Imagine mountains wrapped in silver water, shining in the spring sun. Summer s    1     the mountains turn bright green with growing rice. During autumn, these same mountains are gold, and in winter they are covered in s    2     of white frost. These are the colours of the Longji Rice Terraces.

These terraces were built by the local Zhuang and Yao people. R    3     as far as the eye can see, these terraces cover tall mountains, often from the bottom to the very top.

So why did these people go     4     so much trouble to turn the entire mountains into terraces? Firstly, building the terraces meant that they could increase the areas in which they could grow rice. Secondly, the     5     terraces catch the rainwater and prevent the soil from being washed away.

But perhaps what is most significant is the way in which people have worked in     6     with nature to make these terraces and grow rice. The terraces are cleverly designed, with hundreds of waterways that     7     with each other. During the rainy season, it is along these waterways that rainwater moves down the mountains and into the terraces. The sun heats the water     8     turns it into vapour. This forms clouds from which rain falls down onto the mountain terraces once again.

Although modern technology could help produce more crops, these terraces still mean a lot to the local people for     9     traditions hold much value. Today, the Longji Rice Terraces attract thousands of visitors who come to admire this great wonder c    10     by people and nature working together.