Terraced Fields Performance

Last Saturday, Katie and I got invited to go with some friends to Yuan Yang, a town about 3 hours from Mengzi. Yuan Yang is famous for the Terraced Fields and the minority groups that use them to plant rice. I'd been through Yuan Yang back in November, but it was foggy and gray then, so it was nice to see the fields on a clear day. During the winter months, the fields are saturated with water and make for an amazing site. The Rices were able to go Yuan Yang about two weeks ago and see the fields at sunrise and sunset when the light makes the Terraced Fields even more spectacular (check out the Rice's blog . . . they take amazing photos!)

Our Chinese friends, Min and Maggie, who we went to Yuan Yang with, told us that we were going to see a performance in a village. But when we got to the village, we couldn't find the stage. After asking around and figuring out what was going on, we realized that the performance was actually going to be on the Terraced Fields. I've grown a little weary and cynical of Chinese performances over the years; however, this performance was unique, interesting, and (best of all) an acceptable length. Supposedly this performance was put together by a famous (or maybe two famous) Chinese director. The performance was quite the undertaking with several hundred minority people who were part of the production, including lots of kids and even dozens of water buffalo. We were actually there for the dress rehearsal. The big show for all the V.I.Ps who were going to have to pay hundreds of yuan to see it was the next day. We got in for free! Made for an enjoyable day trip.

Be careful not to take a wrong step when you're walking through the fields. One wrong step to the right or left and you're up to your knees in mud!
We were surprised to see the women selling dyed eggs which looked just like Easter eggs.

Video of part of the Hani singing and dancing about the rice harvest.