“In spring, sow one grain of corn; In autumn, reap ten thousand more.” Walking along the ridge of the paddy field at the Tanbo Art Kingdom in Shenyang , Paul Gligoraș, a university student from Romania, was reciting an ancient Chinese poem. His first trip to China coincided with the Chinese Farmers’ Harvest Festival.

Paul Gligoraș is a student at the Confucius Institute at Transilvania University of Brașov. He has a deep passion for Chinese culture and has devoted himself to studying the Chinese language and literature. During his study trip to Shenyang City, Paul gained a deeper understanding of Chinese culture. Immersed in the autumn beauty of Shenyang City, he learned from local farmers that the Autumn Equinox marks the annual Chinese Farmers’ Harvest Festival. This festival not only enhances the sense of happiness and fulfillment among hundreds of millions of Chinese farmers but also reflects China’s time-honored tradition of taking agriculture as the foundation.

Paul was captivated by the vast paddy field paintings, the endless golden paddies, and the refreshing autumn breeze in northern Shenyang City. He bent down to observe the heavy rice ears weighing down the stalks and breathed in the gentle, natural fragrance carried on the wind. From an elevated viewpoint, he saw the enormous rice field art depicting magnificent designs such as peonies and the legend of Kuafu chasing the sun. He marveled at the creativity of integrating rice cultivation with artistic expression. Paul frequently used his phone to capture moments from this unforgettable autumn journey in Shenyang City, sharing in the joy of the harvest with the local people.

Amid the refreshing autumn breeze, Paul boarded a small sightseeing train together with crowds celebrating the Chinese Farmers’ Harvest Festival, joyfully riding through the golden fields of autumn.