The news was updated on September 10, 2019.
Foreign employees dance with children at Colorful Yunnan Paradise, a theme park in Kunming, Yunnan province.
Stebelskyi Nazarii from Ukraine enjoys his job at a theme park in Jinning district in Kunming, capital of Yunnan province.
He mainly gives clarinet performances for visitors.
“I’ve been here for two years and I love my work,” Nazarii says.
“The place is cool, and people are very friendly.”
Nazarii is one of the 40 foreign employees at Colorful Yunnan Paradise, one of the biggest theme parks in Southwest China.
In addition to the international touch, the park has also integrated distinctive local customs, ethnic singing-and-dance performances, a float parade and other entertainment to diversify visitors’ experiences.
The park has packed in more than 2 million travelers since it opened in July 2018.
Involving an investment of 3 billion yuan ($418.7 million), the theme park is part of the Colorful Yunnan program, which is a joint effort by the Yunnan government and local company North Star to re-create the charm of the ancient Dian Kingdom (278-109 BC).
The ancient Dian Kingdom project features the elevation of Dian culture and folk customs alongside Yunnan’s history and culture coupled with a modern tourism service.
Since 2012, a series of projects, including a wetland park, a wharf and a hot spring villa have been completed.
“Yunnan’s economy is in the supply-side structural reform period, and the development and operations of the ancient Dian Kingdom program will help upgrade the local tourism and culture industries,” says Ren Huaican, founder of North Star.
At the international torchlight festival in early August, the fireworks show and bonfire dance attracted more than 100,000 visitors to Colorful Yunnan Paradise.
As of June this year, the project has recorded more than 7.3 million visits.
Colorful Yunnan has also been added to the China Brand Files-an intangible-culture list of highly regarded Chinese enterprises with an influential brand image-which is supported by China Archives News affiliated with the China Archives Administration and the China Council for Brand Development.
The move is of great significance to boost Chinese brand development, says Ren.
More projects, such as ancient Dian tribes, will be coming down the pike soon, and a series of festivals and celebrations featuring elements of the ancient culture will be held.
The idea is to present a more colorful image of Yunnan to people from far and wide, according to Ren.
Performing for Chinese tourists has been quite a joy for Nazarii.
“Everyone around me is very understanding, and the environment here is nice,” he says.
“I will stay here and see what happens next.”
Source from http://english.yunnan.cn/html/2019/people_0910/17692.html
The news was updated on September 5, 2019.
Environmental protection staff in Shuanglang town remove debris from the lake.
Protecting the Erhai Lake has become a priority for the Dali Bai autonomous prefecture in Southwest China’s Yunnan province since President Xi Jinping’s visit there in January 2015.
In recent years, efforts have been made to transform tourism, more specifically the operation of guesthouses that were loosely regulated and had contributed to the eutrophication of water.
The closing of nearly 2,500 restaurants and guesthouses around the lake for 18 months beginning in April 2017 had caused controversy in the media.
However, 1,791 of the venues have since resumed business. Short-term pain is inevitable, but the sector has made progress when exploring alternative ways to develop tourism, says Gao Zhihong, Party secretary of the city of Dali.
In Shuanglang town, on the northeast shore of the lake, 485 restaurants and guesthouses reopened to capitalize on the first rush season of summer after the resumption of business late last year.
During the fallow 18 months, a sewage collection and treatment system was installed, telecommunication lines and solar water heaters were concealed, and roads and parking lots were improved-things that the local people didn’t have the time to do in the past. From January to July, the town received 1.19 million visits from Chinese and overseas guests, generating an income of more than 1 billion yuan ($139.8 million).
Zhao Yihai, president of the local inn industry association, says the visitor numbers are picking up, but business has not yet returned to its previous levels, because many potential visitors are not aware of the resumption of service. Since the first guesthouse opened in 2007, tourism has gradually grown to be one of the town’s main industries. A large number of residents work directly or indirectly in the field.
Zhao says the town’s economy was hit hard, but guesthouse operators have eventually overcome their aversions and have realized what a clean lake means to their life and business.
Jiang Cuocuo, enamored by the sunset and clouds there, started his guesthouse in 2013 and witnessed a spurt of visitors from 2014 to 2016.
The original drainage system was not sufficient to dispose of sewage generated by tourists. Fire engines had to be used to draw sewage out and take it to other places in the city of Dali for purification. The government had to encourage the operators to install sewage treatment facilities themselves, while investing on building a new sewage treatment plant and pipeline networks which have since been put into operation.
Jiang says he devoted his time to redesigning and renovating his guesthouse, and to reflect on how to improve client experience.
“Now I really cherish the opportunity to run a guesthouse here again,” he says.
“We stopped for a while, but the market and people’s demands keep growing,” Zhao says, adding that the local industry is cultivating cultural appeal based on the landscapes to make visitors stay longer and experience more of them.
Gao says the town has been inviting renowned artists to help cultivate a cultural tourism industry.
Source from http://english.yunnan.cn/html/2019/people_0905/17655.html
Bingzhongluo, which is called ‘A Heaven of Peace and Happiness’, is the most beautiful place in Nujiang Grand Canyon. When you walk on the Tea Horse Road of millennium, see the roaring Nujiang River running among the steep cliff and deep valley, splendid church and temple, tranquil villages, thick forest and towering snow mountain, you may lose yourself in the wonderful landscape.
Bingzhongluo is located in the north of Gongshan Derung and Nu Autonomous County of Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture, which is the core area of “three parallel river” formed by three mountains (Gaoligong mountain, Nushan mountain and Yunling mountain) in northwest Yunnan and three river (Nujiang river, Lancang river and Jinsha river).
Bingzhongluo is a place where multiple religions coexist and live harmoniously. There are Lamaism, Catholicism, Christianity and the folk religion that integrates primitive religion and Tibetan Buddhism, etc. Originally Bingzhongluo was the place where the Nu people lived. In the Daoguang period of the Qing dynasty, Tibetan Buddhism was brought into bingzhongluo by Tibetan lama and took root in it. After that, Tibetan people gradually migrated from Tibet, Deqin and Zhongdian(Shangrila) and became the main residents here.
Bingzhongluo represents the southernmost extent of the Tibetan culture, and the northernmost extent of Han Chinese influence in the valley. The local population includes Nu and Lisu people, as well as some Dulong. Even a Christian community exists, boasting a sizeable church down the hill from the town proper – but to get there you first have to pass by a Tibetan stupa.
By Bus
The only access to Bingzhongluo by road is from the south via Liuku, Fugong and Gongshan. A direct bus to Liuku leaves at 8 am every morning from the front of Yudong Hotel. It stops briefly at Gongshan, then long enough at Fugong for a quick lunch. Two buses leave from Liuku at 6:20 and 8:20, arriving in Bingzhongluo in the afternoon. The trip takes 8 hours though schedules sometimes vary so it’s best to check before buying your ticket.
By Car-rental
Yunnan Exploration Travel can provide the car-rental service for our clients with good vehicle and skilled driver.
The First Gulf of Nujiang River(怒江第一湾)
When Nujiang River flows through Ridan Village of Bingzhongluo, it is obstructed by Wangqing Grand Cliff so that Nujiang River is forced to flow in east-west trend instead of north-south trend. After running 300 meters, Nujiang River is cut off by Danla Mountain so it turn round from west to east. Hence the half-round gulf of Nujiang River.
Shimen Pass(石门关)
In the north of Bingzhongluo, two cliff straight up along the river bank and form a large stone pass in the height of 500 meters and in the width of 200 meters hence the name ‘Shimen Pass’. Shimen Pass is a stunning landscape lying on a beautiful slope along the river bank. The local people call it ‘Nayiqiang’. It is the essential way to get into Yunnan-Tibet.
Qiunatong(秋那桶)
It is the last village on the north end of the Nu river valley, as it continues north into Tibet, so it’s also the only route into Tibet. Qiunatong canyon is the most beautiful part of the Nujiang grand canyon, covered with dense virgin forest and numerous waterfalls.
