With over 16 million active players, the Happy Farm game on Chinese social networking sites is one of the most popular online and particularly among white-collar workers. Some Happy Farm enthusiasts enjoy virtual farming so much that they have decided to try out the real thing.
Mr. Liu, who lives in the the suburbs of Shanghai has rented a plot of land for a 3000 RMB ($440) membership fee. Each weekend, Mr. Liu and his family drive out to the farm to water, weed, fertilize and pick their harvest, which they share with family and friends. Along with the family bonding, the family says the farming ensures that they enjoy vegetables free of pollutants.
The owner of the Shanghai farm is planning to jump on the trend and put up 100 cabins for city farmers to use during extended holidays. He also plans to install monitoring systems so that the farmers can check up on their plots of land online.
[via Shanghaiist]
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