In the golden days of September, the late-season mangoes across more than 400 mu of orchards in Antdui Township, Linxiang District, are ripening and entering their peak harvest period. The verdant hillsides are heavy with plump, golden fruit, their sweet fragrance drifting through the mountain air.

Departing from traditional manual picking methods, this year's harvest has introduced an aerial innovation: drones are now being employed for low-altitude transport, ferrying freshly picked mangoes down from the steep slopes to central collection and sorting points below. This novel approach has turned the orchards into a striking and uniquely modern sight during the autumn harvest season.

The mountainous terrain of Antdui Township, blessed with abundant sunshine and significant temperature swings between day and night, provides ideal growing conditions that give these local late-season mangoes ample time to develop their full sugar content and symmetrical, well-filled shapes. Because the fruit matures and is picked in September, it cleverly avoids the summer glut when most other fresh fruit floods the market. As a result, prices remain steady, sales channels are reliable, and the high-quality fruit enjoys strong recognition in markets far beyond the local area.

Historically, the steep, narrow paths and scattered plots across the township made hand-carrying each mango both laborious and time-consuming, often leading to bruised or damaged produce. To overcome these logistical hurdles of mountain harvesting, local initiatives began testing drone technology for fruit collection. Orchard staff report that a single drone unit can move up to 25,000 jin (12.5 tonnes) of mangoes per day, dramatically cutting labor requirements and transit times. This allows premium fruit from the deep mountains to reach markets quickly and efficiently.

Attracted by these efficiencies, traders from multiple regions have set up operations at the base of the orchards, introducing standardized sorting and packing technologies. The process flows like this: after mangoes are picked and airlifted by drone, they are immediately brought to the sorting sheds where workers meticulously categorize them by shape, appearance, and ripeness, then grade, bag, and systematically package the fruit, maintaining rigorous quality control at every stage to ensure flawless produce for export.

This thriving mango industry has also generated significant local employment, allowing villagers to work close to home. They can now balance their family responsibilities with a steady income without needing to migrate far for work. "Our mangoes are a late variety, only maturing in September, which perfectly sidesteps the big summer rush," said Gan, the procurement manager at the mango base. "Prices are stable, and we have guaranteed buyers, which is a huge relief. This year, with plenty of sunshine, the fruit set wonderfully. The shape is good and the sweetness is high, so we're looking at a much better income than previous years." Jin Xiu, a worker at the base, added, "Being able to earn money right at our doorstep means I don't have to travel far to find work. This year the fruit is growing exceptionally well, so there's more work available, and our wages are reliable."

This innovative aerial transport method has significantly boosted harvesting efficiency across the mountainous orchards. Antdui Township is committed to further enhancing every stage of the mango production cycle—from cultivation management and sorting to marketing and sales—to continually expand the benefits of this industry, ensuring that the orchard's bounty continues to provide stable and lasting income for the local community.