Kantong Village(坎桶村)
Kantong village is located in the center of the First Gulf of Nujiang River. It is a little village of Nu people and Kantong means a place of long bamboo. The village is planted with peach trees. Every Spring, the peach blossoms pervade the village so that the local people call it ‘Peach Blossom Island’. There is the only suspension bridge that connects the village to the outside world.
Puhua Temple(普化寺)
Puhua Temple, a Tibetan Buddhist temple, plays an important role in this place. Inside the temple, there are 11 frescoes and 2000 ‘Songji’ in total.
Chongding Catholic Church(重丁教堂)
Zhongding Catholic Church is the most famous church in Bingzhongluo, built in 1904 and founded by a Frech missionary. There is a simple tomb behind the church where the founder missionary is buried.
Gongdang Holy Mountain(贡当神山)
Gongdang means white lion because its skyline shapes like a lion. Half up the hill, there are two viewing deck, one of which can overlook Bingzhongluo and another can overlook the First Gulf of Nujiang River.
Gawa Gapu Snow Mountain(嘎娃嘎普雪山)
‘Gawa Gapu’ means high snow mountain. With the altitude of 5128 meters, it is the highest peak in Bingzhongluo and Nujiang. As one of the most remote place in China, few people will come here so that the landscape is natural and wonderful here. On the foot of the snow mountain, there are villages of Dulong people and Nu people.
There are easy and beautiful walks to nearby villages along the Nujiang.
North Route:
Government Seat – Fota – Chongding Village(Catholic Church) – Huangjin Cave – Mani Stones – Shimen Pass – Sijitong – Wuli – Nidadang – Qiunatong – Naiqluo
West Route:
Government Seat – Xiangbala Site – Pamunai Fairy Cave – Gemaluo River – Dongfeng Christian Church – Puhua Temple – Chongding Village(Catholic Church) – Huangjin Cave – Mani Stones – Shimen Pass – Sijitong – Wuli – Nidadang – Qiunatong – Naiqluo
South Route:
Government Seat – Zidang Lake – The First Gulf of Nujiang River – Dala – Chala River
From October to April is the best tourism season. In October, shirts and coats will do. The Nujiang river in Spring Festival is the most beautiful season when the Biluo Snow Mountain is covered with white snow, and the water of the Nujiang river is gentle whose color is like jasper. In the spring, the flowers are in bloom. Summer is hot and rainy.
Liuku is the capital of Nujiang Prefecture. There are many guesthouses and the accommodation conditions are quite good. Fugong county and Gongshan county also can provide accommodation for tourists. Or you can live in the farmer’s house.
Biluo Snow Mountain
Biluo Snow mountain is one of the major mountain ranges in Hengduan Mountain in Yunnan. It faces Lan Cang River on the east, and stops at Nujiang River on the west. Biluo Snow mountain is also called the “Mountain of thousands of Waterfalls and lakes”, indicating the rich in the beautiful landscapes.
Gaoligong Mountain National Nature Reserve
It runs through the southern section of Hengduan Mountains from south to north. Covering a total area of 120,000 hectares with forest coverage of 85%. It is characterized by its natural landscape of biological and climate vertical belts, various types of vegetation, and a great variety of plants and animals.
► A police checkpoint cum ticket office just before Bingzhongluo will force you to cough up some dough for a ticket to the ‘scenic area’. Unless you can pass for a local or arrive late in the evening this will be unavoidable.
► If you go to visit the Dulong river or Qiunatong, prepare walking shoes.
► Take personal goods such as rain gear, sunscreen and medicine, etc.
► Respect the customs and habits of ethnic minorities.
►Due to the inconvenience of transportation, the best traveling way is car-rental.
6 Days Nujiang Grand Canyon Adventure with Bingzhongluo Hiking Tour
7 Days Nujiang Gaoli Gongshan Mountain Peak Hiking Tour from Bingzhongluo
9 Days Nujiang Grand Canyon Tour with Dulongjiang River Valley Hiking Adventure
12 Days Yunnan Three Parallel Rivers Overland Tour with Biluo and Meili Snow Mountains
20 Days Yunnan Three Parallel Rivers Adventure Trekking Tour
39 Days Yunnan 25 Ethnic Minorities Discovery and Photography Tour
Yuanyang Rice Terraces are the Hani ethnic minority’s masterpiece of ingenuity. In unique shapes and sizes with thousands of years of history, they form a mosaic of colorful and breathtaking landscapes of natural beauty. Known as a “land sculpture”, the terraced fields have been officially acknowledged by UNESCO as a World Cultural and Natural Heritage Site. There are three popular scenic areas: Duoyishu, Bada, and Laohuzui.
Yuanyang Rice Terraces has been a masterpiece of the ingenuity of the Hani people for generations. Southern Ailao Mountain, with this typical tiered landscape, is famed for its unique frontier scenery.
The Hani people’s ancestors came to this steep mountain area 2,500 years ago. In their struggle against the difficult terrain they successfully established the terraces, where they grew rice in order to make a living. The technology of developing fertile land on rugged mountain slopes didn’t spread all over China and Southeast Asia until 14th century. The creativity of the Hani people turned this mountain area into one of artistic beauty. In recognition, the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) emperor granted the title of ‘Skillful Sculptor’ to Hani people and their good reputation was passed down from generation to generation. At present, known as ‘land sculpture’ the terraced fields have been being officially acknowledged by UNESCO as a World Cultural and Natural Heritage site.
Hani terraced fields are magnificent and on a large-scale. They extend to many towns along the south bank of the Red River, such as Yuanyang, Lüchun and Jinping among others. With an area of more than 113 square kilometers (28,005.3 acres), the terrace in Yuanyang County is regarded as the core area of Hani terraces as the county is mountainous and the terraces built on the hillsides have a slope varying from 15 degrees to 75 degrees. The terraces rise by 3,000 steps forming a landscape that is rare both at home and abroad. In the main, the Yuanyang Hani terraces form three major scenic areas: Duoyishu scenic area, Bada scenic area and Laohuzui (the Tiger Mouth) scenic area. So many terraces set among vast forests, topped by an ocean of clouds create a magical, magnificent view.
Duoyishu Scenic Area is a 50-minute drive from Yuanyang. It is considered to be the best place to take pictures of the sunrise from the terraces. You are recommended to reach Duoyishu at dawn. As the sunlight appears on the horizon, it silhouettes the terraces and makes for an unforgettable moment. As the sun rises, the nearby village wakes up and people start walking on the ridge, presenting even more photo opportunities. When the sun rises over the mountain, everything is visible and clear, and the terraces glisten in the sunshine.
Bada is the best place to get the sunset scenery of Yuanyang Rice Terraces. The terraces extend from the base to the top of the mountain, like ladders to heaven. As the sun sets, the terraces change colors incessantly; first they are pink, then turn to a rosy hue, and later to dark red.The spectacular sunset over Yuangyang Rice Terraces The spectacular sunset over the rice terraces. There are 17 Hani minority villages in this area. It is enjoyable to explore the villages and to see the traditional mushroom-shaped architectures of the Hani people.
It is a 40-minute drive from Bada to Laohuzui. Laohuzui Scenic Area is situated in the core area of Yuangyang Rice Terraces. The 8.5 km2 (3.3 mi2) of rice terraces are more rugged and marvelous, looking like a natural picture painted by an artist.
Thousands of colorful layers extend for several kilometers and are dotted with trees. The best moment to enjoy the view of the marvelous rice terraces is during the sunset period.
The Hani Terraces are distributed over the Yuanyang, Red River, Lvchun and Jinping counties, mainly grouped around Xinjie Town (New Street Town). The major scenic sites are listed as follows:
Xinjie Town (新街镇): It is 30 kilometers away from Nansha Town which now holds the government seat of Yuanyang County. It is about 1,500 meters above sea level. Standing on some roofs, one can take pictures and have a view of a sea of clouds, sunsets and villages. Most photography-lovers stay there and leave for other scenic sites by renting a vehicle.
