China News Service, Loudi, September 12 (Zhang Xueying Li Ying) strolled through the Ziquejie terraces and touched the ancient wisdom of artesian farming for thousands of years in the mist and rice waves; visited Zhenglong Ancient Village and felt the unique charm of Meishan folk customs in the intangible cultural heritage fireworks; explored the hinterland of Meishan and explored Hunan from the long river of Chiyou cultural heritage. The roots of Chinese civilization... From September 10th to 12th, 14 Chinese media representatives participating in the "2026 Overseas Chinese Media Newization Tour" went to Loudi, Hunan to experience the rebirth of traditional farming civilization in this ancient Meishan city.
From September 10th to 12th, the "2026 Overseas Chinese Media Xinhua Tour" event was held in Xinhua. The picture shows Chinese media representatives walking into the Ziquejie terraces. Photo by reporter Yang Huafeng
In the golden autumn of September, the layers of Ziquejie terraces spread along the mountain shape, and the rice waves undulate in the mountains with the wind. Unlike most man-made farmland, the Ziquejie terraces hidden in the middle of Xuefeng Mountain have "no ponds and no dams". However, with their unique climate, vegetation and geological structure, they have formed an exquisite "invisible reservoir", allowing mountain springs to flow step by step along the field ridges, irrigating every field ridge by gravity. It is a globally important agricultural cultural heritage and a world irrigation engineering heritage.
“Only when you are in Ziquejie can you truly understand the concept of harmony between man and nature and the law of seasonality in traditional Chinese farming culture.” Marin, director of the Beijing representative office of French newspaper Europe Times, lamented that although it has been more than 2,000 years since the ancestors of the Qin and Han Dynasties created the Ziquejie terraces, there are still villagers cultivating here with respect for the land, retaining traditional intensive farming, and finding a way out in the new era, so that this land has maintained its thousand-year style.
In recent years, Ziquejie has broken away from the traditional tourism model and integrated terrace protection with cultural tourism, research and education, and intangible cultural heritage. The aroma wafts from the cafes beside the terraces, the light shows light up the paddy fields at night, and micro-businesses such as ski parks and parent-child picking gardens are also being launched.
Representatives of Chinese media watched Meishan martial arts performance. Photo by reporter Yang Huafeng
When dusk falls, the ancient buildings with green tiles and white walls in Zhenglong Ancient Village are lit up one after another. The wooden houses with green tiles look more approachable in the light and shadow, and a lively long banquet begins here. There is authentic Meishan flavor on the table, vigorous and powerful Meishan martial arts are played during the table, and melodious folk songs echo over the ancient village.
"I originally thought I was just here to see the scenery, but I also saw folk performances such as Meishan martial arts and folk songs. The inheritors are still practicing, performing, and promoting day after day. This kind of 'living' inheritance touched me very much." After visiting this place in person, in the eyes of Hong Kong 01 News Network reporter Sheng Yun, the Purple Magpie World is no longer a scenic spot on the map, but a farming epic that is still growing.
Sheng Yun said that she plans to tell the story of the thousand-year change of Zique World from a world heritage to the integration of culture and tourism, so that more overseas readers can understand that there is not only "nostalgia" in Chinese rural areas, but also new stories that are happening.
The Chinese media representatives also visited the quiet and tranquil Big Bear Mountain National Forest Park scenic area and the Chiyou House with rich heritage, and immersed themselves in Xinhua’s unique Chiyou cultural roots. As the core birthplace of Meishan culture, every brick and tile of Chiyou House tells the ancient legend of the pioneering and forging ahead of the ancestors. The rich Chiyou culture is intertwined with the vivid folk customs of Meishan and the long-standing terraced farming civilization, jointly building a new and unique cultural IP.
"Meishan culture is an important part of Hunan culture. After learning about Chiyou culture in detail today, I can truly understand where the spirit of refusing to admit defeat and daring to pioneer in this land comes from." Zhou Yu, deputy editor-in-chief of Laos Information Network, believes that overseas Chinese media have the responsibility to tell this "root" story to more people, especially the younger generation of overseas Chinese. They need to know where their culture comes from, and such content will also be very attractive to them.
Zhou Yu also noticed that many local villagers were selling Polygonatum japonica. "Laos has a huge market demand for Polygonatum japonica." She said that in the future, she will explore and promote the connection between enterprises in the two places and build an information bridge to contribute to this small city in central Hunan going global. (over)
