In China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, rice has become not just a food item but also a part of art. Here, using various colored rice varieties, giant images are planted across dozens of hectares, turning ordinary fields into a unique attraction for tourists, reports Todayinfo.kz's correspondent in China.
These compositions, which are only clearly visible from a height, are renewed every year. One of this year's fields features the image of a galloping horse.
How is a picture drawn with rice?
First, designers prepare a special sketch. Then, using GPS technology, the field is divided into several sections.
Rice seedlings of different colors are planted in each area. The combination of green, light green, purple, and dark-colored rice results in a giant painting after several months. All this work is carried out with high precision, because an error of just a few centimeters can change the entire appearance of the picture.
Where agriculture and tourism meet
Through this project, Ningxia is combining agriculture with tourism. Special observation towers have been built. Visitors can climb up to see the images in the rice fields in full. Additionally, tourists are provided with information about local agriculture, rice cultivation technologies, and the region's nature. Thousands of tourists visit this place every year.
Why exactly Ningxia?
Ningxia has long been a region known for irrigated agriculture. Thanks to the water from the Yellow River, it is possible to grow rice even in desert areas. In recent years, local authorities have paid special attention to developing agro-tourism. As a result, ordinary fields have turned into a unique destination attracting international tourists.
Ecology and creativity are developing together
The pictures in the rice fields are made not with chemical dyes, but with the natural colors of rice varieties. The project does not harm the environment. In autumn, the harvest is fully collected, and the rice is used as food.
This initiative proves that agriculture can also be part of the creative industry.
The new star of social media
The rice pictures in Ningxia have today become one of the most popular locations in China on Instagram, Xiaohongshu, and Douyin.
Many people take photos from the observation deck as if you were standing there, trying to fit the giant composition below into the frame. In summer, the green colors are rich, while towards autumn, the fields turn golden, completely changing the view.
These rice fields in Ningxia show that agriculture is not limited to just producing goods. Here, science, nature, art, and tourism converge in one space, forming a new brand for the region.
At first glance, it looks like an ordinary rice field, but from above, it becomes one of China's most impressive agro-tourism projects. Such initiatives not only develop the rural economy but also enhance the region's tourist appeal while preserving nature.