Qingkou (箐口): 8 kilometers away from Xinjie Town. Terraced fields can be seen everywhere in this site. Qingkou is a folk village, seated halfway down the hill. There are 150 families with more than 800 villagers. With the dense woods around it and the chorus of various kinds of birds, the original village represents the integrity of the ethnic culture of the Hani Terraces that comprises four elements: the forest, water, the terraces and the village. Walking along the flagged road, visitors can enjoy the masterpiece of the Hani Terraces culture. Visitors can enjoy the sight of farming and living facilities, such as the mushroom-shaped houses, Zhaishen wood, ditches, wooden cuts, water-powered roller for grinding grain, watermill, the building that houses the water-powered trip-hammer for husking rice, minority costumes, ploughs, harrows, hoes and looms.
In addition, two crystal springs named ‘White Dragon’ and ‘Longevity’ can be seen in the exhibition area.
Sheng Village (胜村): About 20 kilometers away from Xinjie Town. About half of the road to Xinjie is unpaved. There are some scenic spots nearby the country road, such as the Blue Dragon Teahouse, hills planted with tea, Beida village and Mali village. Mali village is also a typical Hani-type village with its special mushroom-shaped houses.
Sheng village is a great spot to see the Hani Terraces as well as a sea of clouds, and to enjoy local customs and practices. It is also a must-see place for photography.
Habo Village (哈播): 85 kilometers away from Xinjie Town. It is on the southern side of Xinjie Town. It is a good place to take pictures of the rising sun but few photographers go there as it’s a long way to go.
Village Fair: Yuanyang is an area mainly inhabited by minority nationality people, such as Hani, Yi, Dai and Miao. Therefore, in addition to the terraces, photography-lovers can take pictures of folk customs of the local people. Village fairs held in the big villages may be good places to go, such as Sheng, Niujiao, Majie and Shatuola Panzhihua villages.
Jianshui Ancient Town: It has unique folk houses and ethnic Hani customs.
Mengzi Ancient County: It is famous for a 100-year-old rail track and station, French-style houses, and Yunnan Rice Noodles.
The Stone Forest: Reputed as the “Stone Forest Museum”, it is the only karst stone forest in a subtropical plateau region in the world.
Besides the seasons, weather is also a crucial factor for taking pictures. The Yuanyang Terraces are located at the southern part of the Ailao Mountains, the valley of Red River and Tengtiao River. It is said that there are about 180 days with foggy conditions each year because of its wet climate. Therefore, it is necessary to know the weather information before departure.
Generally speaking, there are two best seasons in a year.
The first one is the spring sowing season from January to March. Before planting, the water-filled rice terraces are like thousands of mirrors reflecting the blue sky, green hills and mountains, or the sunrise and sunset, presenting a marvelous view.
The second one is the autumn harvest season from July to September. At this time, the bottom of the Ailao Mountains is golden yellow with rice. Rice terraces with different harvest times show different colors, either deep or light.
Compared with the autumn harvest season, pictures taken in the spring sowing season may be better because the lines between the water in the terraces and the ridges of the fields are clear and beautiful.
The best time for appreciating Yuanyang Rice Terraces is from January to March, when the terraces have been irrigated and the water in the fields reflects the sunshine, creating many colors.
In early spring (from late February to March), the terraces are decorated with lots of flowers, including pink peach blossom and white pear blossom.
Yuanyang lies at an altitude ranging from 140 meters along the Red River up to nearly 3000 meters above sea level in the Alao Mountains. The road to Yuanyang is very steep and winding. At present, the only way to get to Yuanyang is by road (private car or long distance bus).
To reach the final destination in Yuanyang – Yuanyang Rice Terraces, China Discovery suggests you use our private car service which can make everything easy for you. No matter you come from Kunming to Yuanyang or have a stop in Jianshui first and then get to Yuanyang, you’ll enjoy worry free transfer service with your own car. If you want to arrange the private service with private car or local travel guide, please feel free to contact our professional travel consultants.
If you are independent travelers, you usually travel from Kunming to Yuanyang directly, or travel from Jianshui to Yuanyang. Both buses arrive at Yuanyang Nansha County and Yuanyang Xinjie County. The distance between Kunming and Yuanyang is about 375 kilometers. Travelers can take long distance buses from Kunming South Bus Station to Xinjie Town at 10:20, 13:30, 19:30 and 20:00. It takes about 7 hours. The distance between Jianshui and Yuanyang is about 141 kilometers. Travelers can take long distance buses from Jianshui Bus Station to Yuanyang Nansha Station during 07:15~18:40. It takes about 3~3.5 hours.
The scenery of the terraced fields in Yuanyang is at its best from November to the following April. Taking a tour to Yuanyang Terraces in winter is amazing, since the fields are full of water, composing a colorful painting. We provide tourists with some tour routes to choose.
4 Days Long Street Banquet Festival and Yuanyang Rice Terraces Photography Tour
6 Days Kunming Shadian Muslim Tour with Yuanyang Rice Terraces and Jianshui Old Town
7 Days Yunnan Muslim Culture Tour with Shadian Mosque and Yuanyang Rice Terraces
1. Yuanyang lies on the Tropic of Cancer, so the climate is neither extremely hot nor cold. However, it is cooler in morning and evening, and the sun is very strong at noon. You should pay attention to sun protection. Moreover, T-shirts and shorts can be worn all year round, but you are advised to take a jacket.
2. It is very interesting to participate in a local country fair, during which the entire minority people dress in colorful ethnic costumes. It is very lively.
Laohuzui(Tiger Mouth)Rice Terraces scenic area mainly consists of Mengpin Village, Dongfu Village, Amengkong Village, Baoshan Village and etc. It got the name due to its shape. The zigzag highway traverses the cliff of the mountainside, and beats away a breach at one corner, which presents an image of tiger mouth.
With the precipitous gradient and the grandest layout, the Terraces are featured by the strong gradation and the wonderful color. Between two mountains is the whole valley and the gradient is above 70 degrees. Under the villages are green hills and trees, running water and villages. Layers of terraces vertically drop into river valley, which is pretty grand.
What’s more, it is the best place to enjoy natural landscape, manners and customs of of Yi people.
Laohuzui Rice Terraces, also called Tiger Month Rice Terraces or Mengpin Rice Terraces, is core area of Cultural Landscape of Honghe Hani Rice Terraces, the 45th World Heritage Site of China which announced by UNESCO in 2013.
With an area of 460 hectare, Laohuzui Rice Terraces consists of Mengpin Village, Dongfu Village, Baoshanzhai Village, Amengkong Village, etc. It is the steepest, the grandest, the most magnificent Rice Terrace among all the rice terraces of Yuanyang. Besides, it has strong layering, three-dimensional sense, contrast color, making Laohuzui Rice Terrace a beautiful Chinese painting. Laohuzui Rice Terraces is the best site for SUNSET.
Recent news: Due to the collapse caused by the sudden mud-rock flow and heavy rain in Yuanyang, the Tiger Mouth Rice Terraces is temporarily closed. At present, Duoyishu scenic area and Bada scenic area are still opening to the public. We will update the news once we get the official notice of the reopening of the Tiger Mouth Rice Terraces.
Mengpin Village is in a mountain area. Planting, cultivation and tourism are characteristic industries there. Natural beauty, rural custom and terraces make there a fantastic picture.
Looking to the west, you will see three mountains of backbone in which more than 2000 mu terraces of Amengkong stretch from the South to the West. Suddenly high or low, suddenly big or small, suddenly bending or straightening, terraces are like big dragons waving in the sunset.
Terraces of Baoshan Village has one of the best beauties of lines, figures and stereoscopy.
Many photographers said that Laohuzui Rice Terraces has the most magnificent rural scenery. So, many travelers from home and abroad head to the remote Yuanyang for the most spectacular rice terrace scenery.
