Snow blankets terraced fields and villages in Maying town, Longnan, in China's Gansu province. [Photos provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Following snowfall, Maying town in Longnan, Gansu province, looks like a scene from a traditional Chinese ink-wash painting.

A light layer of snow softens the mountain slopes, while terraces contour the land in sweeping lines. Dark-roofed villages lie quietly among them, serene and undisturbed. In the distance, mountain ridges appear faint against a veil of mist.

The terraces are home to traditional Chinese medicinal herbs such as angelica and astragalus. Beneath the snow-covered soil, life gathers strength for the coming growing season.

Snow-clad Maying presents not only poetic winter scenery, but also a landscape where life and industry continue to move forward in step with the times.