Ailao Rice Terraces in Yuanjiang County, Yuxi

About Ailao Mountain and Rice Terrace

Ailao(哀牢) region is steep with high mountains and deep valley, the elevation changes between 600 meters and 3000 meters, forming a three-dimensional climate of cold temperate zone, subtropic and tropic. The stories of Hani people are hidden in the rolling mountains. Hani people with strong perseverance have created the world-renowned and magnificent rice terrace in Ailao mountain. This land not merely gives Hani people material needs, but also gives us a beautiful place of art.

Hani Rice Terrace in Yuanjiang County

The Yuanjiang(元江) Ailao rice terraces are mainly concentrated in Yangjie Township(羊街乡) and Nanuo Township(那诺乡), among which Nanuo rice terrace is the most spectacular.

1. Nanuo Rice Terraces那诺梯田 

Nanuo rice terraces, located in Yuanjiang county of Yunnan province, the south central of Ailao mountain, are a masterpiece of Hani people. Nanuo rice terraces vary with mountain and terrains, and are suitable for the local conditions. Nanuo rice terraces are grand and magnificent, stretching throughout the whole south central Ailao mountains. They are the gateway of the Hani rice terraces in Yunnan. Departing from Nanuo Rice Terrace, all the way towards south, you will open the gate to Honghe County Rice Terraces, Yuanyang Rice Terraces and Lvchun Rice Terraces. The main scenic spots of Nanuo Rice Terrace include A Lang Bang Ke(阿郎邦克), Village Affection(山寨情), Terraces Family(梯田人家), Shuangru Terrace(双乳田), Damang(打芒) and Mailong(麦拢), etc. If you drive up the winding mountain road and enter the deep Ailao mountain, the vast terraces will appear in front of you, which can make you suddenly enlightened. It is like you get into another world. This is Nanuo Rice Terrace, the gateway of the Hani rice terraces. It is also the first stop to enter the world heritage core reserve.

More information about Nanuo Rice Terrace.

2. Yangjie Rice Terraces羊街梯田

There is a place named Yangjie Township(羊街乡) in Yuanjiang County of Yunnan Province, is the habitation of Yeche People(叶车人 A branch of Hani minority). Yangjie Township is located in the Ailao Mountain. With high mountain and deep valley, as well the altitude changes between 600 meters and 3000 meters, Ailao mountain forms a three-dimensional climate of cold temperate zone, subtropic and tropic, brings abundant rainfall and spectacular cloud sea, as well as moistens the magnificent rice terraces in the Ailao Mountain. Yangjie rice terraces wind and stretch along the mountain, tier upon tier, like silver staircases, connecting several mountains together. The rice terraces are the most beautiful scenery here.

Best Time to Visit

Although Ailao Rice Terrace scenery in Yuanjiang County are different in four seasons, November to the following April is the best time to visit the rice terraces. Whether you can capture sunrise, sunset and cloud sea landscape depends on the weather during that time. Therefore, if you have high requirements for photography, you can reserve enough time to stay there.

How to Get There

If you want to go to Ailao Rice Terrace in Yuanjiang County, you have to go to Yuanjiang County of Yuxi first. When you are there in Yuanjiang county, you will transfer there to Yangjie Township(羊街乡) and Nanuo Township(那诺乡). You can choose to take regular bus or minibus from Yuanjiang county to Yangjie Township and Nanuo Township.

Kunming South Bus Station-Yuanjiang Bus Terminal

Departure Time: 9:00, 12:00, 15:20, 16:30, 18:00, 19:30

Price: 90 CNY

Distance: 231 kilometers

Consume Time: About 3 hours

Yuangjiang County-Nanuo Bus Terminal

There are few buses from Yuanjiang bus terminal to Nanuo bus terminal.

Departure Time: 7:30, 8:00, 9:00, 13:00

Price: 23 CNY

Distance: 66 kilometers

Consume Time: About 2 hours

Accommodation in Yuangjiang County

You can stay overnight in Yangjie Township or Nanuo Township. You can also go back to Yuanjiang County for overnight. Accommodation in Yuanjiang County is relatively good. Here are several recommended hotels.

1. Yuanjiang Hotel元江大酒店

Address: No.2, Hongqi Road, Lijiang Town, Yuangjiang County, Yuxi玉溪市元江县澧江镇红旗路2号

Tel: 0877-6012888

Starting Price: 185 CNY

2. U HOTEL元江优家酒店

Address: No.118, Wenhua Road, Yuanjiang County, Yuxi玉溪市元江县文化路118号

Tel: 0877-6559900

Starting Price: 60 CNY

3. Dayu Jinyuan Hotel元江大宇金源酒店

Address: Wenhua Road, Yuanjiang County, Yuxi玉溪市元江县文化路

Tel: 0877-6515555

Starting Price: 105 CNY

Useful Travel Tips

1. Ailao Rice Terrace in Yuanjiang County is high in elevation, ultraviolet ray is strong on sunny days, you’d better bring sun cream. sunglasses, sun hat and other sunscreen products.

2. With large temperature difference between daytime and night, it is easy to develop a cold, therefore, you are suggested to bring coats and some cold medicine.

3. Compared with Honghe Hani Rice Terrace, Ailao Rice Terrace in Yuanjiang County is remote, not many people are familiar with it. However, like Honghe Hani Rice Terrace, the beauty of the Ailao rice terraces is pure, they are the painstaking efforts of Hani people for hundreds of years.