Rice paddy art celebrates history and ecology in Shandong

Two rice paddy artworks recently debuted in Yong’an town of Kenli district in Dongying, Shandong province, covering a combined 16 hectares. The striking installations, created using seven different colored rice varieties, pay tribute to China’s wartime resilience and local ecological conservation efforts.

One artwork, celebrating the 80th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45), incorporates a revolutionary memorial museum, a bugle, the Great Wall, and doves of peace to honor the sacrifices of the past and promote harmony.

The second piece depicts the place where the Yellow River meets the sea to highlight the region’s environmental commitment. It features the Oriental white stork, a protected species thriving in the Yellow River Delta wetlands.

Local farmers and artists collaborated on the project with precision planting techniques to achieve the intricate designs. The artwork is expected to attract tourists and serve as an educational landmark.

Dongying, situated at the Yellow River’s estuary, continues to merge agricultural innovation with cultural storytelling to reinforce its role in eco-tourism.