Farmers harvest fresh lotus roots at Yinjiayuan village in Nantong, Jiangsu province, on Monday. The versatile vegetable can be prepared in various ways, including stir-frying, braising and stewing in soy sauce. Lotus root cultivation is now a key industry in Nantong, which not only helps to enhance the environment in villages but also increases farmers' incomes, providing a vivid example of rural vitalization.