A bountiful crescendo

In relation to the surrounding majestic Qinling Mountains, a delicate balance has been achieved by the busy farmers, who shuttle through the golden fields at its foot. The farmers, of Qingshuitou village, in Xi'an's Chang'an district, Shaanxi province, are in preparation for the celebration of the harvest festival.

The landscape here is a depth of diverse tints with a carpet of golden flowers. The most stunning colors, nevertheless, are those of the blooming bright yellow osmanthus.

At a demonstration base for crayfish cultivation in the paddy fields by the roadside, farmers, in their twos and threes, can be seen carrying bamboo baskets on their backs to collect the crustaceans, or caressing the seedlings to check the growth of the rice.