Guizhou Jiabang Rice Terraces, a man-made art hidden deep in Moon Mountain

There are many terraced fields in our country, most of which are distributed in the mountainous areas south of the Yangtze River, especially in the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. Among them, there is Jiabang Rice Terraces in Guizhou, which was rated as one of the most beautiful rice terraces in China by China National Geographic.

The Jiabang Rice Terraces in Guizhou were mentioned at length in the documentary "A Bite of China", which was once popular all over the country. Since then, I have always had a dream of terraced fields in my heart.

Although I have seen many famous mountains and rivers, I still felt amazed when I first saw the Jiabang Rice Terraces.

Jiabang Rice Terraces are located in the hinterland of Moon Mountain in Congjiang County, Qiandongnan Prefecture, Guizhou Province, with a total area of ??nearly 10,000 acres. Jiabang and Moon Mountain are two names that blend together, just like the Miao compatriots who have lived here for generations and the Jiabang terraces.

The terraces are more than 80 kilometers away from Congjiang County, which allows the Jiabang Rice Terraces to be far away from the hustle and bustle of the city and hidden in the mountains of Guizhou.

The mountain road to Jiabang Rice Terraces has been repaired, but the road is extremely rugged. In addition, it rains from time to time in the mountainous areas of Guizhou. The mountain road has many twists and turns, and it is not easy to reach Jiabang Rice Terraces.

The best parts of Jiabang Rice Terraces are concentrated on both sides of the more than 20 kilometers of road between Dangniu Village and Jiabang Village. After passing Dangniu Village, the scenery along the way is full. The advantage of appreciating the terraced fields is that you don’t have to be restricted by the so-called scenic spots. Just take a photo and it will be a blockbuster.

It is in April and May, when the Jiabang terraces begin to be filled with water and transplanted, and it is also the most beautiful time of the year.

Looking from a high place, you can have a panoramic view of the terraced fields all over the mountains and plains. The paddy fields of different sizes and shapes are arranged in an orderly manner, layered on top of each other, like sparkling ribbons. A picture with a strong sense of lines is produced, which makes people feel relaxed and happy.

Standing next to the terraces, the surroundings are unusually quiet, with only the chirping of insects and birds heard. The gloomy weather adds a touch of gloomy beauty to the Jiabang Rice Terraces, and the clouds and mist rising from time to time make people feel as if they are in a fairyland. Although there is no sunlight, the terraces still shine under the refraction of daylight, showing different colors.

If the weather is fine, Jiabang Rice Terraces will definitely look different. It’s a pity that Guizhou’s sunshine is always so stingy!

Terraces are not uncommon around the world, especially in China. There are many large-scale terraces. Jiabang Terraces can occupy a place among the many terraces in China, and it must be unique:

First, it’s free.

Compared with the more famous terraces in China, Jiabang Rice Terraces has not yet formed a tourist attraction in the strict sense, so it is still free.

However, the relevant infrastructure is already under construction, and it is estimated that the days of free use will not be long. However, the task of poverty alleviation in Guizhou is arduous. It would be understandable if one day Jiabang Terraces starts charging fees.

Second, there are fewer tourists.

Historically, the mountainous area of ??Guizhou where the Jiabang Rice Terraces are located has always been a relatively backward and barren area with very limited traffic and long-term isolation from the world. It was not until recent years that Guizhou vigorously developed infrastructure and built a village-to-village road to Jiabang Rice Terraces.

Due to its late development, Jiabang Rice Terraces have been less affected by commerce and tourists, and relatively speaking, it still retains a lot of original simplicity.

Third, add the characteristic coir raincoat and hat.

Terraces are often built along mountains. The shape of the mountain, the height of the altitude, and the gentleness of the slope determine the size and shape of the terraces.

The Jiabang terraces are limited by Guizhou’s unique topography. As a result, the terraces here are not very large. The largest ones are only one or two acres, and the smallest ones are only the size of a farmer’s coir raincoat and bamboo hat. Therefore, It is vividly called "coir raincoat field" and "douli field".

