Cherry tomatoes are planted in greenhouses in Datong. [Photo/Datong Daily]

Datong has made remarkable progress in protected agriculture, with its cool-climate vegetable industry earning national acclaim.

The city expanded its protected vegetable area by 21,000 mu (1,400 hectares) in 2025, bringing the total to over 159,000 mu, resulting in the planting of 293,000 mu of vegetables, yielding 1.25 million metric tons and generating an annual output value of 4.2 billion yuan ($614 million).

Datong plans to further advance its protected agriculture in 2026 by developing an additional 20,000 mu of protected vegetable areas, including the construction of smart greenhouses.

The success of Datong's protected agriculture is driven by robust policy support, the involvement of leading enterprises, and the collective efforts of local farmers.

The city provides support for new solar greenhouses, plastic tunnels, seedling nurseries, edible fungi production facilities, and cold storage. In 2025 alone, Datong allocated 290 million yuan in support funds, spurring investments totaling 4.38 billion yuan.

Datong has also strengthened cooperation with Weifang in Shandong province to attract leading enterprises and co-develop high-tech protected agriculture demonstration parks. The city has built a comprehensive industrial chain — from seedling cultivation and planting management to storage, transportation, and deep processing.

As a result, the city has nurtured 13 leading enterprises and 227 farmer cooperatives. Through initiatives such as planting trusteeship, land transfer, and local employment, the annual income of 42,000 farming households has increased by an average of 16,000 yuan.