As the autumn harvest season arrives, the fragrance of rice fills the air. A golden expanse unfolds when stepping into the Alang Bangke terraced fields in Yangjie Township. The autumn breeze sweeps through, carrying the fragrance of rice in waves. The rice ears swaying in the wind resemble lively musical notes, presenting a magnificent landscape of rolling rice waves.

In the rice fields of Long Jibai's family in Bamu Village, the busy figures of harvesters move back and forth. Everyone works in an orderly fashion: some wield sickles skillfully, cutting the rice ears along with the stalks and neatly arranging them; others lift the harvested rice stalks high and swiftly toss them into the threshing bucket, quickly completing the threshing process. Looking at the plump rice ears, Long Jibai's face beams with a happy smile; the harvest represents not just rice but also the hopes and confidence of his entire family.

The Hani terraced fields in Yangjie Township and Nanuo Township are among the oldest in the Yuanjiang River Basin. Thousands of mu of terraced fields climb the towering Ailao Mountains, stretching from the foot of the mountain to the peak, layer upon layer, winding and turning, resembling a heavenly ladder reaching up to the clouds. Among them, the Alang Bangke terraced fields in Bamu Village and Gedie Village are located in the core area of these vast terraced fields. Surrounded by mountains, ample sunlight, and abundant water, they have nurtured generations of Hani people. 

Due to the difficulty of large machinery accessing the area, local rice cultivation has retained traditional farming methods, utilizing mountain spring water for irrigation, organic fertilizers, and manual weeding. This produces fragrant, soft, and nutritious rice, with a good market demand.

Since the 1990s, many Hani people have sought work elsewhere or converted their terraced fields to crops with better economic returns, leading to large areas of terraced fields gradually falling into disrepair or becoming dry land. The terraced fields, which carry the Hani agricultural culture, face degradation.

In 2015, Yangjie Township actively sought and integrated project funding for terraced field protection, enhancing the construction of agricultural water conservancy facilities in restoration areas and restoring over 2,000 mu of terraced fields. Meanwhile, through party leadership, they have implemented a "company (cooperative) + base + farmer" model to encourage over 500 households to plant local heirloom rice varieties such as "Mazhagu" and "Honghe Zigu", demonstrating and promoting integrated farming methods of "rice-fish-duck". They have developed agricultural products like red rice, Gucha fish, and duck eggs, forming an integrated production system encompassing planting, breeding, processing, production, and marketing; purchasing agricultural products at market prices; and achieving good economic, ecological, and social benefits.

In 2022, Yuanjiang County initially formed a local variety protection system for terraced fields, increasing efforts for food security at the genetic protection level. Local heirloom varieties such as "Mazhagu" and "Honghe Zigu" have been effectively protected and quality improved. While safeguarding this precious genetic resource, it has provided diversified ideas for the integrated development of rural revitalization in the local area. 

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(Editors: Jennifer, Ines)