Jiangjiadian Grassland is situated in the southwestern part of Da’an City, covering an area of 1.35 million mu. It is one of China’s only three major natural Leymus chinensis grasslands, famous for its high-quality pollution-free forage. The annual output of pasture reaches 150,000 tons, and nearly 30,000 tons of premium grass are exported, winning high favour among business clients from Japan and South Korea.
Stretching endlessly, the grassland boasts abundant resources and pleasant scenery. Hundreds of birds soar in the sky while foxes and hares roam in groups, alongside all kinds of wild animals wandering freely. Twenty-seven varieties of rare medicinal plants grow here, including wild licorice, astragalus, anemarrhena, stellera, polygala and pseudo-ginseng, well-known across the province and nationwide.
Every midsummer, tourists pour in from all over the country. They sit on the grass and sleep under the open sky, enjoying the seamless view of blue sky and green meadow, drifting white clouds, grazing sheep and neighing horses. When sunset glow and solitary wild ducks fly side by side, visitors are filled with boundless reverie. This is the most enchanting season of Jiangjiadian.
August marks the hay-cutting season. Grass cutters build shacks deep in the grassland and live together in small groups of three to five people. By September, piles of hay are neatly stacked, waiting for processing and transportation out of the area.
To protect the grassland, a biological fence has been built with hundreds of thousands of tamarisk trees planted along the boundary. Also known as red willows, the tamarisks turn crimson after early frosts in late autumn. From afar, clusters of branches sway in the wind like burning flames, perfectly embodying the poetic line: "Frosted leaves outshine the blossoms of early spring."
Blue skies, white clouds, elegant wind turbines and green pastures form a breathtaking landscape. Scenes once only seen on movies and TV can now be witnessed right here. More than one hundred towering wind generators stand on the grassland, forming a brand-new scenic sight and bringing fresh highlights to grassland tourism.
In recent years, adhering to the principle of balanced development and ecological protection, over 20 million yuan has been invested in comprehensive restoration projects to improve the grassland ecosystem.
As the environment gradually recovers, wildlife populations have grown steadily. A favourable microclimate has taken shape, bringing mild weather with timely wind and rainfall.
A poem depicts the transformation:
Once the vast meadow suffered from salinization and sandstorms;
Grazing bans and fencing policies were issued to curb land degradation.
With man-made grass planting, weeds recede and grey hares reappear;
Vitality returns, and balanced ecology shelters all living creatures.