In Golden October, the 1,000-mu terraced fields in Xinshan Lisu Ethnic Township, Miyi County, Panzhihua City, are embracing a bumper harvest. Bathed in sunlight, layer upon layer of terraced fields wind along the mountain slopes; plump rice ears, draped in golden radiance, sway gently with the wind. The figures of the Lisu people bending over to harvest weave through the fields, slowly unfurling a harvest scroll of "golden rice waves rolling and diligent people amid beautiful scenery" in the mountains at an altitude of 1,600 to 2,000 meters.

Amid the terraced fields, villagers hold sickles, skillfully gathering rice ears and swinging their blades to harvest. The golden rice stalks are stacked into neat "small piles" in the fields; threshing machines hum continuously, and plump rice grains fall into cloth bags, while the air is filled with the fresh fragrance of rice. "This year, we planted a total of over 40 mu of red rice in the terraced fields, and it has grown extremely well. The harvest will last for about a week. Visitors coming to the scenic area recently can just catch the harvest atmosphere and admire the beautiful scene of farm work," said Jin Yong, Publicity Committee Member of Xinshan Lisu Ethnic Township.

Known as a "living fossil" of farming culture, the Miyi Lisu Terraced Fields have a history of growing Miyi Terraced Red Rice that dates back over a century. Cultivated through natural farming methods and with a long growth cycle, this red rice not only has a unique taste but is also widely favored for its rich nutritional value. From being recognized as one of the first batch of China's Top 10 High-Quality Crop Germplasm Resources in 2019 to being included in the Provincial List of Rural Production and Living Heritage in 2022, this "Miyi Flavor" has long become a gold brand carrying the essence of farming culture.

The grand harvest scene has also sparked a tourism boom. Shen Yali, a tourist from Chengdu, held up her mobile phone to film the harvest scene—her camera captured both the grandeur of rolling rice waves and the vivid scenes of villagers at work. She said, "It’s my first time coming to Xinshan Lisu Ethnic Township in Miyi, and I happened to encounter the harvest. This liveliness and beautiful scenery are so comforting; I must recommend my friends to come and check in here!" The "Rice Aroma Coffee" shop beside the terraced fields is also extremely popular. Zhang Zhouyan, a shop assistant, smiled and said, "During the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holidays, the number of customers was several times higher than usual. Many tourists went to take photos at the terraced fields after drinking coffee, saying they wanted to 'take the beautiful harvest scenery home'."

Today, in Xinshan Lisu Ethnic Township, layers of rice waves surge, nurturing the hope of a bumper harvest; cups of coffee are infused with the aroma of rice, allowing people to savor a unique sense of comfort; laughter echoes from one homestay to another, as tourists enjoy their leisure time here; and wispy smoke rises from the kitchens of local restaurants, wafting the authentic deliciousness of farm-style meals.

"Going forward, we will continue to upgrade infrastructure, constantly enrich new business formats, create a more comfortable tourism environment, develop characteristic agricultural experience activities, and hold a variety of colorful cultural and festive events, so that this place will continue to radiate new vitality for the integrated development of agriculture, culture, tourism and health," said Jin Yong, Publicity Committee Member of Xinshan Lisu Ethnic Township. (Text/Photos by Yang Lan, Wang Junwei)