锦绣华南 4

It rains here for up to 250 days a year,

and standing water is everywhere.

In the floodplain of the Yangtze River,

black-tailed godwits probe the mud in search of worms.

But isn't just wildlife that thrives in this environment.

The swampy ground provides ideal conditions for a remarkable member of the grass family.

Rice.

The Chinese have been cultivating rice for at least 8,000 years.

It has transformed the landscape.

Late winter in southern Yunnan is a busy time for local farmers

as they prepare the age-old paddy fields ready for the coming spring.