Dongting Lake Town: Discovering the Essence of a Good Life from Agricultural Culture

Written by Xie Zhidong On Zilan Road in the Dongting Lake Tourist Resort in Yueyang, Hunan, there is a cultural and tourism town themed around agricultural culture, named Dongting Lake Town. In the warm spring season, we made a special trip to Dongting Lake Town to experience the flavor of agricultural culture. At the entrance of Dongting Lake Town, the words 'Return to a Good Life' come into view. Although it seems a bit hollow at first glance, who doesn't yearn for a good life? Advertising slogans never need fancy words; the most important thing is to touch people's hearts, and this slogan is obviously just right. Standing on the observation deck, the town's fields crisscross, and streams flow gently. In the nearby fields, there are large patches of golden rapeseed flowers, like a group of girls in yellow skirts dancing gracefully in the wind. When the breeze blows, you can also smell a faint fragrance of flowers, refreshing and pleasant. Among the rapeseed flowers, you can also see some scarecrows. In the agricultural era, people used straw to make human figures to scare away birds from eating crops. Scarecrows are also considered a crystallization of ancient wisdom. The straw stacks in the fields easily evoke childhood memories and have a homely feel. In the distant low-lying areas, there are several interconnected ponds. The willows by the pond have just sprouted, light and graceful, swaying in the wind. In the pond, there are some fishing nets propped up with bamboo poles, revealing a fishing village style. The Dongting Lake area is known as the land of fish and rice, and fishing nets and other fishing tools are undoubtedly cultural elements with regional characteristics. On the west side of the pond, there is a barbecue place specializing in grilled fish. The barbecue place is entirely made of wood, with a thatched roof. The barbecue place is aptly named 'Thatch and Fish.' Yueyang's local cuisine has always featured fish. The traditional specialty dish 'Baling Whole Fish Feast' is said to be made from more than 20 kinds of fish produced in Dongting Lake. Each feast has at least 12 dishes and up to 32 dishes, all made from fish, from small plates and main courses to desserts. Next to the barbecue place is a sculpture of a cow, tall and mighty, with exaggerated features. The cow is an important participant in the progress of human civilization and one of the iconic elements of agricultural culture. The earliest records of cattle farming in Chinese history can be found in the Spring and Autumn period. For thousands of years, cows have helped people cultivate this land, becoming indispensable partners in agricultural production. It was not until the end of the 20th century that cattle farming techniques were gradually replaced by agricultural mechanization. Although cattle farming techniques have now faded from the historical stage, the image of the cow, naturally kind and hardworking, remains deeply imprinted in people's minds. On the east side of the pond, rows of quaint and elegant houses are built along the mountain, scattered and hidden among lush forests. The layout and architectural style of the houses are basically the same as the villages we usually see in the countryside, only more exquisite. On a brick wall at the entrance of the village, the words 'Daohualing Village Center' are embedded, telling us that this is the core village of Dongting Lake Town. In front of the text sign, there is also a logo with a rice ear pattern, indicating that Daohualing Village adheres to tradition while keeping up with the times. Although most of the houses in Daohualing Village are used for commercial purposes, the decoration style of the shops still strives to maintain the rural flavor. Walking along the village paths, you can see exhibits reflecting agricultural cultural elements everywhere, such as waterwheels, sickles, rakes, stone mills, wooden plows, hoes, carrying poles, baskets, dustpans, windmills, bamboo sieves, back baskets, straw hats, and raincoats commonly used in the agricultural era. There are even signs for haircuts and ear cleaning. The fishing gear commonly used in the Dongting Lake area is displayed under the theme 'Fishing Songs Collection.' In short, the elements of agricultural culture are fully utilized here. While touring Dongting Lake Town, I was thinking: what exactly is a good life? Why do people miss traditional agricultural culture? After returning, I figured it out. People do not miss the agricultural era but the spirit of agricultural culture. The agricultural cultural elements and styles displayed in Dongting Lake Town embody the spirit of agricultural culture. The spirit of agricultural culture, which has been passed down for thousands of years, is the most cherished thing. The spirit of agricultural culture is the way of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature. People transform nature, but they must do so in accordance with nature, without exceeding the limits allowed by natural conditions. Only by harmoniously coexisting with nature and building a resource-saving and environmentally friendly society can sustainable development be achieved. This is the essence of a good life. (Written by Xie Zhidong)