Shangbao Terraces in Ganzhou: A Millennium-Old Hakka Land Sculpture Amidst the Misty Clouds
Driving one hour from Chongyi County in Ganzhou, the winding mountain road ascends through layers of mist, suddenly revealing a patch of neatly arranged terraces spread across the mountains — the ridges twist like silver chains around the hills, the rice waves change colors with the seasons, and smoke curls gently from the village fields. This is the Shangbao Terraces, acclaimed as one of "China’s Three Great Terrace Wonders." As an agricultural masterpiece painstakingly cultivated by Hakka ancestors over a thousand years, this terrace group spans elevations from 200 meters to 1,260 meters, embodying not only the wisdom of Hakka people living in harmony with nature but also the grand pastoral poetry of southern Ganzhou.
Millennium Terraces, Earth’s Carved Wisdom for Survival
The story of Shangbao Terraces begins in the Northern Song Dynasty. When the Hakka ancestors migrated to this mountainous land, they cultivated the steep slopes with hoes and plows for survival. Passed down through generations, they eventually formed the current terraces covering over 30,000 mu (about 4,940 acres) with more than 400 levels. Unlike other terraces that are more regular, Shangbao Terraces follow the undulating mountain terrain. Large terraces span several zhang (Chinese feet), while the smallest can only fit a single plow. The ridges curve like flowing water, layered from the foot to the summit, as if the earth is dressed in new clothes. The terraces have been recognized by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization as a "Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System."
The core scenic area, the "Bagua Fields," is a must-see. Eight terraces surround a central pond in the shape of the Bagua (Eight Trigrams). Legend has it that Hakka ancestors in the Qing Dynasty designed this layout based on the yin-yang and Bagua principles, which facilitate drainage and irrigation while embodying the concept of "harmony between heaven, earth, and humanity." From the "Terrace Sunrise Viewing Platform," you can see morning mist flowing through the terraces, sunlight piercing the clouds and sparkling on the rice ears. At dusk, the terraces glow orange-red under the sunset, and the shadows of the ridges stretch long, resembling a flowing oil painting. Walking along the ridges, you can also see well-preserved "water channels" — an irrigation system invented by the Hakka that channels water from the mountain top through ditches into every terrace, ensuring "water does not flow down the mountain, soil does not leave the field," a living fossil of ancient agricultural wisdom.
Shangbao Terraces are not only a natural landscape but also a carrier of Hakka farming culture. At the "Shangbao Agricultural Culture Museum," you can see tools used by the Hakka to cultivate the terraces: rusted plows, wooden waterwheels, bamboo grain baskets, and old photos of villagers harvesting and threshing, as if you can feel the warmth of a thousand years of farming life. Outside the museum, elderly farmers often demonstrate traditional farming activities like "plowing with oxen" and "rice transplanting." Visitors can try transplanting rice seedlings and cutting rice by hand, experiencing the joy of farming and the true meaning of "every grain is hard-earned."
The village’s "Hakka residences" are also worth visiting, mostly "Weilong Houses" or "Zoumalou" (horse-walking buildings), with wooden structures paired with gray tiles and white walls. Corn, chili peppers, pumpkins, and other crops hang under the eaves, full of life. In the evening, villagers dry rice on the threshing ground in front of their houses, children play beside the grain piles, and elders sit on doorsteps chatting, occasionally humming Hakka mountain songs. Time here seems to slow down.
A Taste of the Countryside, Simple Flavors from the Mountains and Fields
The cuisine of Shangbao Terraces carries the fresh aroma of the countryside and mountains, with every bite tasting like Hakka life. The top recommendation is "Shangbao Cured Meat." Villagers cure pork with salt and Sichuan peppercorns, then hang it above the stove to slowly smoke over firewood. The meat is firm, salty, and fragrant. Sliced and steamed or stir-fried with green peppers, it’s a perfect dish to accompany rice.
"Terrace Loach" is also a must-try. The loach raised in the rice paddies has tender meat. It is stir-fried with camellia oil, then braised with chili and perilla leaves, resulting in a fresh, spicy, and flavorful local specialty.
There is also "Hakka Stuffed Tofu," made from locally ground soybeans, filled with pork mince, pan-fried to golden, then braised. The tofu absorbs the meat’s aroma perfectly. Paired with a bowl of "Terrace Rice," which is fragrant and soft, it’s a full gift from the countryside.
After the meal, you can enjoy a cup of "Hakka Rice Wine," brewed from local glutinous rice, sweet, mellow, refreshing, and warming. Or try "Hakka Glutinous Rice Cake," steamed glutinous rice pounded until soft, coated with soybean flour and sugar, sweet and delicious.