A farmer plows his crops with an ox at the ploughing festival in Yunhe Terrace scenic area. [Photo/Tide News]

The Yunhe Terrace scenic area in Lishui, Zhejiang province welcomed its annual ploughing festival on June 5, to mark the onset of Grain in Ear (Chinese: 芒种), the 9th solar term. This was the first ploughing festival held after the scenic area received its designation as a national 5A tourist attraction.

The festival is also a national intangible cultural heritage activity. Inheritors performed traditional dances and played instruments, while villagers led oxen to the fields. Farmers in straw rain capes and bamboo hats plowed the fields with oxen, signaling the beginning of the busy plowing season.

The 2024 ploughing festival, themed on taking visitors back to the terraces of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), will run from June 5 to 10. Activities like farming experiences, blessing ceremonies, and field competitions will immerse visitors in the ancient farming culture.

Participants will engage in rice transplanting and receive adoption certificates. With the certificates, they can return to reap the rice they planted during the autumn harvest.

Since attaining 5A status in February, Yunhe Terrace has seen increased recognition and influence. During the recent May Day holiday, it welcomed 140,800 visits, a 123.14 percent year-on-year increase, generating 70.30 million yuan ($9.70 million) in tourism revenue, a 289.96 percent increase.