Page 44 - JCAU-6-2

Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Regenerating tradition: Rural revitalization

space. Species in the patches and corridors compete freely 3.2. Economic possibilities arising from a revitalized
to improve and stabilize the ecosystem. The ecological Li family’s agriculture
ribbons also leverage residents’ traditional knowledge
of plant use and experience in ditch construction. The The design of green infrastructure that incorporates
mountain soil excavated for the ditch system and the traditional Li family’s agricultural practices offers
agricultural straw produced by regular farming during this possibilities for eco-agriculture, eco-finance, and cultural
phase could be temporarily stockpiled to be used as raw tourism in Yulong Village. Once the ecological network
materials for the second phase of implementation. of the entire Yulong Village has been virtually completed
and the new rural green infrastructure landscape is
The next phase focuses on creating mangrove essentially in place, tourist and visitor infrastructure
ecosystems along the riverbanks. By this point, the density could be added. Cycling routes within the existing road
of vegetation in the ditches and corridors has increased network could be installed. The topography affords
through the autonomous spread of plants and animals. places for viewing platforms, offering excellent outlooks
Mountain soils, agricultural residues, sediments carried by of the landscape without disturbing the everyday lives
the ditch system, and materials hoarded and decomposed and production activities of the villagers. On the cycling
in the first phase become the raw material for shaping route, tourists could observe the landscape during the
the topography of the riparian wetland system and serve Li villagers’ harvest season, watch cattle treading and
as fertilizer for soil restoration. This phase also provides aerating the fields, witness harvest-gathering activities,
additional work opportunities for villagers during their and experience other traditional Li family’s agricultural
agricultural downtime (Figure 14). activities. At different viewing platforms, tourists will
The staged construction approach allows the have the opportunity to enjoy the landscape beauty of
ecosystem of the entire area sufficient time for Yulong Village’s sloping Shanlan rice terraces and smell
viability and self-improvement, minimizing the loss the unique aroma emitted from the mountain orchid rice.
in the income stream of the residents throughout the Walking through the streets of Yulong Village, visitors
implementation cycle. The incremental phasing would can encounter Li women weaving in front of their houses
closely reintegrate the daily activities and labor of local and courtyards, wander among the poultry and animals
residents with the natural environment, revitalizing walking along the streets, and hear the chirping of birds
the traditionally close relationship between Li family’s and insects attracted by the green infrastructure system.
agriculture and local ecosystems. By participating in In such a landscape space, the residents of Yulong Village
the process of ecosystem creation, the often-overlooked themselves are a living embodiment of the continued
value of the villagers’ traditional agricultural beliefs and vitality of traditional Li family’s agriculture and engage
practices is effectively realized. This model reduces the in its active dissemination through acts of sharing rather
costs and total carbon emissions of the implementation than performance. Tourists visiting Yulong Village would
process and allows for the recycling of agricultural gain a better insight into authentic Li family’s traditional
resources (Figure 15). culture compared to tourist attractions that rely on

Figure 16. Tourism experience in Yulong village. Source: Photo combinations by the authors

Volume 6 Issue 2 (2024) 14 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.1304