Huangling Village: From Ruins to Prosperity

A bird's eye view of Huangling Village, Wuyuan County in east China's Jiangxi Province
Tourists walk across a bridge in Huangling Village
Visitors wander in the terraced rapeseed blossom fields
Crowds of tourists snake through the terraced rapeseed flower fields
A heart-shaped manmade pond in the rapeseed terraces
Villagers make and sell a local snack with a unique herb juice. The snacks offer tourists a sample of local cuisine and boost the locals' income
A local resident sun bakes her farm produce, including peppers, soybeans, etc. It's a traditional practice known as shaiqiu
The landscape of Xiaoyong Village, a neighboring hamlet within the resort

Edited by Li Nan, photos by Xinhua

Spring is well and truly upon us; this is the optimum time to marvel at the wondrous landscape surrounding Huangling Village.

The hamlet in Wuyuan County of east China's Jiangxi Province, captivates crowds with its spectacular terraced rapeseed blossom fields, Anhui-style farm houses and heart-shaped pond.

Though it wasn't always like this.

The village has a 580-year history dating back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). However, by the end of 2008 it was dilapidated and falling into ruins.

Action was needed.

In 2009, the local government pooled private investments to develop rural tourism and transform the village into a resort. Locals swapped their shabby farmhouses for new buildings, offered by Wuyuan Folk Culture Development Company. These farm houses, atop of the terraced mountains, were renovated into shops, restaurants and hotels.

Villagers are employed to work on the resort and also to showcase a traditional folk custom, known as shaiqiu. This involves baking farm produce, such as corn and chili peppers, in the Autumn sunshine and is considered one of the most interesting Chinese folk practices.

With a record high 30,000 tourists in a single day and a plethora of visitors, the village has become the place to go in Wuyuan County. From the grim days of 2008 to the present, the turnaround has been extraordinary.