Yubulu Stone village in the Qianxinan Bouyei and Miao autonomous prefecture is a picturesque scene at sunset in autumn. [Photo/zgqxn.com]

Experiencing rural life in autumn is a charming way to spend a relaxing holiday. And it doesn’t get more rural (and charming) than villages in the Qianxinan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture.

Located at the junction of Guizhou, Yunnan and Guangxi, Qianxinan is a hive of activity in autumn, as harvests are turned in and festivals are celebrated among various ethnic groups.

In autumn, the prefecture is not burdened with the throngs of tourists that flock there during summer months. It’s a perfect time to appreciate ripening crops bathing in sunshine and witness the leisurely life of rural dwellers.

The prefecture is much less polluted than other places in China, boasting blue skies, clear waters and terraced rice paddies among karst mountains.

The salvia growing along the roads are in its full purple bloom at this time making a pleasant contrast to the fog-covered mountains at the back of the canvas.

Immediately upon entering a typical village in Qianxinan, one is confronted by cozy cottages, trees covered with fruits, and cats walking lazily.

In the yards, old men can be seen sitting around a table with tobacco pipes in their mouths and cards in their hand, smoking at every interval of card playing. Old women can be seen airing corn and other crops in the sunshine, with smiles on their faces showing their satisfaction with the harvest.

As the prefecture becomes more popular as a rural tourism destination, villagers – many of whom live below the poverty line and rely on social welfare subsidies from the state – have a chance to improve their incomes. Some of them have transformed their houses into farm-themed hostels, providing accommodation for travelers from different parts of the world.