From Song Mausoleums to "Unique Henan・Land of Dramas": Two sorghum fields on the Central Plains

From Song Mausoleums to "Unique Henan・Land of Dramas": Two sorghum fields on the Central Plains

从宋陵到只有河南·戏剧幻城，中原大地上的两块高粱田

On October 19, the sorghum at Yongtai Mausoleum in Gongyi City was fully mature, with golden and crimson hues contrasting against the thousand-year-old stone statues, forming a unique and stunning landscape. Photo by Song Yameng

10月19日，巩义市永泰陵高粱成熟一片，金黄赤红映衬着千年石像生，形成一道独特而震撼的景观。河南日报社全媒体记者 宋亚猛 摄

"Rice, broomcorn millet, beans, wheat, broomcorn, millet—these six grains are what humans eat." Sorghum is one of the oldest cereal crops in the history of human civilization, with a planting history in China dating back thousands of years.

“稻粱菽，麦黍稷，此六谷，人所食。”高粱是人类文明史上最古老的禾谷类作物之一，在我国的种植历史可追溯至数千年前。

During the autumn harvest season, two sorghum fields on the Central Plains attract particular attention. One is at Song Mausoleums in Gongyi, and the other is at "Unique Henan · Land of Dramas".

秋收时节，中原大地上，有两块高粱田，格外引人关注。一块在巩义宋陵，一块在只有河南·戏剧幻城。

In the late autumn with heavy dew, the sorghum at Song Mausoleums turns red, creating an interesting contrast with the stone statues standing for millennia.

秋深露重，宋陵的高粱红了，与屹立千年的石像生相映成趣。

"Yongtai Mausoleum and Yongyu Mausoleum are right in our village. This place has become a popular online check-in spot, with scenic views in all four seasons. People from all over China love coming here," said He Suqin, a villager from Baling Village, Zhitian Town, Gongyi City, on October 20th, pointing to the vehicles parked on the rural road, her words tinged with pride.

“永泰陵、永裕陵就在俺村，这里成了网红打卡地，春夏秋冬都有看头，全国各地的人总爱往这儿跑。”10月20日，指着乡道上停放的车辆，巩义市芝田镇八陵村村民贺素琴言语中透着自豪。

Throughout the year, in different seasons, many people think of Song Mausoleums. When the sorghum reddened, Wang Zhongyuan from Guangdong came to Henan. He visited Zhouqiao Site in Kaifeng, Erlitou Site in Luoyang, and Yinxu Site in Anyang respectively, and specially set aside two days to see Grotto Temple and Song Mausoleums in Gongyi. "Henan's historical and cultural resources are incredibly rich!" he exclaimed involuntarily.

一年四季，不同时节，很多人惦记着宋陵。高粱红了，来自广东的王中元来河南了，他去开封、洛阳、安阳分别看了州桥遗址、二里头遗址、殷墟，专门腾出两天时间在巩义看石窟寺和宋陵。“河南历史文化资源太丰富了！”他不由感慨。

This autumn, Ruoling, a self-media influencer from Sichuan, went to Song Mausoleums again. Dressed in a red ancient-style costume, she wandered among the red sorghum and the stone statues of Yongtai Mausoleum, as if walking through a corridor of history. "A glance can span a thousand years. Here, I see the visualization of 'eternity'," Ruoling marveled. 

这个秋天，自媒体达人、四川妮儿若菱又跑到了宋陵。她身穿一袭红衣古装，穿行在红高粱与永泰陵石像生间，仿佛在穿越历史的甬道。“一眼千年，在这里看到了‘千秋’的具象化。”若菱感叹。

How to comprehend eternity? Observe Song Mausoleums, where past and present blend.

何以千秋？宋陵观之，古今交融。

While the red tassels of sorghum at Song Mausoleums sway gently, the 100 mu (about 6.67 hectares) of short-stalk sorghum at "Unique Henan · Land of Dramas" is being harvested in order.

当宋陵高粱红缨摇曳之时，只有河南·戏剧幻城的100亩矮株高粱正有序收割。

Since its opening on Mangzhong (the 9th of the 24 solar terms, usually in early June) in 2021, the sorghum has ripened five times, and this drama city has cumulatively received over 50 million visitors.

从2021年芒种开城至今，高粱已熟了5次，这座戏剧之城已累计接待游客超5000万人次。

"Why plant wheat and sorghum?" This is a question countless tourists ask when they enter "Unique Henan · Land of Dramas".

“为什么要种小麦和高粱？”这是无数游客走进只有河南·戏剧幻城时的疑问。

The sorghum at "Unique Henan · Land of Dramas" matures, ushering in the harvest season. Photo by Guan Yangyang

只有河南·戏剧幻城的高粱成熟，迎来收割季。关洋洋 摄

"One seed breeds countless grains, and yellow soil tells passing seasons." "Unique Henan · Land of Dramas" sows culture by sowing grains. Rooted in the civilization of the Yellow River, this cluster of drama venues adopts immersive theatrical art as its expression, and takes the "fantasy city" architecture as its carrier, telling stories about "the Yellow River, land, grain, and inheritance".

“一粟孕万穗，黄土写春秋。”只有河南·戏剧幻城用播种粮食的方式播种着文化。这方戏剧聚落群，以黄河文明为创作根基，以沉浸式戏剧艺术为手法，以“幻城”建筑为载体，讲述的正是关于“黄河、土地、粮食、传承”的故事。

"Sorghum and wheat, as traditional crops in China with a long history of cultivation, are not only essential food staples for survival but also symbolize the spirit and belief of Henan people – facing the sun and striving tirelessly," said Liu Kaipeng, head of the branding department at "Unique Henan · Land of Dramas". After the sorghum harvest, new wheat will soon be planted. These two crops — one harvested in autumn and stored for winter, and the other sown in autumn and harvested in summer — represent the cycle of the seasons and the unending chain of inheritance.

“高粱和小麦作为我国传统农作物，种植历史悠久，既是人们赖以生存的粮食，也象征着河南人向阳而生、孜孜不倦的精神与信念。”只有河南·戏剧幻城品牌部负责人刘凯鹏说，高粱收后，新麦马上就会种上，这两种农作物，一个秋收冬藏，一个秋种夏收，是四季轮转的更迭，也是生生不息的传承。

Season after season, year after year, how many facets does profound Henan possess? Song Mausoleums and "Unique Henan · Land of Dramas" are like cross-sections between ancient and modern times, reflecting Henan's value responsibility, and cultural renewal. 

一季季，一年年，厚重河南有多少种面相？宋陵和只有河南·戏剧幻城犹如古今之间的切面，映照着河南的价值担当与文化新生。（中文来源：河南日报 记者：王延辉 陈浩 翻译：洪建园）