“Greetings to all the villagers of Huangling! I am Méliana from France. My first visit to the Chinese countryside has been so amazing. There are so many interesting customs here, and happy faces everywhere...” On the day of her departure from Huangling Scenic Area in Wuyuan, Jiangxi, French blogger Méliana expressed her heartfelt feelings to the staff of the scenic area through WeChat.

During the beginning of autumn, the 9th Huangling Autumn Sun Cultural Festival kicked off in Huangling Ancient Village, Wuyuan, Jiangxi. Over the past two days, more than 40 internet-famous bloggers from home and abroad, including Méliana, have had an in-depth experience of the beauty of sun drying and felt the charm of traditional Chinese rural culture.

Méliana’s husband is Chinese, who always has a strong interest in traditional Chinese culture such as tea, poetry, and traditional Chinese medicine. She came to China to reunite with her husband six months ago. “It feels particularly familiar to delve into the Chinese countryside for the first time. The characteristics here are very rich, including the architecture, scenery, cuisine, and of course, the villagers.”

Standing on the observation platform of Huangling Shaiqiu, looking out, crops such as chili peppers, corn, peanuts, and mung beans are drying on racks. The colorful crops and the gray-white Huizhou-style buildings present a picturesque scene of abundance. On a platform, a giant character made of grains that says “Come to Huangling, and enjoy the beauty of Shaiqiu.” is particularly eye-catching.

Wu Xiangyang, Chairman of Huangling Scenic Area and “Honorary Village Mayor” of Huangling, said that “Shaiqiu” is the foundation of Huangling’s culture and the daily folk customs of the villagers, as well as a manifestation of the farmers’ joy in a bountiful harvest. “As the birthplace of the Autumn Sun culture, Huangling holds the Autumn Sun Cultural Festival every year, mainly to showcase and protect this rural culture through traditional forms, allowing domestic and foreign tourists to have an in-depth experience of the local characteristics and customs of China.”

In Méliana’s view, many local traditions have been preserved, and the previous way of life and various folk rituals have been well protected. “Through these rituals, people can feel the beauty and uniqueness of this place. It is a particularly profound beauty and the essence of local rural culture.”

In 2014, the “Huangling Shaiqiu” landscape symbol was selected as one of the “Most Beautiful Symbols in China.” It is understood that during this year’s Autumn Sun Cultural Festival, Huangling Scenic Area has developed innovative cultural forms such as the “Huangling Shaiqiu Life Festival,” “Shaiqiu + Art,” and “Shaiqiu + Cultural and Creative,” enriching the forms and expressions of “Come to Huangling, and enjoy the beauty of Shaiqiu.”

“I shared my experiences here with my family and friends as soon as possible. I sent them photos to show them the delicious food I tasted, the beautiful scenery I saw, and the new friends I made. I also shared the picturesque autumn sun views and the quaint homestay rooms on social media. If I have the opportunity, I will definitely come back.” Reflecting on the wonderful experiences of the past two days, Méliana said.