Standing on the top of Laohuzui Rice Terraces, travelers can have panoramic view of the rice paddies which presents you a blooming white flower in front of you. When the sun goes down and the light gets dim, the whole rice terraces is turning into blue as clear and bright as mirrors, and then turning into golden. When the sunglow shows, the rice paddies is turning into pink, rosy, dark red…Different color changes in a very short time and Laohuzui Rice Terraces shows you amazing rice paddies like magic.
There are two viewing decks of Laohuzui Rice Terraces, one is located at a higher location near the road and one is located in the middle of the hill. Travelers standing at the higher viewing deck can have panoramic view of the whole Laohuzui Rice Terraces and travelers getting down to the lower viewing deck can shoot the essence of Loahuzui – sometimes like two horses galloping quickly, sometimes like millions of snakes wriggling, sometimes like a white flower blooming…
The sun goes down during 18:00~20:00 in Laohuzui Rice Terraces. In the spring time (March to May), it is usually during 19:10~19:50, in summer (June to August) at 19:25~19:57, in autumn (September to November) at 18:20~19:26 and in winter (December to February) at 18:20~19:11. If you are professional photographers, you’d better get to Bada Rice Terraces before 16:00 to find a good location (lower viewing deck is recommended) for some great pictures with rice terraces, sea of clouds and sunset.
The best moment to enjoy the marvelous rice terraces view is the sunset period. In addition, the sunrise and cloud sea in Laohuzui are also very beautiful.
From November to April, the terraces are in irrigation period. Most amazing pictures on the Internet are shooted at that time. In May, the Laohuzui rice fields turn into green from yellow, right after the farmers did the rice seedlings at the end of spring.
Laohuzui Rice Terraces is about 20 kilometers from Xinjie Town (the old town of Yuanyang), 50 kilometers from Nansha Town (the new town of Yuanyang) and about 375 kilometers from Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province. To reach Laohuzui Rice Terraces, travelers can take long distance buses to Xinjie Town or Nansha Town first and then take local minibus to this rice terraces.
● About 5 kilometers from Bada Rice Terrace
● About 7.2 kilometers from Duoyishu Rice Terrace
● About 4.8 kilometers from Jingkou Folk Village
Kunming to Yuanyang: From Kunming South Bus Station, there are direct long distance buses to Yuanyang Xinjie Town, running schedules around 10:20, 13:30, 19:30 and 20:00. There are buses at 09:05, 12:30 and 18:30 from Yuanyang Xinjie Town to Kunming. It takes about 7 hours between Kunming and Yuanyang.
Nansha Town/Xinjie Town to Bada Rice Terraces: Travelers may take long distance buses to Nansha Town or Xinjie Town from Kunming, Jianshui, and no matter which station you arrive at, travelers can take local minibus to Laohuzui Rice Terraces. It takes about 1 hour from Nansha Town to Xinjie Town and 30 minutes from Xinjie Town to Laohuzui Rice Terraces. (Please Note: It is recommended to use our private car service to reach several rice terraces including Laohuzui Rice Terrace. If you are an independent traveler, you can try to hire a local minibus to cover all the highlighted rice terraces in one day which costs around 300 Yuan per day.)
It is better to arrange two or three hours to visit Laohuzui Rice Terraces. We provide tourists with some tour routes to choose.
Kunming South Passenger Station: departing for Yuanyang, Xinjie Twon, at 10:20/12:30/19:00 every day, CNY 139 per, lasting 5 to 6 hours. Then you can rent a car to reach Laohuzui Rice Terraces, CNY 5~10 yuan per.
Take a chartered car: CNY 300 a day to visit around Yuanyang Rice Terraces, and about CNY 100 to get to Laohuzui Rice Terraces.
Take the regular bus from Kunming to Nansha county, then take the mini bus to Xinjie town(CNY 10 per, departing from 7:00~20:00). From Xinjie town to the entrance of the Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces or from the entrance to each scenic spot, you can rent a car to go, CNY 5~10 per.
Kunming East Passenger Station: leaving for Jianshui or Gejiu and costing CNY 85 per and 3 or 4 hours and a half. And train from Kunming to Jianshui is also available. Then you can take a regular bus to Yuanyang, CNY 16-32 per.
1 Day Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces Hiking Tour from Duoyishu to Laohuzui
6 Days Kunming Yuanyang Jianshui Photography Tour with Honghe Hani Rice Terraces
10 Days Southeast Yunnan Family Tour with Ethnic Culture, Rice Terraces, Mushroom House & Butterfly Valley
Hani people would celebrate some traditional festivals, like Hani New Year, Kuzhazha Festival, etc.
Hani New Year is like the Spring Festival of Han. It takes place in the first Dragon Day of the 10th lunar month each year and lasts 5 to 6 days and even as long as 13 days. Every family would prepare chicken, pork to worship their ancestors and family members gather together to enjoy the union. In the last day of the New Year, a Long Table Banquet will be arranged and tables will be laid in the street which can extend to one kilometer long. Each family will serve the most sumptuous dishes to fill up a table and enjoy the banquet together.
Kuzhazha Festival takes place from lunar June 23 to 26 and every family makes sticky rice, sets the feast, makes fresh rice and worships the ancestor.
Ticket One: It is valid for 3 days. It is 100 Yuan for per person, including four scenic spots Jingkou Folk Village, Bada Rice Terraces, Duoyishu Rice Terraces and Laohuzui Rice Terraces (Tiger Mouth Rice Terraces).
Ticket Two: It is valid for 10 days. It is 180 Yuan for per person, including four scenic spots Jingkou Folk Village, Bada Rice Terraces, Duoyishu Rice Terraces and Laohuzui Rice Terraces (Tiger Mouth Rice Terraces).
Ticket Three: It belongs to annual ticket which is valid for one year. It is about 360 Yuan per person, including four scenic spots Jingkou Folk Village, Bada Rice Terraces, Duoyishu Rice Terraces and Laohuzui Rice Terraces (Tiger Mouth Rice Terraces).
There is one 3-star hotel called Yuanyang Yunti Hotel in Xinjie Town and travelers are recommended to spend your night there. Besides, there are many hostels in Xinjie Town and other scenic areas and if you want to find a hostel with basic facilities close to the scenic area, you’ve got a lot of choice.
Laohuzui Rice Terraces has two viewing areas, one high up near the access road that has recently been enclosed by a 200-meter fence. The upper area is easy to become a noisy traffic jam before sunset, when tour buses, private cars and trucks clog the narrow road outside the other upper viewing area.
No matter which platform you choose, it is advisable to show up for at least an hour before sunset to get a good spot. There is also a lower area that can be reached after walking down a set of switchbacks. You may want to skip the lower platform if you have bad knees as the climb back up is fairly strenuous.
The visitors usually set off to Laohuzui Rice Terraces after 4:30 pm, you can check out the time of sunset on the Internet or ask the local people.
The weather forecast of Yuanyang on the Internet may be not exact because the weather of the rice terraces area is always changeable and unpredictable.
The temperature here varies greatly between day and night. Please pay attention to keep warm especially in early morning or at night.
Longshuba Rice terraces is different from other terraces because the oxygen in the water of the fields varies from other fields which lead to the rapid growth of red duckweed. The main color of the fields are red, green and yellow. It presents its beauty vividly around the Spring Festival as the duckweed expands to the maximum range with the breathtaking beauty. The village is surrounded by the silver terraces in the sunlight. The terraces are just like a colorful palette with red, white, green, yellow and black.
Longshuba Village belongs to Xinjie Town, Yuanyang County, Honghe Prefecture, located in mountain area, a great place for planting rice, vegetables and various fruits. It’s 5 kilometers away from the town center. It’s famous for the red fields with red duckweed. The fields is rich in color at sunset and really worth pushing the bottom of your camera. The unique scenery at the time is extremely infectious and enjoyable. It attracts thousands of photographers flock here.
