At high altitude, rice yield sets record

The average yield per mu (0.067 hectares) of rice planted in a demonstration area at an altitude of 2,670 meters in Yongning town of Ninglang county, Lijiang city, Yunnan province, reached nearly 549 kilograms this year, a record, according to field tests carried out on Tuesday.

The 7.33-hectare rice demonstration area is the highest-altitude place in the world that grows rice.

"Thanks to the quality rice varieties, growing and management techniques, we set a new record this year," said Yang Hong, a senior agronomist of the agricultural research institute of Lijiang.

Experts tested three sample areas in the demonstration area. They measured 431.73 kg, 572.14 kg and 642.91 kg per mu, respectively.