Crops, vegetables, and animals. They are not in the countryside, but on the rooftop. This farmland is built on top of a shopping mall in the high-tech zone of Chengdu. For many, this is a brand-new experience.
"It surprised me when I stepped onto this rooftop. They have all kinds of vegetables and fruit. And there are species that I don't know. It’s rare to see such things in big cities," said Chengdu resident Tang Yan.
Mr. Liu is one of the founders of this city farm. For the past eight years, he has been running a vast rural farm in the suburbs of the city.
"Young people know very little about agricultural production, especially children. They have no idea about the exact procedures of how to plant vegetables and rice. So I came up with the idea of passing on Chinese agricultural traditions to the younger generation, and those living in cities," said rooftop farmer Liu Bo.
This rooftop farm occupies nearly ten thousand square meters. It claims to be the biggest one of its kind across the whole country. After two months of operation, the farm has become a platform for people to relax and get to know more about agricultural production.
This farm has not just crops. It has animals too. The interaction is popular for parents and children.
"I want to bring my daughter here three or four times a week so she can interact with nature and animals. I think it could be very useful to her growth," said Chengdu resident Yin Zhong.
It’s a place for young people to learn, and for others to relax.
"Cities should have more places like this for people to enjoy themselves. Cities don't usually look like farmland and ecological scenery. It can help people relax," said Zhang Jichao from TCL in Chengdu
"The farm is actually a by-product of the shopping mall here. With proper design and investment, we transformed this rooftop into something useful and provided the public with a free place to learn the science of planting and experience agricultural production," said rooftop farmer Liu Bo.
Mr. Liu says he has invested more than five million yuan in this project. And he is planning to expand the area to include more environmentally friendly elements. He hopes by visiting this rooftop farm, people will learn the importance of growing healthy food.