There are numerous villages that one can visit to enjoy the fabulous rice terraces in Yuanyang such as Duoyishu (for sunrise), Bada , Longshuba and Laohuzui (for sunset). They are close to the main road connecting them and can be easily and cheaply visited by either public transport or charter. From these viewpoints, the rice terraces are similarly impressive with only minor differences eg. the terraces are flatter with more mushroom-shaped thatched dwellings in Qingkou (the only village with entrance fee of 15 RMB) while the terrace plots are smaller but more packed at Laohuzui.
Yuanyang boast a wide variety of ethnic minorities. Other than Han’s, Hani’s and Yi’s are the next biggest minorities; there are also Miao’s, Zhuang’s, Dai’s and so on. In fact most of the terraces in Yuanyang are carved by the Hani minority over the centuries. The Hani’s also exported the rice terrace cultivation, method and culture to the rest of South East Asia many centuries ago. Most of the minorities still go about their everyday life dressed in their traditional costumes (mainly the females). The best opportunity to see them in their splendor is during the various Market Days (see Market Day article).
Apart from rice terraces, it is just as exciting to see the various ethnic minorities, still garbed in their traditional costumes. Furthermore one can also see the various unique festivals and traditions of the minorities, especially during the lunar New Year period (see article on “Dragon Feast”)
Chinese tourists make their way in various means- be it chartered vehicles or self-drive- to the sunrise spots as early as 5am. Parked vehicles will form long lines at these places and people jostle for every vantage point to locate their tripods. It is all fun and very festive in atmosphere but the pandemonium will last only till the sun is above the horizon. People start dispersing when the sun is above the hills. The majority will head for their breakfast and then maybe another location for photography. Then it is afternoon nap before heading out to photographing sunset again. Afternoons are definitely quiet in and around Yuanyang.
One of the best ways to get close to the people and enjoy the views is to walk from one village to another. There are walking paths that connect all the villages, away from the main road. These paths follow the contour of the hills and some of them criss-cross the terraces. One may have to engage a guide to avoid getting lost especially since most of the villagers do not speak Putonghua. On such walks, one will be able to see the terraces in a different perspective from the road. Furthermore there are a couple of villages and viewpoints (such as 麻栗寨) that are simply breathtaking and accessible only by walking.
The best moment to enjoy the marvelous rice terraces view is the sunset period. In addition, the sunrise and cloud sea in Longshuba Rice Terraces are also very beautiful.
From November to April, the terraces are in irrigation period. Most amazing pictures on the Internet are shooted at that time. In May, the rice fields turn into green from yellow, right after the farmers did the rice seedlings at the end of spring.
Laohuzui(Tiger Mouth)Rice Terraces scenic area mainly consists of Mengpin Village, Dongfu Village, Amengkong Village, Baoshan Village and etc. It got the name due to its shape. The zigzag highway traverses the cliff of the mountainside, and beats away a breach at one corner, which presents an image of tiger mouth. With the precipitous gradient and the grandest layout, the Terraces are featured by the strong gradation and the wonderful color. Between two mountains is the whole valley and the gradient is above 70 degrees. Under the villages are green hills and trees, running water and villages. Layers of terraces vertically drop into river valley, which is pretty grand.
Bada Rice Terraces Scenic Area is a bright pearl in the tourism of Yuanyang, which includes Quanfuzhuang Rice Terraces, Malizhai Rice Terraces, Bada Rice Terraces and Shangmadian Rice Terraces. There, what you can enjoy is the natural landscape, humanities and ethnic flavor of Hani people since thousands of them have been living there generation after generation.
Duoyishu Rice Terraces Scenic Area got its name from the local Duoyi, a beautiful place inhabited by Hani people. It is composed of Duoyishu Rice Terraces, Huangcaoling Rice Terraces, Aichun Rice Terraces and Pugaolao Village, etc. The altitude of Duoyishu Village is over 1,700 meters. The 9,700 acres’ of terraces below the village is the best spot to watch the sunrise. Early in the morning, when the bright sun comes up to the top of the mountain, sunglow lights half of the sky, and then the full mountain of terraces are glittering. It seems that the mountain is wearing such a colorful dress that it dazzles people’s eyes.
Kunming to Yuanyang: From Kunming South Bus Station, there are direct long distance buses to Yuanyang Xinjie Town, running schedules around 10:20, 13:30, 19:30 and 20:00. There are buses at 09:05, 12:30 and 18:30 from Yuanyang Xinjie Town to Kunming. It takes about 7 hours between Kunming and Yuanyang.
Nansha Town/Xinjie Town to Longshuba Rice Terraces: Travelers may take long distance buses to Nansha Town or Xinjie Town from Kunming, Jianshui, and no matter which station you arrive at, travelers can take local minibus to Longshuba Rice Terraces. It takes about 1 hour from Nansha Town to Xinjie Town and 30 minutes from Xinjie Town to Longshuba Rice Terraces. (Please Note: It is recommended to use our private car service to reach several rice terraces including Longshuba Rice Terrace. If you are an independent traveler, you can try to hire a local minibus to cover all the highlighted rice terraces in one day which costs around 300 Yuan per day.)
It is better to arrange two or three hours to visit Longshuba Rice Terraces. We provide tourists with some tour routes to choose.
2 Days Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces Tour at a glance
3 Days Yuanyang Rice Terrace Photography Group Tour
6 Days Kunming Yuanyang Jianshui Photography Tour with Honghe Hani Rice Terraces
Hani people would celebrate some traditional festivals, like Hani New Year, Kuzhazha Festival, etc.
Hani New Year is like the Spring Festival of Han. It takes place in the first Dragon Day of the 10th lunar month each year and lasts 5 to 6 days and even as long as 13 days. Every family would prepare chicken, pork to worship their ancestors and family members gather together to enjoy the union. In the last day of the New Year, a Long Table Banquet will be arranged and tables will be laid in the street which can extend to one kilometer long. Each family will serve the most sumptuous dishes to fill up a table and enjoy the banquet together.
Kuzhazha Festival takes place from lunar June 23 to 26 and every family makes sticky rice, sets the feast, makes fresh rice and worships the ancestor.
There is one 3-star hotel called Yuanyang Yunti Hotel in Xinjie Town and travelers are recommended to spend your night there. Besides, there are many hostels in Xinjie Town and other scenic areas and if you want to find a hostel with basic facilities close to the scenic area, you’ve got a lot of choice.
The visitors usually set off to Longshuba Rice Terraces after 4:30 pm, you can check out the time of sunset on the Internet or ask the local people.
The weather forecast of Yuanyang on the Internet may be not exact because the weather of the rice terraces area is always changeable and unpredictable.
The temperature here varies greatly between day and night. Please pay attention to keep warm especially in early morning or at night.
The news was updated on September 4, 2019.
The annual Jianchuan Shibaoshan Song Festival was held in Shibao Mountain, Jianchuan County in west Yunnan’s Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture from August 27 to 29. And an American girl from the United States joined this year’s event and sang songs in Bai language.
The Shibaoshan Song Festival dates back to more than 1,000 years ago. It is the cradle of the folk music of Bai people, and a platform for folk art exchange and inheritance.
According to the American girl, when she first came to Jianchuan ten years ago, she was enchanted by the Bai language and music. So she decided to stay and learn from local artists. Now she can not only speak the Bai language, but also sing the Bai tune.
As a traditional celebration as well as a collective exhibition of the folk customs in west Yunnan, the Shibaoshan Song Festival was inscribed into China’s National Intangible Cultural Heritage List in 2008. When the event comes, tens of thousands of people gather in Shibao Mountain, singing, dancing, making friends and praying for good fortune.
Source from http://english.yunnan.cn/html/2019/people_0904/17645.html
Bada Rice Terraces, a part of Honghe Hani Rice Terraces, was listed as World Heritage Site in 2013. The 950-hectare Bada Rice Terraces is like the ladders to the heaven with over 3700 levels, rising up from 800 meters to 2000 meters. Hence, the words “Vast”, “Magnificent”, “Beautiful Curved Lines” and “Stereoscopic” can be used to describe Bada Rice Terraces. There are some villages including Quanfuzhuang, Malizhai, Bada, Shangmadian surrounded by the rice terraces and travelers can have panoramic view of the beautiful villages when shooting the rice paddies.
