The most sought-after fruit, winter strawberries, have still to ripen in Chaotian district, Guangyuan, Southwest China's Sichuan province.

Tourists pick strawberries in Chaotian district, Guangyuan, Sichuan province. [Photo provided to cngy.gov.cn/en]

Known for their beautiful appearance, plumpness and sweet scent, the fruits attract many tourists to come strawberry picking.

"Winter fruit has a longer growth cycle. They have absorbed sufficient nutrients and sunlight, which makes them taste sweeter," said Xu Linfang, a staff member of the strawberry planting base management company.

Farmers harvest strawberries in Chaotian district, Guangyuan, Sichuan province. [Photo provided to cngy.gov.cn/en]

She added that the currently-ripe chocolate strawberries in the planting base can fetch a price of 130 yuan ($18.6) per kilogram for fruit-picking. By mid-December, more varieties, such as the Snow White, will gradually mature, and the base is expected to produce more than 500kg of strawberries per day.

A villager sorts strawberries in Chaotian district, Guangyuan, Sichuan province. [Photo provided to cngy.gov.cn/en]

Xu made a preliminary estimate that this year's output value of the base will reach about 18 million yuan ($2.58 million).

The strawberry industry has sweetened villagers' lives, for it not only drives rural tourism in the local area but also provides many residents with jobs.