About the Chinese Farms Near the Southern Coastline

The thing I’ve noticed about farms in China is that they partition the land into very small segments, and some of these segments are covered by black tarps perhaps to protect the crops from the sun. Instead of using large machines crops are hand grown and tended, and usually there are water buffalo nearby to help with some of the labor.

There are irrigation canals through the fields, and one can often spot a group of three or more farmer kids swimming in the water. I assume they have built up a resistance to the local flora including bacteria and parasites. Most likely these people have no allergies, as studies have shown that the more hygenic the area, the more prone children are to have allergies to pollen and other materials.

In the distance one will spot the farmer’s homes, usually made of concrete and brick and built two or three stories high. Probably these building house two or three generations of one family. Once in awhile you will spot grandoise structures built in the middle of shanty villages, sporting greek columns and statues. Most likely owned by the wealthy landowners (yes land can be owned here) or the owner of one of the many factories that dot the rural towns. The pollution is not so much a problem here, as the strong winds from the ocean blow it inland.

On the hills around the farms you will spot tombs built into the rocks, on the tomb there will be one to several graves. Each family shares a tomb. Concrete is poured onto the steeper sides of rocky hills next to highways to avoid landslides, which come when the torrential rains pound the area.

Looking into the farm towns, one will see archaic three wheeled motorized contraptions, resembling tractors but much smaller. Also mopeds are pretty common in the area, along with motorcycles and blue industrial trucks used for hauling goods to the cities.

Construction is commonplace, but here in the rural areas contruction is mostly done using iron scaffolding, concrete, and bricks. More farmhouses are being constructed, all facing east. Much work is being done to improve the highway system as well, and one can spot a truck traditionally used to carry livestock being used to carry a truckful of workers to a new construction site.

All this can be seen on the five hour busride from Shenzhen to Shantou, China.