It rains here for up to 250 days a year,
and standing water is everywhere.
In the floodplain of the Yangtze River,
black-tailed godwits probe the mud in search of worms.
But isn't just wildlife that thrives in this environment.
The swampy ground provides ideal conditions for a remarkable member of the grass family.
Rice.
The Chinese have been cultivating rice for at least 8,000 years.
It has transformed the landscape.
Late winter in southern Yunnan is a busy time for local farmers
as they prepare the age-old paddy fields ready for the coming spring.