Ziquejie

　　Ziquejie is part of the Fengjia Mountain system in the central part of the Xuefeng Mountains, with its highest peak reaching an elevation of 1,585.2 meters. Centered around the Ziquejie Terraces, there are over 5,300 hectares of terraced fields, with more than 1,300 hectares concentrated in one contiguous area. Stretching across altitudes from 500 to 1,200 meters, these terraces span over 500 levels, with an average slope of about 30 degrees and some as steep as over 50 degrees. Despite such a vast area and steep slopes, there isn’t a single mountain pond—irrigation relies entirely on a natural water system, which can be considered a marvel of the world. Coupled with the rich cultural heritage of the terraces, Ziquejie holds significant scientific, cultural, and sightseeing value.

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　　Long-standing historical culture. The terraces of Ziquejie in Xinhua County were first cultivated during the Qin and Han dynasties. By the Song and Yuan periods, due to the saying “When chaos reigns across the land, this place remains safe; when drought strikes the world, this place still yields harvest,” a large number of Han people migrated here from other regions. By the early Ming Dynasty, terrace development reached its peak, with tea houses scattered throughout Ziquejie for laborers to rest during work—even the summit of Fengche Alley, the highest-altitude spot, had a tea house, reflecting the prosperity and vibrancy of terrace cultivation at the time.

　　Research and investigations indicate that the Yao people of Guangxi and southern Hunan all originated from Meishan in Xinhua. However, the ancient Yao people of Xinhua, having faced continuous military campaigns since the Han Dynasty and later assimilation due to large-scale migrations from Jiangxi and other regions starting in the Song and Yuan periods, gradually integrated. In the Ziquejie area, many relics of Yao life remain, such as place names like Yaorenchong (Yao People’s Gully), Yaorendang (Yao People’s Pool), Yaorendong (Yao People’s Cave), and Yaorenwuchang (Yao People’s Homestead). Isolated stone houses once inhabited by the Yao people can still be found in the mountains. Among the current branches of the Yao ethnic group in China, the Huayao of Huxingshan in Longhui County, Hunan, is the only group that has completely preserved the most ancient customs, located just tens of kilometers from Ziquejie, also surrounded by endless terraces.

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　　Mysterious terrace culture. Since ancient times, “turning hillsides into fields” has been a practice. Traditionally, only plots with embankments capable of holding water for rice cultivation were called “fields,” while those without embankments growing drought-resistant crops were referred to as “soil.” The natural conditions around Ziquejie are uniquely favorable—wherever there are fissures in the towering mountains, water gushes out. Even at elevations above 1,200 meters, there has never been a drought-induced dry-up in severe years, allowing rice to be planted from the very beginning of “hillside clearing” and yielding bountiful harvests year after year.

　　Ziquejie has no ponds, reservoirs, or irrigation ditches, yet “where the mountain goes high, so does the water, and where the water goes high, so do the fields.” Scattered across the mountains are countless springs. All it takes is to dig a small opening or insert a bamboo tube anywhere along the field ridges, and water flows naturally from higher to lower terraces, one field to the next. Even where no springs emerge, one can simply take mud from within the terraces and build a channel along the inner edge, guiding water to wherever it’s needed. The special rocky soil here retains and drains water effectively, and thanks to ingenious human design, the length, width, and elevation differences of each terrace are adapted to the terrain, ensuring sufficient water supply for every plot without causing severe soil erosion during the rainy season due to sudden runoff. The scientific and practical setup of the Ziquejie Terraces’ irrigation system rivals that of famous water projects like Dujiangyan and Lingqu, making it a marvel of global irrigation engineering.

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　　Stunning natural scenery.

　　Ziquejie and the surrounding Fengjia Mountain region are encircled by mountains, with over 30 peaks towering above 1,000 meters, undulating continuously, and streams rushing through. The green trees on the mountaintops nourish the terraces, and the wooden cabins nestled among the hills dot the landscape. Together, the mountains, terraces, streams, rocks, paths, and cabins form a picturesque rural scene. The homes built from timber frames and wooden planks, embraced by ancient trees and built along the contours of the land, create Ziquejie’s magnificent natural landscape embodying the harmony between heaven and humanity.

　　The natural beauty of the Ziquejie Terraces also lies in how their scenery changes with the seasons, adding even more charm. In spring, they are crystalline blocks under the sunlight; in summer, they are emerald curves cascading from the sky; in autumn, they become golden patches crisscrossing the hills; in winter, they transform into thousands of dancing white ribbons. It’s a paradise on Earth and a fantastic destination for travelers.