荒滩戈壁播种“绿宝石”
Xisha watermelon planting starts in northwest China's Ningxia

4月6日，宁夏中卫市沙坡头区兴仁镇，农户在田间种植硒砂瓜种苗。眼下正值春忙时节，宁夏中卫市沙坡头区香山下的荒滩戈壁之上，数十万亩硒砂瓜迎来播种期。硒砂瓜，是当地百姓通过在戈壁富硒土壤上覆盖砂石的方式种植出的西瓜，以“个大、瓤沙、汁多、甜度高”著称，被誉为戈壁上的“绿宝石”。中卫市今年以环香山产区为核心，计划种植硒砂瓜42万亩，硒砂瓜产业已成为当地农户增收致富的支柱产业。[新华社记者 王鹏 摄]

Farmers plant Xisha watermelons in Xingren Town of Shapotou District, Zhongwei City, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, April 6, 2026. The Xisha watermelon is a watermelon variety cultivated on sandy earth covered with stone gravels. It is known for its large size, crisp and juicy flesh, as well as rich sweetness. The fruit is often hailed as the "green gem of the Gobi Desert" owing to its great economic value. Zhongwei City, a major producer of Xisha watermelons, plans to plant 420,000 mu (28,000 hectares) of the watermelons this year. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)