Fourth, the rich Miao rural customs.

Guizhou Qiandongnan is a gathering area for ethnic minorities in my country. In the hinterland of Moon Mountain, many Miao compatriots have lived here for generations. The Jiabang Rice Terraces have long been engraved with a deep imprint of ethnic minority culture.

When you look at the Jiabang Rice Terraces from a distance, you can see ancient Miao stilted buildings dotted among the terraces. The Miao villages passing through from time to time give the Jiabang Rice Terraces a rich ethnic flavor. Stylish outerwear.

Fifth, the beauty of the mist lock terraces.

The sky is not clear for three days, and sunny days are rare in Guizhou. Clouds and fog often rise suddenly in the mountainous areas, and sometimes a sea of ??clouds forms in the valleys. The clouds and mist drifted with the wind and lingered around the terraces, adding a bit of aura to the Jiabang terraces.

The terraces are looming in the sea of ??clouds, and suddenly they are completely engulfed by the sea of ??clouds. When a gust of wind blows, the Jiabang terraces will show their true appearance again, presenting a magnificent picture of fog-locked terraces.

The history of terraced fields is very long. As early as the Qin and Han Dynasties, our country already had terraced fields. Nowadays, many terraces have become photo opportunities for tourists, but the value of terraces goes far beyond their visual effects.

In addition to its traditional role in agricultural production, terraces have also been endowed with multiple cultural connotations.

The seemingly ordinary terraced fields contain the wisdom, diligence and greatness of the working people, and are a precious heritage for all mankind.

——Adaptable ways to adapt to local conditions.

In ancient times, as the population continued to increase, people in mountainous and hilly areas began to face problems in eating food. However, the mountainous terrain was not conducive to large-scale construction of paddy fields. In order to solve the problem that hilly and mountainous areas are not suitable for farming, the ancients came up with a workaround based on local conditions. They cut the hillside into layers and built terraced farmland.

The birth of terraced fields was a helpless move, but it demonstrated the wisdom of the working people, converting the harsh natural environment into advantages tailored to local conditions, not only making full use of the mountainous areas, but also effectively increasing the Grain production has solved the problem of food shortage.

——An excellent way to protect the ecology.

Guizhou is an area with severe engineering water shortage in my country. "Engineering water shortage" simply means that although there is a lot of rain, there is a lack of projects that can retain water. In addition, the karst landform causes rainwater to flow down the slope, making it difficult to collect on the surface and infiltrating faster, making it difficult to retain water resources.

The unique structure of terraces can greatly improve the utilization efficiency of water resources, conserve water sources, and effectively slow down soil erosion. Terraces not only make it possible to plant rice on large areas in hilly and mountainous areas, but also become an excellent way to protect the local ecological environment.

——A great work that conforms to nature.

It is not an exaggeration to call the terraces a "man-made miracle". Although it does not have the reputation that has been passed down through the ages like the Great Wall or the Terracotta Warriors and Horses, but unlike scenic spots and historic sites, these terraces were built spontaneously by ordinary people. There is no tyranny or coercion, everything is allowed to take its course, which makes the terraces more harmonious and calm.

Judging from the construction of the terraces, each ridge was dug out bit by bit by the people of that time using primitive tools. Faced with the harsh environment of high mountains and deep valleys, they were not afraid of hardships. After a generation, It took the efforts and sacrifices of another generation to build such an "artwork" with both practical and ornamental value, which can be called a model of harmony between man and nature.

Attraction location: Next to Jiache Village, Jiabang Township, Congjiang County, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou Province (near Moon Mountain)

Tickets: Free< /p>

Recommended travel time: All day

Best travel season: April-May, October

Notes: The mountain road to Jiabang Rice Terraces is difficult to walk , it is recommended to take public transportation from nearby counties. If you drive there, please drive carefully and novice drivers are allowed to do this.

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