Yak Meadow Basin in Ninglang County, Lijiang

Chinese Name:宁蒗县牦牛坪
English Name: Yak Meadow Basin in Ninglang County, Lijiang
http://www.ynnl.gov.cn/newsshow.asp?id=20721

Maoniuping is not the first time for Liangshan Jun to visit; each visit brings different feelings. In 2018, Liangshan Jun stood on this colorful land of Maoniuping, marveling at how nature’s craftsmanship painted this high-altitude plateau in vibrant colors, both boldly and subtly.

Thus, the phrase “Whether there are yaks in Maoniuping is no longer important” was born. Two years later, returning at the same time reveals a different scene. Nature always surprises humanity with its unintentional wonders, and this beauty is not just a product of nature’s artistry but also a reflection of human wisdom in transforming nature and a yearning for prosperity.

The mountain road is rugged, winding up from the Dongfeng Village Committee of Xinyingpan Township along the tortuous Tangshi Road, with stunning views along the way. In the midst of summer, the distant towering mountains are shrouded in greenish-blue mist. The lush greenery stretches from the mountainsides to the foothills, with clusters of farmhouses featuring gray tiles and white walls nestled in the embrace of the mountains, becoming more numerous as one descends.

On both sides of the road, one can see fields of buckwheat swaying in the wind, with the vibrant green buckwheat thriving in the fields.

Interspersed among the buckwheat are potato fields, with the potatoes blooming during this season, their red and purple flowers swaying gracefully in the breeze. As we reach the halfway point up the mountain, we see that the entire valley is occupied by the enormous fans of a wind power plant, stretching like a cascade of stars. The green alpine meadows are covered with a green carpet, adorned with small flowers in red, yellow, blue, and purple, some blooming alone and others in clusters, creating a riot of colors.

Continuing forward, upon reaching the Maoniuping Pass, a vast expanse of purple and white flowers comes into view, stretching towards the horizon!

Surrounded by this expansive sea of potato flowers, I feel a sense of tranquility and joy. In a space filled with blue and purple hues, I have long forgotten that I am just an inconspicuous mortal in this world. The distant, ethereal white clouds and scattered villages in the valley, along with the nearby flower fields and the lush potato plants, make me wonder if this is a paradise created by the people of Ninglang?

The scattered white and purple petals dance in the wind, some vibrant and alluring, others in bud, like young maidens in spring or graceful dancers in flight, captivating passersby with their myriad forms.

So, how did the colorful fields of 2018 transform into a continuous sea of potato flowers in just two years? This story begins in 2019.

Maoniuping Village is located in Lanijinqiang Township, Ninglang County, at an altitude of 2,850 meters, with an average annual temperature of 8°C and annual precipitation of 1,100 mm, making it suitable for growing potatoes, bitter buckwheat, and oats, as well as raising cattle and sheep. Due to the high altitude, arid climate, and sandy soil, the potatoes grown here are sweet and have a high starch content, making them a well-known source of high-quality potatoes and seed potatoes in the county.

On October 13, 2019, the Yunnan Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs organized and invited relevant experts from the province, city, and county to form an expert group to conduct yield assessments on the “2019 Lijiang City Potato Green, High-Quality, High-Efficiency Creation Project” implemented by the Lijiang Seed Management Station in Lanijinqiang Township, Ninglang County. Starting from October 1, 2019, a large-scale excavation and planting of 3,000 acres of seed potato base in Maoniuping began, primarily supplying winter potato production areas in Dehong Prefecture’s Mangshi and Yingjiang, Honghe Prefecture’s Kaiyuan and Jianshui, and Wenshan Prefecture’s Pingyuanjie and Yanshan. With the development and growth of the Ninglang potato industry, potatoes have become a significant characteristic industry for many local families to increase their income, while also playing a positive role in winning the battle against poverty, promoting rural revitalization, and supporting the development of the potato industry throughout the city.

Maoniuping transforms disadvantages into advantages, adapting to local conditions, and relying on potatoes to achieve prosperity. By combining science and technology, it fundamentally changes the potato planting model, making Ninglang a major county for the potato industry and bringing the small Liangshan potatoes to tables across the country and even the world…