How did the Bayan settlement find its way out on the road to rural revival? Watch the Satoyama Taiwan documentary

When rural revival comes up, many people first think of building roads, opening guesthouses, and developing tourism. But the documentary "Satoyama Taiwan" turns its lens on an unassuming little mountain village, the Bayan settlement, and uses the simplest images to tell us: the true revival of a village often begins with the relationship between people and the land.

What exactly is "satoyama"?

The term "satoyama" comes from Japan and refers to the shallow mountain zone between deep mountains and flatland around a village. Farmers living there cultivate the land alongside mountains and water, with water in the fields, fish and shrimp in the water, and birds and animals in the woods. People take from nature and, in turn, care for it, forming a circular, symbiotic agricultural landscape. Simply put, what satoyama pursues is not "man conquering nature" but "people nourishing the land, and the land nourishing people." This concept later gained widespread international attention, becoming an important reference for global ecological agriculture and sustainable rural development, and it has also inspired rural practices in many regions.

Bayan settlement: a comeback won in the water terraces

The Bayan settlement is located in the shallow mountain area of northern Taiwan, China. In earlier years, like many mountain villages, it suffered from population outflow and abandoned fields. The documentary records how villagers, together with a group of enthusiastic partners, reorganized water terraces that had been abandoned for many years and restored the traditional method of diverting water for farming. After reducing the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, aquatic insects, fish, and migratory birds reappeared in the fields, and the wetland ecology visibly "came back to life."

Even more crucial was the change in people. The farming experience accumulated by older farmers was valued once again, young people returned to the village one after another to take part in production and management, and the village also turned ecological rice, farm experiences, and guided interpretation into distinctive features, making outside visitors willing to come see the terraces, hear the stories, and experience farm work. The fields not only produced grain but also produced confidence and income. This is precisely the core logic of Bayan's rural revival.

Three lessons for rural revitalization

First, ecology comes first. Rather than first thinking about how to cash in quickly, it is better to first restore the water, soil, and ecological environment. Good mountains and good water are themselves a long-term competitive advantage. Second, rely on the villagers. Rural revival cannot depend only on outside forces; villagers are the main actors. Who farms the land, how profits are shared, and where the village is headed should all give local people a say, so that everyone's enthusiasm can be sustained. Third, tell the story well. A documentary, a piece of terrace history, is the best brand calling card. By tying farming culture, village history, and agricultural products together, the added value of the products naturally rises.

The value of "Satoyama Taiwan" is not only in documenting the changes in one mountain village, but also in providing an approach that can be learned from: respect natural laws, mobilize villagers to participate, and proceed steadily without rushing, and the countryside can grow its own hope once again.