Pastoral carnival opens in Hangzhou's Rice Field CBD

The rice fields go viral online for their perfect match with the passing high-speed train and skyscrapers. [Photo/WeChat account: qjshijicheng]

Autumn has arrived, and with it the 2025 CBD Pastoral Carnival, which opened on Nov 7 in Xiaoshan district's Qianjiang Century City, turning the area's famous paddy fields near a CBD into a vibrant celebration of harvest and rural charm.

Set against the dramatic skyline where high-speed trains glide past golden paddies and skyscrapers, the carnival offers visitors a unique experience — part harvest festival, part urban getaway.

People take part in a rice harvest relay race. [Photo/WeChat account: qjshijicheng]

Stretching over 4,567mu(304.5 hectares), the rice field is located east of the Asian Games Village and has become one of Hangzhou's most photogenic landmarks.

This year's carnival features a three-day lineup of interactive experiences, including a harvest zone where families can cut and thresh rice, a petting zoo with peacocks, lambs, and rabbits, and playful attractions such as a paddy maze, field go-karts, grass-boat archery, and family obstacle courses. A bustling rural market offers local delicacies, creative crafts, and coffee corners, blending the charm of the countryside with the leisure of city life.

Participants compete during a game. [Photo/WeChat account: qjshijicheng]

According to Xu Jinsong, head of the Rice Field CBD project, the farmland was first cultivated in 2021 and has since become a local sensation. Every year, the area produces wheat, rapeseed, flax, and rice, with grain sent directly to national storage. This autumn, 3,708muof rice and sorghum are being harvested, yielding over 600 kilograms permu.

People cheer on their team members. [Photo/WeChat account: qjshijicheng]