The annual Yunhe Terrace Ploughing Festival kicked off on June 10 in Yunhe county, Lishui city, in East China's Zhejiang province, showcasing the rich culture and tourism of the ancient rice terraces.

The ceremony, which marked the first ploughing of the year, is held annually during Mangzhong, or Grain in Ear, the ninth of the 24 solar terms.

The festival features a series of events and activities such as lectures on rural culture and tourism development, mud obstacle challenges, intangible cultural heritage exhibitions, and a Song Dynasty (960-1279)-style bazaar.

The Yunhe Terrace has thousands of terraces spanning 1,000 meters in elevation. [Photo/zj.people.cn]

The Yunhe Terrace, which dates back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907), is the largest group of terraced fields in East China and is renowned for its views of the mountains, bamboo forests, streams, waterfalls, and rime. The local farmers still practice the traditional and environmentally friendly methods of cultivating rice alongside fish and duck.

The Yunhe Terrace Ploughing Festival, which is recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage project, showcases how agricultural civilization can promote rural vitalization and cultural tourism.