The Duotian irrigation and drainage system, a network of small elevated farmland surrounded by water, is a unique agricultural landform in Xinghua city, administered by Taizhou in East China's Jiangsu province.
The formation of Duotian originated from ancestors who dug up the river silt in ancient times and then piled it up into block-shaped highlands to resist floods and cultivated their crops on these highlands.
Over the past decade, Xinghua has adhered to the principles of protection through excavation and inheritance in utilizing the special farmland.
In March 2021, protection regulations on Duotian were unveiled by Taizhou to promote their sustainable use.
Xinghua first surveyed and mapped that the circumference of the Duotian protection area, which was 21.62 square kilometers.
Over the course of a decade, Xinghua then established a fund for the protection of traditional Duotian agricultural systems and invested over 30 million yuan ($4.19 million) each year to dredge the Duotian rivers and ditches.
To protect them through excavation, Xinghua also built the Xinghua Lixiahe National Wetland Park, a national wetland park in the lower reaches of the Huaihe River in China, which features the protection of marsh wetlands.
Due to the landform of Duotian, Xinghua's Qianduo Cole Flower Scenic Area has become a renowned area for visitors to enjoy the splendid plants.
Since 2009, Xinghua has held the Qianduo cole flower tourism event, featuring activities ranging from flower viewing and leisure sightseeing to folk exhibitions and cultural experiences.
An overhead view of the magnificent agricultural landscape of Duotian, small farmland surrounded by water. [Photo/WeChat account: xinghuafabu]