Cultivating a fascination with farming

Returning to roots

Similarly, farming led photographer Li Wei — better known as Dameng — who has traveled to many countries, to settle down in Southwest China's Yunnan province.

Li was born in 1994 in a remote village in Honghe Hani and Yi autonomous prefecture, Yunnan. He traveled extensively after graduating from university, hitchhiking, couch surfing and participating in volunteer programs.

He also supported his travels by documenting his journeys online, which resulted in the publication of two books.

However, the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020 forced him to pause his travels and return to his hometown.

"One day, while I was chatting with my grandmother by the window, I suddenly realized there are many words from the local Hani language that I couldn't say, even though they were on the tip of my tongue. Despite studying hard to leave the mountains in my childhood and traveling to so many places as an adult, I unconsciously lost a sense of belonging and identity with my own Hani ethnicity," he recalls.

Therefore, he decided to stay in Yunnan and travel across the province, using his camera and words to document the beautiful landscapes of his hometown and the people stories behind the local produce.

In October 2020, he arrived in Menglian Dai, Lahu and Va autonomous county in Yunnan's Pu'er, where he saw avocado orchards covering the mountains.

"I've always loved the color of avocados, and I was moved by the lush greenery covering the mountains. I wanted to stay."

Menglian's climate and terrain are suitable for avocados.

"Since my return to China, I had been thinking about where my future lies, and, at that moment, I vaguely felt that it's here."

Li believes there is room for developing avocado-related businesses in the domestic market, and he could establish a cultural brand based on an avocado farm. Moreover, Menglian is home to many ethnic groups, allowing him to document various cultures.

Soon after, he collaborated with a partner from the Va ethnic group to run the avocado farm and got more than 40 villagers to join in.

"I hope our products convey more emotion."