Mangnuo Village, Mengtong Basin, Changning

Mangnuo Village, Mengtong Basin, Changning

The Mengtong Basin, known as the "granary" of Changning, has in its northwest a small village of about a hundred households called Mangnuo Village. Nestled against green mountains and facing the Mengtong River, it is surrounded by bamboo groves and lush forests. In a corner of the village, on a small earthen bank by the river, stands an old banyan tree that has weathered decades of storms. It has stood through nearly 200 years of wind, frost, snow, and rain, becoming an extremely rare ancient tree with a trunk diameter of 2.1 meters and a height of over 20 meters. The famous spectacle of the egrets of Mengtong, a well-known tea-growing region, makes this tree their home base. The egrets breed and live here, coexisting harmoniously in what seems like one big happy family, adding a vivid and beautiful scene to the rich and picturesque Mengtong Basin.

At dawn, when the sky begins to brighten, the egrets rise from the great banyan tree and fly out over the vast fields to patrol and search for food. Some fly in flocks, others in small groups, covering every corner of the Mengtong Basin. They carefully protect and guard the thousands of acres of fertile farmland, ridding the seedlings of various insects. Their graceful forms soaring in the blue sky are a sight to behold. By preying on pests, they feed themselves while also protecting the crops, making them the closest of friends to the local people. When you stroll through the fields, you’ll often see dots of white scattered among the emerald-green seedlings — those are the lovely little spirits, the egrets. When they’re tired, they’ll perch on the ridges to rest, or even stroll on the backs of water buffalo. The bolder ones may even play around near people, creating a beautiful picture of harmony between humans and nature.

As evening falls, the egrets out foraging gradually return to the great banyan tree where they roost. They alight and take flight, causing the branches to sway gently as the birds dance along, accompanied by their chirping and creaking sounds, bringing liveliness to the otherwise tranquil countryside.

Every year around the beginning of summer is the peak season for the egrets to gather here. They build nests, lay eggs, and raise their young. After the autumn harvest, as the insects in the fields gradually decrease and the young egrets grow up and learn to fly, most of the egrets fly off to other places. Only a few, reluctant to leave, stay behind as if guarding their home. After the beginning of spring the following year, the egrets that left the previous year return one after another, beginning a new cycle of nest-building and breeding. Year after year, generation after generation, they bring eternal peace and prosperity to the beautiful Mengtong Basin.

Address: Mengtong Basin, Changning County, Baoshan City