Scallions 2.58 meters tall won top honors at a harvest festival that kicked off on Friday in the Zhangqiu district of Jinan, Shandong province. [Photo by Lu Hongdong/For chinadaily.com.cn]

Super tall scallions — 2.58 meters — were recognized at a harvest festival that kicked off on Friday in the Zhangqiu district of Jinan, Shandong province.

"I grow about 1.3 hectares of scallions," said Song Guangbao, who grew the tallest scallions this year. "The weather, with less rain, has been favorable for scallion growth, allowing me to produce 5,000 kilograms of scallions per mu."

Zhangqiu boasts a long history of scallion cultivation. They are known for being tall, sweet and crisp. The scallion industry drives regional economic development and increases farmers' incomes.

A farmer in the Zhangqiu district of Jinan, Shandong province, checks his scallions. [Photo by Gao Chuanzeng/For chinadaily.com.cn]

A farmer in the Zhangqiu district of Jinan, Shandong province, checks his scallions. [Photo by Gao Chuanzeng/For chinadaily.com.cn]

Farmers in the Zhangqiu district of Jinan, Shandong province, harvest scallions. [Photo by Gao Chuanzeng/For chinadaily.com.cn]

Zhangqiu boasts a long history of scallion cultivation. They are known for being tall, sweet and crisp. [Photo by Gao Chuanzeng/For chinadaily.com.cn]