Red Leaf Tobacco Barn Introduction
When mentioning tobacco buildings, many people's first impression is Fenglin, but Ruysui was once a production area for tobacco leaves. The tobacco leaves prepared in the tobacco buildings were sent to Fenglin for sale. On the way to Hongye Hot Spring, hidden in the small alley across from the convenience store, are several tobacco buildings, with layers of green moss covering the black tiles, and the weathered red brick walls and wooden boards adorned with thought-provoking new poetry and paintings. Strolling through the alley allows travelers to reminisce about the glorious history of tobacco production in Ruysui. During the Japanese colonial period, tobacco leaves, known as "green gold," were highly valuable crops. Initially, only the Japanese were allowed to manufacture tobacco, employing locals to grow and cure the leaves. After World War II, the tobacco buildings that were used for curing and storing tobacco leaves were either donated by the owners to the tenant farmers or distributed by the land gentry acting as local leaders. Today, only 14 relatively intact tobacco buildings remain in Ruysui, with some being dilapidated due to years of neglect, showing a leaning appearance in the roof and structure used for smoking. Travelers visiting should be cautious when admiring these sites.
