Rice Fields at Phú Vinh

Driving into Phú Vinh (see Phú Vinh) on a rainy morning during planting season. Red brick walls and emerald-green rice fields. Wispy fog. Enchanting. [NOTE: Music is Alberta by Goldmund, a.k.a. Keith Kenniff].    

Fields of Gold

The rice fields around Xijiang have turned a beautiful golden color. There is a frenzy of activity as the Miao farmers work to harvest their fields and transport the grain back to the village. And it just keeps raining... 

Ancient Way of Life

This clip shows Miao villagers tending and planting their rice fields. Which is something that they have done for hundreds - if not thousands - of years and are very good at. [NOTE: If you look carefully, you can see the string the farmers lay out to make sure they plant in a straight line. I love the water buffalo lounging in the mud.]

Miao Landscape

The Miao people of Guizhou, China produce beautiful terraced rice fields.  They are also accomplished vegetable farmers and are undoubtedly very skilled at managing forest resources, as well. The latter is the focus of a project that I have recently initiated in collaboration with Minzu University and the Forestry Department of Guizhou University in Guiyang. [NOTE: I am posting this from a hotel in Singapore on my way back from Beijing and Guizhou Province].