Harbin residents have set a new Guinness World Record for the largest number of people transplanting rice seedlings at the same time and place.

A total of 2,017 people from Harbin’s Tonghe county transplanted seven million rice seedlings on May 15.

The activity was held in Changxing village, Fulin town. The participants were divided into eight groups, with 252 people in each group.

The eldest person taking part in the record attempt was 98 years old while the youngest was just 13. It took a total of 13 minutes and 23 seconds to finish planting seven million rice seedlings.

“This activity is being held to promote green production and ecofriendly living, and to show the world how to plant rice organically,” said Liu Changhe, Party secretary of Tonghe county.

“We want to promote rice and try to build a brand for our Tonghe rice,” Liu said.

“Meanwhile, Tonghe will also take this opportunity to attract business and investment so as to help farmers increase their revenue,” he added.

In the future, Tonghe will focus on rice quality, improve its sales methods, and promote Tonghe rice brands so as to build Tonghe into a county famous for its rice.

People transplant rice seedlings in Tonghe county, Harbin on May 15. [Photo/dbw.com]
 

Two officials hold a certificate marking the Guinness World Record for the largest number of people transplanting rice seedlings at the same time and place, on May 15. [Photo/dbw.com]
 

An electronic display shows how much time the 2,017 farmers took to finish planting seven million rice seedlings on May 15. [Photo/dbw.cn]