Farmers plant dragon fruit seedlings in a garden in Pingtan, East China's Fujian province. [Photo/ detail.ptnet.cn]

Lihn Nanjiun, an entrepreneur from Taiwan, recently opened his third base of operations in East China's Fujian province for his successful dragon fruit business.

The latest plantation opened in Pingtan earlier this month, following those in Zhangzhou and Putian.

The move came after his field trip to Pingtan last June, during which the Taiwan entrepreneur found out that the city has a similar climate to Taiwan's, one suitable for growing tropical fruit.

Pingtan, an island city located off the coast of Fujian, is the closest place on the Chinese mainland to Taiwan.

The newly-opened plantation, located at Shanxianmei village, covers an area of 135 mus (9 hectares) according to Lin, president of Fuyuan Agricultural Technology Co of Kaohsiung, Taiwan, who adds that the 70,000 dragon fruit seedlings that have been planted as a pilot run are set to blossom and bear fruit next May.

Apart from the congenial climate, Pingtan also enjoys an advantageous geological environment as an island city, Lin said, noting that its unique sandy soil and many oyster shells may serve as natural disinfectants and fertilizers for dragon fruit.

According to Wang Jialong, director of the Taiwan affairs office of the Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone, government policies also played a big part in the Taiwan businessman's choice of Pingtan, especially the 31 measures released earlier this year by the central government that grant subsidies to Taiwan enterprises for agro-machinery purchases.

The 31 measures stipulate that people from Taiwan will gradually be granted equal status with residents of the Chinese mainland with regards to entrepreneurship, employment, education and other aspects of daily living.

Meanwhile, the settlement of Lin's plantation may be a boon for agro-sector growth in Pingtan as well, as it has brought in many cutting-edge agro-techs from Taiwan in terms of irrigation and lighting, according to Cai Zongxin, an official with the local agricultural authorities.

Pingtan, in recent years, has turned out to be a hotspot for Taiwan businesses. As of July, 2017, more than 860 Taiwan-funded enterprises had settled in the city, local media reports.