The Fields of Yim Tin Tsai: Past and Present

In the past, the primary economic activity of Yim Tin Tsai was farming, supplemented by hunting, aquaculture, and fishing [1]. Many villagers recalled helping their families in the paddy fields (which villagers called 'tin' in their dialect) and vegetable fields ('che') when they were young. Back then, the area surrounding the 'salt ponds' (now the site of the salt pans) were covered by vast paddy fields. When the right season arrived, villagers would seize the opportunity to plant:

'The first planting season usually started after the Chinese New Year, as the weather began to warm up. We would use grains from the previous year and wait for them to sprout before scattering them in the fields to grow seedlings. The soil, rich in nutrients, facilitated the seedlings’ fast growth. Once they reached about six or seven inches in height, we would start preparing for the next planting of paddy seedlings, which usually took place in June or mid-June.' (For detailed story: https://www.yttstorytelling.org/en/storymap#26)

Afterward, villagers would transplant the seedlings, tend to them until they matured, and eventually harvest and sun-dry the rice—a labour-intensive process.

Although the beautiful paddy fields no longer produce food in large quantities today, they remain a habitat for plants and animals. When visiting Yim Tin Tsai, take a closer look at the old paddy field and you might have some interesting discoveries.