Bada Rice Terraces Scenic Area is a bright pearl in the tourism of Yuanyang, which includes Quanfuzhuang Rice Terraces, Malizhai Rice Terraces, Bada Rice Terraces and Shangmadian Rice Terraces. There, what you can enjoy is the natural landscape, humanities and ethnic flavor of Hani people since thousands of them have been living there generation after generation.
It is the best place to entertain the spectacular scenery with stereoscopic and curved line, and also the great attraction to have a profound knowledge, analyses and understanding of the Hani culture. With over 3700 levels, endless terraces are like ladders up to the heaven, rising up from the 800 meters of Malizhai River to 2000 meters of the summit of the mountain. Glittering and shimmering, under the sun, the Terraces are just like a mysterious wonderland.
The words “Magnificent”, “Spectacular”, “Grand” cannot express “Bada Rice Terraces” fully. At the dusk, when the sun shines on the 950 hectares rice paddies rising from 800 meters to 2000 meters, the magnificent scene forms, like the latters toward heaven. In the winter time after autumn harvest, the rice terraces are filled with water and when sunset glow shines upon the paddies, the 3700 level terraces first turns pink, then rosy and later dark red, pink, golden and white….The sea of clouds over Bada Rice Terraces add more mysterious feel and when standing on the top of the rice paddies and looking down and around, you only have to say “This is the most spectacular rice paddies I have ever seen”. That’s the magic of Bada Rice Terraces.
Bada Rice Terraces has two viewing decks that offer views at similar heights but different lateral perspectives. One viewing platform faces the sun directly and when you take pictures of the rice paddies, the ridges of the rice terraces line in vertical scene. While, the other viewing platform offers side view of the spectacular rice paddies. There is a footpath from the first viewing deck leading to the second viewing deck. Travelers or photographers can try both locations to photograph amazing pictures.
The sun goes down during 18:00~20:00. In the spring time (March to May), it is usually during 19:10~19:50, in summer (June to August) at 19:25~19:57, in autumn (September to November) at 18:20~19:26 and in winter (December to February) at 18:20~19:11. If you are professional photographers, you’d better get to Bada Rice Terraces at 16:00 and find a good location for some great pictures with rice terraces, sea of clouds, Hani villages and sunset.
Travelers can come all the year round and for photographers, the best time is from November to March of next year.
Dusk: At dusk, it’s best to appreciate Bada Rice Terraces. When the sun shines on the rice paddies of 950 hectares from 800 meters to 2000 meters, the amazing view may shock or thrill you.
Winter: Visiting Bada Rice Terraces in winter is definitely a perfect trip. The rice terraces are full of water after autumn harvest; when sunset glows softly upon the paddies, the terraces first turns pink, then rosy and later dark red, pink, golden and white at length.
Bada Rice Terraces is about 16 kilometers from Xinjie Town (the old town), 46 kilometers from Nansha Town (the new town) and about 375 kilometers from Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province. Travelers can take bus from Kunming to Yuanyang Xinjie Town or Nansha Town first and then transfer to Bada Rice Terrace from Xinjie Town by local minibus.
● About 5 kilometers from Laohuzui Rice Terrace
● About 2.7 kilometers from Duoyishu Rice Terrace
● About 2.5 kilometers from Jingkou Folk Village
Kunming to Yuanyang: From Kunming South Bus Station, there are direct long distance buses to Yuanyang Xinjie Town, running schedules around 10:20, 13:30, 19:30 and 20:00. There are buses at 09:05, 12:30 and 18:30 from Yuanyang Xinjie Town to Kunming. It takes about 7 hours between Kunming and Yuanyang.
Nansha Town/Xinjie Town to Bada Rice Terraces: Travelers may take long distance buses to Nansha Town or Xinjie Town from Kunming, Jianshui, and no matter which station you arrive at, travelers can take local minibus to Bada Rice Terraces. It takes about 1 hour from Nansha Town to Xinjie Town and 20 minutes from Xinjie Town to Bada Rice Terraces.
It is better to arrange two or three hours to visit Bada Rice Terraces, we provides tourists with some tour routes to choose.
Kunming South Passenger Station: departing for Yuanyang, Xinjie Twon, at 10:20/12:30/19:00 every day, CNY 139 per, lasting 5 to 6 hours. Then you can rent a car to reach Laohuzui Rice Terraces, CNY 5~10 yuan per.
Take a chartered car: CNY 300 a day to visit around Yuanyang Rice Terraces, and about CNY 100 to get to Laohuzui Rice Terraces.
Take the regular bus from Kunming to Nansha county, then take the mini bus to Xinjie town(CNY 10 per, departing from 7:00~20:00). From Xinjie town to the entrance of the Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces or from the entrance to each scenic spot, you can rent a car to go, CNY 5~10 per.
Kunming East Passenger Station: leaving for Jianshui or Gejiu and costing CNY 85 per and 3 or 4 hours and a half. And train from Kunming to Jianshui is also available. Then you can take a regular bus to Yuanyang, CNY 16-32 per.
1 Day Yuanyang Bada Hani Rice Terraces Hiking Tour
6 Days XishuangBanna Tea Mountain Hiking Tour to Bada, Zhanglang, Xiding and Nannuo Tea Mountain
Bada Rice Terraces has two viewing decks that offer views at similar heights but different lateral perspectives. One viewing platform is faced with the sun directly so when you take photos of the rice paddies, the ridges of the rice terraces are in vertical scene. The other platform displays the side view of paddies. Between two viewing decks, there is a footpath. Either of them is a good choice for photographers.
Hani people would celebrate some traditional festivals, like Hani New Year, Kuzhazha Festival, etc.
Hani New Year is like the Spring Festival of Han. It takes place in the first Dragon Day of the 10th lunar month each year and lasts 5 to 6 days and even as long as 13 days. Every family would prepare chicken, pork to worship their ancestors and family members gather together to enjoy the union. In the last day of the New Year, a Long Table Banquet will be arranged and tables will be laid in the street which can extend to one kilometer long. Each family will serve the most sumptuous dishes to fill up a table and enjoy the banquet together.
Kuzhazha Festival takes place from lunar June 23 to 26 and every family makes sticky rice, sets the feast, makes fresh rice and worships the ancestor.
Ticket One: It is valid for 3 days. It is 100 Yuan for per person, including four scenic spots Jingkou Folk Village, Bada Rice Terraces, Duoyishu Rice Terraces and Laohuzui Rice Terraces (Tiger Mouth Rice Terraces).
Ticket Two: It is valid for 10 days. It is 180 Yuan for per person, including four scenic spots Jingkou Folk Village, Bada Rice Terraces, Duoyishu Rice Terraces and Laohuzui Rice Terraces (Tiger Mouth Rice Terraces).
Ticket Three: It belongs to annual ticket which is valid for one year. It is about 360 Yuan per person, including four scenic spots Jingkou Folk Village, Bada Rice Terraces, Duoyishu Rice Terraces and Laohuzui Rice Terraces (Tiger Mouth Rice Terraces).
There is one 3-star hotel called Yuanyang Yunti Hotel in Xinjie Town and travelers are recommended to spend your night there. Besides, there are many hostels in Xinjie Town and other scenic areas and if you want to find a hostel with basic facilities close to the scenic area, you’ve got a lot of choice.
The weather forecast of Yuanyang on the Internet may be not exact because the weather of the rice terraces area is always changeable and unpredictable.
The temperature here varies greatly between day and night. Please pay attention to keep warm especially in early morning and at night.
