Longma: Rural tourism increases farmers' income
Editor's note:
As the largest interconnected Hani terraced field, the Samaba Terraced Fields covers an area of more than 14,000 mu. The terraced field has more than 4,000 terraces in total, the altitude of the lowest terrace is 650 meters and the altitude of the highest is 1,800 meters. Sitting at foot of Luokongjian Mountain and facing the Samaba Terraced fields, Longma is a village inhabited by Hani people. It is an ideal place for appreciating the breathtaking views of sunrise and clouds in the terraced fields. In recent years, Longma held many cultural activities and celebrations, attracting tourists from Yunnan and other provinces.
Longma: Rural tourism increases farmers' income
“From October to April of next year, it is the high season of tourism in our village,” Li Wei, Head of Longma Village, Baohua Township, Honghe County, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture. In this season, rice is harvested and the paddies lie fallow. Filled with water, the paddies are just like mirrors in the sunshine, presenting the most breathtaking views and attracting thousands of tourists and shutterbugs.
Sitting by the Samaba Terraced Fields and Honghe County Tourist Loop, Longma Village is home to 72 Hani households. “ Tourists can enjoy the beautiful views of terraces through the windows of two thirds of the households,” Li Wei is so proud when talking about the abundant tourism resources in the village.
Li Wei is the first villager who started hotel business in Longma. He recalled that he was inspired by a tourist to set up an inn. “Once, a tourist came to my house. After he appreciated the beautiful terraced fields on the balcony, he marveled at the views and advised me to found an inn.” In 2014, Li Wei’s inn (Longma Inn) started receiving guests. And in the same year, the Baohua Township rolled out policies to build Longma Village into a tourist destination in the hope of alleviating poverty by developing tourism.
Up to 2017, Longma village had seen the opening of other four inns with different styles, providing tourists with diverse choices. The inn Tianpan Renjia has been very popular among tourists for its fashionable decoration styles. “We have 17 rooms which are divided into three types with different prices,” said Li Zumei, manager of the inn. During the high season, one has to reserve rooms at least one week ahead.
In recent years, Longma Village, relying on the natural and cultural resources, has developed various tourist products which range from celebrations, Hani traditional food, long-street banquet to “Impression Honghe”Song and Dance Performances. Longma has evolved many forms of tourism, attracting tourists from Yunnan and other provinces and helping increase local farmers’income.
“We have set up a tourism development cooperative, of which the main business is holding the long-street banquet. Usually the banquet is held ten times a year, ” said Li Jinxiang, mayor of Baohua Township. Every year, when the day comes for the start of transplanting rice seedlings, all villagers will participate to prepare the longstreet banquet. Tourists can enjoy Hani-featured delicacies including fish, eggs of ducks raised in the terraced fields.
“While developing rural tourism in Longma, we have also upgrade the local infrastructure," said Li Jinxiang, hoping the improved infrastructure will bring more tourists.
Writing by Wang Dan; Photos by Zhang Tong; Transediting by Zu Hongbing