Baishun Xitou Terraces

Baishun Xitou Terraces

Baishun Xitou Terraces

Xitou Village is a small mountain hamlet nestled deep in the forests of Baishun Town, Nanxiong. The terraces here are as unassuming as their location. Layer upon layer of water-filled paddies mirror like bright glass, dotted with elderly farmers and oxen, set against the backdrop of cooking smoke and farmhouses. What was once crafted by ancestors using primitive tools has now become a breathtaking sight for city dwellers.

The Xitou Terraces are built along the mountainside, presenting picturesque scenes. Due to the steep terrain, the largest terraced plots are no more than one mu (about 0.067 hectares), with most being narrow “ribbon fields” or fragmented patches that can only accommodate one or two rows of crops. These terraces are spread across altitudes of 500 to 1,200 meters, winding layer upon layer from the mountain foot to the summit.

In spring, the terraces are shrouded in morning mist, reflecting the vast bamboo forests, creating a fairy-tale-like view that is truly enchanting. During this season, farmers begin to flood the paddies to nurture seedlings, bringing the entire terrace area to life. Due to the local climate, only “one crop per year” of rice is planted here—sown in June and harvested in October. When water is channeled into the terraces during the Mangzhong (Grain in Ear) season, the surface resembles silver mirrors, akin to an ink-wash painting. By the time the rice ripens around the Autumn Equinox, under the sun’s glow, the golden stalks shimmer brilliantly, looking like a resplendent oil painting in gold.

Xitou Village: Xitou Village consists of 12 natural villages, with 257 households and a population of 1,062. It has 5 village officials and 35 Party members. The arable land covers 1,432 mu, including 1,066 mu of paddy fields and 366 mu of dry land. The forested area spans 37,600 mu, with 23,490 mu of responsibility hills and 14,110 mu of ecological conservation forests. Major industries include rice, peanuts, bamboo forests, and soybeans. … More details about Xitou Village++