Qingcheng town, Yuzhong county, Lanzhou, Gansu province. [Photo by An Fangjiang]

At present, Qingcheng town is home to 798 elevated greenhouses, 80 fruit-picking and sightseeing gardens, and about 370,000 square meters of special aquatic breeding fields.

Watermelons, strawberries, grapes, eggplants, and edible lotus roots attract a body of tourists every year, bringing farmers a new way to increase their income.