The increase in visitors has helped the local community thrive and create new schools, more parks and a better community.
Since the land that the rice fields cover is so vast, most of the homes are located on the outskirts of town in collective small areas. This makes Guanshan a picturesque little town, but it also limits the amount of work available. Most of the farming is done by older men and women, leading many younger people to choose to move to cities throughout Taiwan. The challenge the environment creates is that of jobs. Many people must travel far to get to work at the cost of a successful rice harvest.
There have been many changes over the years to make sure that the rice fields continue to produce and the community continues to thrive. While older parents tend to the fields, their sons and daughters head to the city for work. However, the sons and daughters of the middle generation stay with their grandparents and learn the skills needed to pass on the tradition of farming rice. Many of my own students live with their grandparents and I can see them helping wherever possible. The community has built a number of BnB's to help accommodate the tourists visiting the town. This has allowed the tradition of rice farming to continue and the community to prosper.
