China's Agricultural Birthplace | Houji Teaching Farming Platform

❤Recommended Reason: The Teaching Farming Platform is located on the shore of Qishui outside the east gate of the old city of Wugong, Shaanxi. It is the only ancient agricultural site in the country, known as the world's earliest agricultural science and technology research institute and the birthplace of Chinese agriculture. It is a provincial-level key cultural relic protection unit in Shaanxi Province. 🌟Highlights: The Teaching Farming Platform is where Houji, the ancestor of the Zhou people, taught farming over 4,000 years ago. In front of the platform is a tall seated statue of Houji, holding a bundle of wheat in his left arm and a farming tool in his right hand. He is strong, full of vigor, and has a determined gaze. Houji, named 'Qi', was the son of Emperor Ku and his mother was Jiang Yuan of the Tai clan. Influenced by his mother, he devoted himself to studying farming techniques and was appointed as the agricultural teacher by Emperor Yao. He cultivated the five grains and taught people farming, ending the nomadic lifestyle of hunting and gathering. People honored him as 'Houji'. 'Hou' means monarch, and 'Ji' refers to the leader of the five grains, worshipped by emperors as the god of grains. 👍Most Recommended: The Teaching Farming Platform is shaped like a covered bucket, very similar to ancient grain measuring tools. The platform is 9 meters high and 12 meters long on each side, with a simple and elegant design. It has four doorways, symbolizing the four seasons of spring, summer, autumn, and winter. The platform is surrounded by 24 railing posts, representing the 24 solar terms. The front steps are divided into five and six levels, symbolizing abundant harvests of the five grains and prosperity of the six livestock. ✅Must Experience: In front of the platform and in the four doorways are embedded poems, couplets, and handwriting by famous figures such as Qian Fanyu, Liu Zhongkun, Yu Youren, Wang Renzhong, Qu Wu, Zhou Yao, and Zhao Hongzhang. The 'Introduction' steles of institutions like Northwest A&F University, Shaanxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and Wugong Research Center stand in front of the platform, making the entire Teaching Farming Platform solemn and magnificent. The park around the Teaching Farming Platform features farming statues and a propaganda corridor with a clear theme. The surroundings are adorned with weeping willows, evergreen cypresses, and a profusion of flowers and leaves, creating a vibrant scene. Visitors can climb the platform to enjoy the natural beauty. 📍Detailed Address: 80 meters southeast of the intersection of Provincial Highway 517 and Dongjie, Wugong Town, Xianyang City, Shaanxi Province 🚉Transportation Guide: Drive and navigate to the Wugong exit of the Xi'an-Baoji Expressway, then follow the Xi'an-Baoji North Line directly. 🕙Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday 9:00-17:30 💰Ticket Price: Free admission