Why can the Pearl River Delta produce three rice crops in some years?
The ability to produce three rice crops annually in the Pearl River Delta is primarily due to the region's favorable climate, which features a 12-month growing season.1
Because much of Guangdong lies south of the Tropic of Cancer, the province experiences a tropical and subtropical climate where true winter does not occur. Frost is rare, and average January temperatures remain high, ranging from 55 to 61 °F (13 to 16 °C). This lack of a cold season allows for continuous agricultural activity throughout the year.21
Furthermore, the region benefits from intensive land use supported by significant advancements in irrigation and flood control. The Pearl River Delta is characterized by a complex network of canalized channels and distributaries, which provide the necessary water management to sustain such high-intensity farming.34