Jinhua's field-based rice museum celebrates China's agricultural heritage

Various varieties grow in Jinhua's field-based rice museum. [Photo/Jinhua Media Group]

The first field-based rice museum in China, located on the eastern side of Shangshan Archaeological Park in Pujiang county, Jinhua, Zhejiang province, is bustling with life during this crucial growth period.

The field grows over 60 varieties spanning different eras, forming a living museum that vividly illustrates rice evolution in China, from tall stalks and dwarf varieties to low-yield and high-yield varieties.

"We've selected one or two representative varieties from each era for planting, alongside today's high-yield varieties," said Xu Baisong, a rice farmer. This year, the exhibit added more than 20 new varieties. With staggered maturation periods, the field offers a continuous display from May to December.

This rice field is more than a scenic spot; its Shangshan location is a major origin of rice agriculture. A study published in Science in 2024 confirmed that the site documents rice's complete evolution from wild to domesticated over 100,000 years, with the museum showcasing this diversity through on-site planting.

The nearby Shangshan Site Museum will also open soon, which features ancient carbonized rice and complements the vibrant field displays, allowing visitors to explore ancient rice civilization.