Rice paddy art transforms Yellow River Estuary village into gallery

Autumn has transformed the paddy fields of Ershiba village in the Yellow River Estuary into a sprawling gallery. From atop an observation tower, visitors gaze down at vast rice paddy artworks in the fields of Dongying, Shandong province. A sightseeing train winds through waves of rice, while campgrounds and a rice-themed market bustle with activity.

An aerial view of the rice paddy art at the Yellow River Estuary in Dongying, Shandong province. [Photo by Jia Wenjian/For chinadaily.com.cn]

This year's centerpiece features two colossal designs. One commemorates the 90th anniversary of the Long March victory, weaving silhouettes of Red Army soldiers and running children alongside the slogan "90th Anniversary of the Long March Victory, Revolutionary Old Areas Take on New Looks". The other incorporates flocks of Oriental storks and red-crowned cranes to portray the wetland ecology of the Yellow River Delta. The color blocks are created using rice varieties with purple, yellow, green, and white foliage arranged in precise patterns.

An aerial view of the rice paddy art at the Yellow River Estuary in Dongying, Shandong province. [Photo by Sun Linyong/For chinadaily.com.cn]

The spectacle belies a harsh history. Ershiba village was once blanketed by severe saline-alkali soil. More than a decade ago, arable land was scarce and conventional crops barely survived. Locals built raised fields and experimented with rice cultivation, turning the once-barren area into fertile farmland.

Ershiba village's transformation from saline flatland to thriving tourist destination reflects a broader model of rural vitalization across the Yellow River Delta by turning ecological challenges into development opportunities.

An aerial view of the rice paddy art at the Yellow River Estuary in Dongying, Shandong province. [Photo by Sun Linyong/For chinadaily.com.cn]

（chinadaily.com.cn）