[Video provided to etaizhou.gov.cn]
While the rapeseed flowers in Qianduo town, Xinghua, Taizhou are in full bloom, a team from the Shanghai branch of France Televisions visited the area on April 7 to film a feature showcasing its breathtaking scenery and rich cultural history.
Reporter Amauld Boutet interviewed Yang Mangnyu, a 72-year-old local resident from Dongwang village, who shared insights into the secrets of the centuries-old Duotian agrosystem. Yang also taught Boutet how to row a traditional double-oared boat through the scenic waterways.
Duotian, meaning "raised fields", is a unique agricultural method developed in Xinghua. Farmers build small patches of fertile land by hand, lifting them above water levels to create islands of farmland surrounded by canals.
The Xinghua Duotian Irrigation and Drainage System has been recognized as a World Heritage Irrigation Structure, and the Xinghua Duotian Agrosystem is listed as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System.
The feature is scheduled to air on France Televisions in mid to late April.