In the Shanghai region, it is common practice to move colonies to avoid insecticide poisoning. A professional beekeeper normally has 30 colonies, and 3 beekeepers usually work together. Honey is harvested 3 - 4 times a year and annual production averages 70kg / colony. Some beekeepers also produce royal jelly. At the processing and packing plant in Shanghai, 20,000 t honey and 50 t royal jelly are packed each year. Figures for the whole country are 100,000 t and 200 t respectively.
In Guangzhou, a subtropical area, Apis cerana is much more successful than A mellifera, which often becomes heavily infested with mites. One of the main problems for beekeepers is the widespread use of insecticides, including dichlorvos and malathion for mosquito control.