Part Seven: Agricultural development

"Tea, the most healthy and delicious beverage of mankind, is produced by China. Its cultivation and preparation form one of the most important industries of the country." Dr Sun Yat-sen wrote in the International Development of China.

In 2010 China's grain production hit record 1,092.8 billion jin (546.4 billion kg) and 52 percent of China's agricultural production was mechanized.

An old farmer out with his cattle on the Chengdu Plain in the early 20th century. [Photo/All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese and China Intercontinental Press]

An organic tea planting base for the famous Wuyang Spring Rain Tea in Wuyi county, Zhejiang Province. [Photo/All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese and China Intercontinental Press]

Yuan Longping, father of hybrid rice. [Photo/All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese and China Intercontinental Press]

Villagers harvest wheat using a combine harvester in Fanzhuang village, Xiawa township, Sheqi county of Henan province. [Photo/All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese and China Intercontinental Press]

A plane sprays leaf fertilizer on the Geqiushan Farm in the reclamation area of Heilongjiang province. There are 50 planes in the reclamation area. The annual farming area covered by planes is 12 million Chinese acres. [Photo/All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese and China Intercontinental Press]