Rice Paddies of the Yulong Valley
26.11.2025
25 °C
This is a land rich in resources, where verdant sub-tropical trees seem to overflow with vitality, their branches laden with bananas, mandarins, persimmons, pomelos, kumquats, mangoes, and passion fruit. This papaya tree was bending under the weight of its sweet fruit… These strawberries are sure to be perfect for Christmas and New Year…And all around are the rice fields, shimmering gently in the soft breeze…On our earlier visits, many farmers ceased cultivating rice and other crops, lured by the simplicity and prospects of tourism. Some displayed the traditional technique of fishing with tethered cormorants, while others transported visitors on bamboo rafts, yet many simply leased their land to developers and constructed new homes for themselves. However, some of the long-standing residents continue to live in their old houses…Some ancient homes have been converted into cooking or painting schools, while numerous 300-year-old village houses have been adapted into hotel rooms by considerate hoteliers like Curry…These accommodations are part of the Giggling Tree hotel, where guests can experience a stay that is both traditionally inspired and incredibly comfortable. The previously neglected fields are now thriving again as the government endeavors to regulate development. The paddies radiate with renewed vitality, and each harvest is sent to nearby hotels and restaurants. While white rice appears on nearly every meal table, some farmers now cultivate several colorful varieties to create vibrant mosaics that charm visitors and attract them to local restaurants and coffee shops…With the warmth of late November still lingering in the mid-twenties, winter in this region feels gentle. In March and April, the rains return to inundate the paddies and lotus fields, causing the river to swell and carry countless bamboo rafts for another busy tourist season. Floating downstream feels like sailing through a dream, whereas paddling back upstream requires considerable effort from the punters. Yet the waterfalls and rapids that once seemed formidable are now smoothly traversed by electrically powered conveyor belts…The Yangshuo area has gained recognition both within China and internationally, and it is now featured on innumerable must-visit lists. So much has changed since our previous trips that we sometimes worry Yangshuo might be cherished a bit too much. The quiet country roads where we once strolled hand in hand or leisurely pedaled with our Chinese family now softly buzz with hundreds of sleek electric cars and thousands of electric motorbikes and scooters…Foreigners are prohibited from driving in China, so we rented an inconspicuous motorbike and sidecar, hoping to blend in with the locals and maintain a low profile on our adventures…There are relatively few police in the countryside, but we took care to stick to rural roads, tranquil lanes, and the riverside cycling paths that trace the gentle curves of the Yulong…Finally, as Joyce remembered: Yes, our hosts are the same relatives and friends we ‘taught’ during our last visit, and it’s hard to believe that was eight years ago.
Posted by Hawkson
22:43
Archived in China
Rice Fields of the Yulong Valley