Ziquejie Terraces
2022-05-23
As an important world heritage of agricultural, cultural and irrigation project, it covers an area in the surrounding terraces of more than 80,000 mu (about 5,333.3 hectares) and the core scenic area of more than 20,000 mu (around 1,333.3 hectares). It is applying for the Guinness World Record.
Ziquejie Terraces has become one of the first 19 important agricultural cultural heritages in China since May 2013. It is a historical and cultural relic that combines rice culture in Southern China and fishing-hunting culture in mountainous areas of Miao-Yao ethnic groups. Its farming methods and natural irrigation system that uses springs in the mountains are unique in rice culture.
The water is as high as the terraced mountains and fields in Ziquejie. No mountain pond or reservoir is here, and there is no need for artificial diversion irrigation. According to what is evaluated by experts, the amazing artesian irrigation system can be comparable to Dujiangyan Irrigation System and Lingqu Canal. It can be called the “the wonder of world water conservancy and irrigation project”.
The ingenious integration of rice farming culture in Southern China and hunting culture have achieved the remains of rice farming culture in which people can coexist in harmony with nature in Ziquejie. The simple folk culture, Miao-Yao custom, and folk songs in Meishan Mountain with unique charm are known to all the people here. The dishes and martial arts in Meishan Mountain have unique styles. Zique folk houses boast antiquity and distinctive characteristics. There are folk performances like Lion Dance Show tending to be primitive, mysterious and unique.
Feldspar Terraces
Feldspar Terraces, with the most abundant layers and beautiful shape, is the most magnificent in Ziquejie. With each layer overlapping in a delicate and clear way, the terraces resemble crisscross paths at close sight. The winding ridges of field are like a landscape painting with splash-ink, while they look like neat ladders to the sky if you look up and a shining water surface if you look down.
Baishui Terraces
The terraces are curved along the mountain. Some of them look like curved moons stacking together to the sky, while others resemble snakes running around the mountains. The ridges of field are winding as if they are looming out under the immortal’s brush that are drawn into changing arcs.
Jinlong Terraces
There are 12 winding and curving continuous mountain ridges from Laishiao to Yaji Village. Terraces of thousands of mu dug on the mountain ridges are called Jinlong Terraces. The effect would be better if you have an overlook.
Shifeng Terraces
Shifeng Terraces can be another scene if you look down from Linggong Temple. The terraces are coiled around the mountain like a myriad of stars surrounding the moon.
If you continue to move westward, you will arrive in Huangji Mountain. Looking back to Shifeng Terraces, you must be amazed by the magnificent shape. Huangji Mountain has grain field of 300 mu (20 hectares), and Laozhuang Terraces and Longxiang Terraces infinitely extend along the mountain.
Yao Chong Terraces
Yao Chong Terraces is located in the west where a village is inhabited by the Yao people. Two rock houses and stacked stone houses are still on the high mountain built by the Yao people. Yao Chong Terraces has two ridges and one pit to form the shape of “concave” in Chinese character. The ridge at the west end, up to more than 200 levels, extends from the bottom to the top of the mountain.