Walk from Yuanyang Xinjie Town into Yuanyang Terraced Fields, Qingkou Rice Terraces is at the first sight. The viewing deck of Qingkou Rice Terraces is by the highway. It covers an area of almost 10000mu. The field is just like a sea with twinkling water ripples and it changes all the time. The fields descend down layer by layer. The ridges of the fields show a exquisite outlines of the fields with large-scale red duckweed which makes the fields colorful. The beauty of the terraces are beyond words.
Forest, streams, Villages and terraces are what Hani people cherish. They till the land not to conquer the nature but to accept the “gift” given by God and strike for the harmony of human and nature. Thus, they can create the masterpiece- terraces.
Qingkou is a typical Hani Village, which consists of 150 families and has a population of 800 of Hani ethnic minority.This Hani village is mainly presents the common characteristics of the Hani Terraced Fields culture. It maintain an integrated ecosystem among the forest, water system, villages and terraced field. Having been properly exploiting and comprehensively using the natural resources for hundreds of years, it is regarded as a model village in promoting the agricultural development. It not only protects its ecological balance but also promotes its development and civilization. There is also a museum established to showcase the history and culture of Hani people.
The village is shrouded in luxuriant forests where you can here the humming birds and cicadas in summer and experience the primitiveness.Walking around the village along the stone path, you can see the change of time as well as the local unchanged life on magnificent terrace fields. The earth-made houses on the both side of path are well ranked, whose housetop looks like a big mushroom. These houses are called mushroom houses, which are the traditional residences of Hani people. They are comprised of earth-made walls, bamboo or wood frameworks and straw housetops.
The best moment to enjoy the marvelous rice terraces view is the sunset period. In addition, the sunrise and cloud sea in Laohuzui are also very beautiful.
From November to April, the terraces are in irrigation period. Most amazing pictures on the Internet are shooted at that time. In May, the rice fields turn into green from yellow, right after the farmers did the rice seedlings at the end of spring.
1. You can take the regular bus from Kunming to Yuanyang in Kunming South Passenger Station at 10:20/12:30/19:00 every day, CNY 139 per, lasting 5 to 6 hours.
2. You can take the regular bus from Kunming to Nansha county then take the mini bus to Xinjie town(CNY 10 per, departing from 7:00~20:00). From Xinjie town to the entrance of the Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces or from the entrance to each scenic spot, you can rent a car to go, CNY 5~10 yuan per.
3. Or you can choose another route to get to Yuanyang: Kunming – Jianshui/Gejiu – Yuanyang.
It is better to arrange two or three hours to visit Rice Terraces. We provide tourists with some tour routes to choose.
3 Days Jianshui and Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces Group Tour
6 Days Kunming Yuanyang Jianshui Photography Tour with Honghe Hani Rice Terraces
8 Days Yunnan Photography Tour with Dongchuan Red Land and Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces
• The day ticket is CNY 100 (including Duoyishu, Bada, Laohuzui Scenic Areas and Jingkou Folk village).
• The through ticket is CNY 180 ( you can visit the above four scenic areas in ten days of validity).
• The annual ticket is CNY 360 ( you can visit the above four scenic areas in one year of validity).
There are many hostels in Xinjie Town. If you arrange your accommodation in Xinjie Town, you should take a mini bus to arrive at each scenic area. Apart from Xinjie town, you can also stay at Duoyishu Rice Terraces Scenic Area and Shengcun Village where various hostels and inns are located. The hostel are decorated in Hani ethnic style and offer great chance to view the beautiful rice terraces through windows.
The visitors usually set off to Laohuzui Rice Terraces after 4:30 pm, you can check out the time of sunset on the Internet or ask the local people.
The weather forecast of Yuanyang on the Internet may be not exact because the weather of the rice terraces area is always changeable and unpredictable.
The temperature here varies greatly between day and night. Please pay attention to keep warm especially in early morning or at night.
Duoyishu Rice Terraces, part of Honghe Hani Rice Terraces, was listed as World Heritage Site in 2013. This scenic area is the best site to watch sunrise over the vast rice paddies, sea of clouds and enjoy harmonious Hani folk life.
There is a ballad going in Yuanyang “If you travel to Yunnan, you should go to Yuanyang for the rice terrace together with the sea of clouds make it a mysterious wonderland”. If you come to Yuanyang, you should never miss Duoyishu Rice Terraces for the amazing sunrise which makes you never want to leave. Duoyishu Rice Terraces, part of Honghe Rice Terraces, was listed as World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2013. It is marked by spectacular terraces that cascade down the slopes of towering Aliao Mountain to the banks of the Hong River. Over the past 1300 years, the Hani people have developed a complex system of channels to bring water from the forested mountaintops to terraces. The rice terraces is a testimonial to demonstrate extraordinary harmony between Hani people and their environment, both visually and ecologically.
Duoyishu Rice Terraces scenic area has 400 hectare which is composed of Huangcaoling, Duoyishu, Aichun, Dawazhe, etc. When the sun rises over the surrounded mountains, the rice terraces change its color into golden, shining brilliantly. The mysterious sea of clouds, special mushroom houses and beautiful rice paddies and working Hani people are very harmony.
Duoyishu Rice Terraces Scenic Area got its name from the local Duoyi, a beautiful place inhabited by Hani people. It is composed of Duoyishu Rice Terraces, Huangcaoling Rice Terraces, Aichun Rice Terraces and Pugaolao Village, etc. The altitude of Duoyishu Village is over 1,700 meters. The 9,700 acres’ of terraces below the village is the best spot to watch the sunrise.
Early in the morning, when the bright sun comes up to the top of the mountain, sunglow lights half of the sky, and then the full mountain of terraces are glittering. It seems that the mountain is wearing such a colorful dress that it dazzles people’s eyes.
The terraces here are always lost in the cloud and mist. The sea of clouds appears hither and thither and varies quickly. It is over the high mountain and on the next moment, it suddenly disappears without a trace. In the process of waiting, you will marvel at the extremely wonderful scenery and natural masterpiece, and you will be thrilled at the hard work of generations of Hani people.
Duoyishu Rice Terraces is the best site to watch sunrise over the rice fields. In the early morning, the sunglow appears splendidly over the mountains and just a few minutes later, the gentle sun begins to show up and rise slowly over the top of the mountains. When the sun rises up the 6000-mu Duoyishu Rice Terraces, the whole villages turns bright and the vast rice terraces look like a mirror, radiating the rays of golden light. What makes Duoyishu sunrise the most beautiful is not only the golden rice terraces, but also the mysterious sea of cloud and Hani people’s mushroom-like houses. No matter you are photographers or not, catch the best moment to keep the amazing Duoyishu Rice Terrace sunrise with your camera.
There are two view decks of Duoyishu Rice Terraces, one is located on the top of the Pugao Old Village, close to the Duoyishu Ticket Booth and the other one is located in Pugao Old Village, very close to the rice terraces. It is suggested that use the higher viewing deck to watch the sun rises over the mountain and photograph the brilliant rice terrace scene. And if you have more time, you can take a walk down to the village and reach the lower deck to catch more beautiful scenery. From the lower deck, travelers can hike down the paddy rice terraces and have more memorable time in the mysterious village.
The sun rises up during 06:00~07:30 and usually around 07:00 in the spring time. If you are professional photographers, you’d better get up at 05:00 and arrive at the viewing decks around 05:30 to find a good location. Otherwise, travelers can come around 06:30.
To capture the magnificent Duoyishu Rice Terrace, it is good to use wide angle (14mm~24mm, 17mm~35mm) and telephoto lenses (70mm~200mm or above). A tripod and lens hood will make your pictures perfect when shooting sunrise over the rice paddies. Also, polarizer and gradual change grey color lenses will help you get better terrace pictures. The weather of Duoyishu changes a lot and it is good to take waterproofing and damp proofing measure. And you’d better ask more advice from your photography guide.
November to Next April: The best season to visit is from November to next April because the terraces are in irrigation period at that time. Both season has its own charm in Duoyishu Rice Terraces. In spring, local Hani people and cattle are working in the fields, and the whole terraces turn into green. In summer, the sea of clouds over the rice terraces is changeable but more charming.
