Qiandao Ecovillage

China

Qiandao Ecovillage, located in a valley near China’s Qiandao Lake, combines Taoist and Buddhist philosophy with natural farming practices and a zero-waste lifestyle. Founded by a Taiwanese Buddhist monk, the community views farming as a path towards the Tao, the ‘ultimate truth’, and as a practice requiring constant cultivation not just of the soil, but of the self. The village produces its own toothpaste, soap, shampoo, and fertilizer, in addition to growing its own food and getting drinking water from a fresh spring. And they have a lot of leisure time, too, involving singing, dancing, calligraphy, and more. Read more on the Global Ecovillage Network website.