Farming-themed reality show a hit online

The farming-themed reality show Become a Farmer has taken Chinese social media by storm, shining a spotlight on agriculture – a crucial part of Chinese culture. The word "farming", however, may be unfamiliar to many young urban Chinese.

In an effort to connect these individuals with the agricultural industry, the 50-episode variety show tackles the topic by inviting 10 young men from various fields to experience life on the farmland. It offers insights into farming practices and modern agricultural production.

The show, which debuted in early February, was widely acclaimed online and rated a 9 out of 10 on Douban, a major Chinese review website. In May, it was nominated for the esteemed Magnolia Award for Best Variety Program at the 28th Shanghai TV Festival.

Produced by iQIYI, a leading streaming platform in China, Become a Farmer is an interactive reality show presented in documentary style.

The show features 10 Gen-Z men aged between 18 and 27. They immerse themselves in farming activities in Sandun of Hangzhou city in East China's Zhejiang province.

Through a span of 190 days on 142 mu (approximately 9.5 hectares) of land, the cast members engaged in various tasks such as sowing, irrigating, fertilizing and harvesting. They started with limited resources, including a piece of land, dilapidated houses and a few ponds, and gradually built their lives from scratch.