By Rui Hu, Editor

As the hometown of tribute rice in ancient times, the Huatian Township in Youyang has been praised as the “Pearl in the Deep Mountain, the Wonderland of the Earth, and the Heaven in the Painting.” It boasts vast stretches of terraces on a par with the Longji Terrace of Guangxi and the Yuanyang Terrace of Yunnan.

Huatian Township in Youyang

Terraces

The terraces here were built in the Tang Dynasty and took shape 700 years ago in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. On the hills and slopes with an elevation of 700 to 900 meters, the original style of “cattle plowing and rice transplanting” remains within 5 square kilometers. Winding mountain road lies along the way from Hejiayan Village. With gurgling and meandering stream on one side and lively trees and mountains on the other side, terraces occasionally pop out along the way.

Terraces

In the invigorating autumn, Hejiayan has been witnessing rice ripening to welcome the excellent harvest. Looking from afar, the golden rice waves rolling on the terraces are like endless ladders hanging on the horizon. 

Ancient villages

Huatian Township sees a large number of residents of Tujia and Miao nationalities who still live blithely in ancient communities composed of wooden and tile-roofed houses.

Huatian Township sees a large number of residents of Tujia and Miao nationalities who still live blithely in ancient villages composed of wooden and tile-roofed houses.

In this land of idyllic beauty, villagers live a self-sustaining life in the old-timey houses sitting side by side in the shade of exuberant trees.

The carved windows, antique aisles, overhanging eaves, upturned roof-ridges, and other details embody the deliberate design of the ancients.

The local ancestral art such as festive lanterns, horse lanterns, and folk songs, as well as various specialized theatrical troupes, are waiting for you to explore.

Grassland

The nearby Calamus Prairie, with an elevation of 1,600 meters, features a broad view.

On the top of the gentle and vast mountains, dense and irregular trees and shrubs are bordered by broad and flat meadows.

In early autumn, the prairie is still exceptionally lively under the bright but mild sunshine.

Visitors can also enjoy the cool wind blowing on the grassland.

Accompanied by white clouds in the clear sky and grass-carpeted hillside, visitors can stay away from the hustle and bustle of the world, and immerse themselves in the detached and indulgent mood.

Food

It is highly recommended to sit on the heatable brick platform while feasting on the delicacies at Hejiayan. While enjoying local mildewed tofu, preserved meat, fresh cabbage, and radish soup and other delicacies, it is suggested to take a sip of corn liquor like the locals.

Local food in Youyang

When the locals are in high spirits, the older women will sing the cheerful Tujia folk songs while the older men will present Tujia’s Nuo opera and lantern performance, with laughter and applause echoing over the village. Known as the hometown of tribute rice, Huatian is home to picturesque mountains and rivers, fertile land, and sufficient illumination, which contribute to the smooth, even and fragrant local rice.

In the season of rice harvesting, visitors can also buy some rice produced this year while traveling.

Navigation: Hejiayan Village, Huatian Township, Youyang

Self-driving route: Main urban area - Banan - Nanchuan - Wulong - Pengshui - Qianjiang - Youyang - Hejiayan Village (via Inner Ring Expressway, Baotou - Maoming Expressway, etc.), the whole journey is about 350 kilometers, about 4 hours’ drive

Source: CQCB
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