When Shenzhou-21 astronaut Zhang Lu stepped out of the return capsule, he held a special apple from Yan'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. How did this humble fruit make its way from the Loess Plateau to the space station?

In Nanzhuanghe Village, Baota District, smart orchards equipped with solar-powered monitoring systems, automated pest traps and precision weather forecasting ensure every apple meets stellar standards. Over the decades, generations of local farmers have turned the rocky hills into fruitful groves, transforming apples into a pathway to rural prosperity. Carrying forward the spirit of self-reliance and hard work, this enduring journey is a modern-day "Long March" powered by agricultural science and innovation.