Dazhai Village, Guangxi: Terraced fields surrounded by mountains are picturesque throughout the four seasons. Tradition | Terraced fields | Surrounded by mountains, beautiful throughout the four seasons

【 Entering Beautiful Countryside 】

Guangming Daily reporter Zhou Shixing Guangming Daily correspondent Qin Zhen

Layers of terraced fields climb into the white cloud shrouded mountain peaks, a group of wooden stilted buildings stand by the water and are built along the mountain. Stone paths crisscross the mountains, and Red Yao residents dressed in traditional ethnic costumes shuttle through the fields... Walking into Dazhai Village, located in the core area of the Longji Terraced Field Scenic Area in Guangxi, a sense of returning to simplicity, antiquity, and elegance fills the face. The simple Red Yao people have lived on this land for thousands of years, and the villagers have been cultivating paddy fields on the slopes for generations, accumulating over time and forming a magnificent terraced field.

Dazhai Village is surrounded by mountains on all sides, from the murmuring stream to the towering mountain peak. Wherever there is soil, terraced fields have been opened up. In the words of the locals, "In the past, there were few fields, and I wished that places as big as a 'palm' had been cultivated into farmland.". However, it was this "accidental" move that unintentionally created a stunning and natural scenery.

Looking up from the bottom of the mountain, the terraced fields are magnificent and majestic, stretching into the clouds layer by layer. Up close, the terraced fields have graceful lines and beautiful rhythms, swirling along the mountain, giving off a hint of elegance.

Affected by climate, the terraced landscape presents a colorful scene with different seasons and weather conditions. During the spring season of injecting water into terraced fields, the layers of terraced fields are like a mirror on the surface, sparkling with waves. Using terraced fields as paper and clouds, sunshine, and sunset as pens, the beauty of nature is reflected on the terraced fields; In summer, green mountains and fields are everywhere, with a gentle breeze and rolling green waves, as if singing the song of life; In autumn, the rice ripens, and the grains and ears of wheat bend the rice down. Under the sunshine, the earth shines with golden light, like golden towers, picturesque and picturesque, breathtaking.

"Looking at the beautiful scenery of terraced fields now, surrounded by mountains on all sides, majestic and magnificent, but in the past, this was the biggest challenge that restricted our development." Thinking of the past days, villager Pan Baoyu couldn't help but sigh. Dazhai Village is surrounded by mountains on all sides, with no access or electricity, cutting off most of the connection between Dazhai Village and the outside world. "It takes 60 kilometers to travel back and forth to the town, starting in the early morning and returning home in the evening," Pan Baoyu recalled. Before, there was no way out, and people had to walk on their legs to get out. The villagers of Dazhai Village relied on the mountains and water to survive, and every household relied on growing rice and medicinal herbs.

The life in Dazhai Village has gradually changed due to a documentary. In 1993, director Chen Xiaoqing discovered the beautiful scenery here and filmed a documentary. After the work was published, more and more people became aware of Dazhai Village, and many tourists came to admire it. From then on, the thousand story terraced fields gradually took on another meaning.

"In 2002, Shashi Road was opened to my doorstep, and in 2003, a village was opened to receive tourists. That same year, the village had its first homestay, and now there are a total of 231 homestays in the village..." Every change in my hometown was silently remembered by Pan Baoyu.

Dazhai Village gradually found a path of tourism development relying on characteristic resources such as terraced farming civilization and the cultural traditions of the Red Yao ethnic group, and enjoyed a delicious tourism meal. In 2019, the total income of the village reached 7.2 million yuan, of which the collective income of the village was 220000 yuan. The per capita annual income before tourism development was less than 700 yuan, and the per capita annual income in 2019 reached 34523 yuan. In 2021, Dazhai Village received over 600000 tourists and achieved a tourism revenue of 528 million yuan, truly practicing the concept of "green mountains and clear waters are as valuable as gold and silver".

Nowadays, the villagers of Dazhai Village keep in mind the concept that "farming is planting scenery". The villagers are well aware that the terraced fields in front of them are the "golden rice bowl", and their awareness of protecting the terraced fields is also increasing. In order to conserve water sources and protect the ecology, in 2008, Dazhai Village mobilized more than 200 households of villagers to plant 400000 fir seedlings sent by the Longsheng County government on various hills in the village in just over a month. The thickest one now stands at 15 centimeters.

Climb onto observation platforms such as the Golden Buddha Peak, Thousand story Heavenly Ladder, and Xishan Shaoyue, or take an aerial cableway to enjoy the spectacular terraced scenery; Experience traditional red Yao culture such as sun drying red clothes, red Yao long hair, and red Yao stopping techniques; Taste the famous Four Treasures of Longji - Longji Tea, Longji Chili, Longji Fragrant Glutinous Rice, and Longji Water Wine... In Dazhai Village, the rich culture and magnificent terraced scenery complement each other, and the United Nations World Tourism Organization's "Best Tourist Village" does not live up to its reputation!

Guangming Daily

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