It is better to arrange 2 or 3 hours to visit Duoyishu Rice Terraces, we provide tourists with some tour routes to choose.
1. Nansha Town/Xinjie Town to Duoyishu Rice Terraces: Travelers may take long distance buses to Nansha Town or Xinjie Town from Kunming, Jianshui, and no matter which station you arrive at, travelers can take local minibus to Duoyishu Rice Terraces. It takes about 1 hour from Nansha Town to Xinjie Town and 0.5 hour from Xinjie Town to Duoyishu Rice Terraces.
Take the regular bus from Kunming to Nansha county, then take the mini bus to Xinjie town(CNY 10 per, departing from 7:00~20:00). From Xinjie town to the entrance of the Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces or from the entrance to each scenic spot, you can rent a car to go, CNY 5~10 per.
Kunming East Passenger Station: leaving for Jianshui or Gejiu and costing CNY 85 per and 3 or 4 hours and a half. And train from Kunming to Jianshui is also available. Then you can take a regular bus to Yuanyang, CNY 16-32 per.
1 Day Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces Hiking Tour from Duoyishu to Laohuzui
1 Day Yuanyang Duoyishu Hani Rice Terraces Hiking Tour with Hani,Yi Ethnic Villages and Mushroom Houses
3 Days Yuanyang Rice Terrace Photography Group Tour
Duoyishu Rice Terraces is about 27 kilometers from Xinjie Town, 57kilometers from Nansha Town and about 375 kilometers from Kunming. Travelers can take bus from Kunming to Yuanyang Xinjie Town (the old town) or Nansha Town (the new town) first and then transfer to Duoyishu Rice Terrace from Xinjie Town by local minibus.
● About 7.2 kilometers from Laohuzui Rice Terrace
● About 2.7 kilometers from Bada Rice Terrace
● About 5 kilometers from Jingkou Folk Village
Kunming to Yuanyang: From Kunming South Bus Station, there are direct long distance buses to Yuanyang Xinjie Town, running schedules around 10:20, 13:30, 19:30 and 20:00. There are buses at 09:05, 12:30 and 18:30 from Yuanyang Xinjie Town to Kunming. It takes about 7 hours between Kunming and Yuanyang.
Nansha Town/Xinjie Town to Duoyishu Rice Terraces: Travelers may take long distance buses to Nansha Town or Xinjie Town from Kunming, Jianshui, and no matter which station you arrive at, travelers can take local minibus to Duoyishu Rice Terraces. It takes about 1 hour from Nansha Town to Xinjie Town and 0.5 hour from Xinjie Town to Duoyishu Rice Terraces.
Hani people would celebrate some traditional festivals, like Hani New Year, Kuzhazha Festival, etc.
Hani New Year is like the Spring Festival of Han. It takes place in the first Dragon Day of the 10th lunar month each year and lasts 5 to 6 days and even as long as 13 days. Every family would prepare chicken, pork to worship their ancestors and family members gather together to enjoy the union. In the last day of the New Year, a Long Table Banquet will be arranged and tables will be laid in the street which can extend to one kilometer long. Each family will serve the most sumptuous dishes to fill up a table and enjoy the banquet together.
Kuzhazha Festival takes place from lunar June 23 to 26 and every family makes sticky rice, sets the feast, makes fresh rice and worships the ancestor.
Ticket One: It is valid for 3 days. It is 100 Yuan for per person, including four scenic spots Jingkou Folk Village, Bada Rice Terraces, Duoyishu Rice Terraces and Laohuzui Rice Terraces (Tiger Mouth Rice Terraces).
Ticket Two: It is valid for 10 days. It is 180 Yuan for per person, including four scenic spots Jingkou Folk Village, Bada Rice Terraces, Duoyishu Rice Terraces and Laohuzui Rice Terraces (Tiger Mouth Rice Terraces).
Ticket Three: It belongs to annual ticket which is valid for one year. It is about 360 Yuan per person, including four scenic spots Jingkou Folk Village, Bada Rice Terraces, Duoyishu Rice Terraces and Laohuzui Rice Terraces (Tiger Mouth Rice Terraces).
There are many hostels in Duoyishi Scenic Area and some are very close to the higher viewing decks with several minutes’ walking and some are close to the lower viewing deck in Pugao Old Village. For travelers who want to photograph, it is better to stay around the higher viewing decks. In Xinjie Old Town, there is only one 3-star hotel called Yuanyang Yunti Hotel. If you book Yuanyang Rice Terrace tour with us, you can feel free to use our private car service to transfer to Duiyishu Rice Terrace for the amazing sunrise.
The visitors usually set off to Duoyishu Scenic Area in early morning. If you would like to find a good place to shoot the sunrise, you had better get up earlier.
The temperature here varies greatly between day and night. Please pay attention to keep warm especially in early morning or at night.
Chinese Name:罗平油菜花
English Name:Luoping Rapeseed Flowers, Qujing
Keywords:Sea of Flowers, Photograph
Location:in the northeast of Luoping County, Qujing City, Yunnan Province
Scenic Area: Luoping
Admission Fee:Free
Opening Hours: The Whole Day
Luoping enjoys a mild and humid climate. It is dominated by karst features with small basins among independent green hills. It is not only an important producing county of the cole in China but also a national base for raising bees and for processing honey products. The rape flowers covering an area of 250,000 mu and on February of March every years, thousands of Yellow Rapeseed Flowers are in full bloom, looking like and expanse of a golden sea. There are many things to see when you travel Luoping. The major sights include the Jiulong Waterfall(Nine Dragons), the Duoyi River and the Lubuge Gorges.
In early spring, the sprawling farmlands in Luoping are covered in golden, yellow rapeseed flowers stretching as far as the eyes can see, all the way to the horizon. The blooming buds fill the air with the refreshing smell of spring that not only attracts human, but also bees. The beauty of the yellow sea of rapeseed flowers swaying in slow swirling waves in the gentle breeze is a sight that is out of this world.
If you want to shoot beautiful photo, you had better go to Luoping in fine day. The best time to shoot Niu Street is 4:00-6:00 pm. The best time to shoot the sunrise of Golden Cock Peak is around 7:00-7:30 am and to shoot the sunset after 17:30 pm.
Luoping Rapeseed Flowers are in their fullest bloom for only ten days in a year. If you go too early, you will miss nothing; but if you go too late, you will miss much. So it is better to set out after you get everything clear. If it is warm early, the flowers will bloom early. The prime time is from round about February, 20th to 25th. Until March, the flowers would have faded. But if it gets warm late, the flowers will bloom late. Anyway, the time for the blooming is different from year to year. March is not always the best choice.
Attraction Transportation from Kunming to Luoping:
It takes four hours from Kunming to Luoping by train, 17-30 yuan per person. During the Rapeseed Flowers Festival, there is tourist-dedicated train from Kunming to Luoping that departs at 8:10 in the morning from Kunming and return at 14:00 from Luoping.
It costs 25-30 yuan to take a bus from Kunming to Luoping.
It costs 200-300 yuan to rent a car from Kunming to Luoping.
From January to April, the temperature here is about 10-16 ºC so that bring thick clothes to keep warm especially in the morning and evening.
Three Parallel Rivers Natural Reserve is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a nature reserve extending over 170,000 km2 within the undulating mountains of northwest Yunnan Province. It is the combination of seven geographical features over eight geographic regions. The whole reserve is composed of the drainage areas of the three great rivers – Nu River, Lancang River, Jinsha River, and the mountains around. It is a very rare phenomenon that the shortest distance between the Lancang River and Jinsha River is only 66 kilometers and between the Lancang River and Nu River the distance is less than 19 kilometers. It is also the inhabiting place of 16 ethnic groups. Different nationalities, languages, religions and customs co-exist, making it a special and unique region rarely seen in the world.
It lies within the drainage basins of the upper reaches of the Yangtze (Jinsha), Lancang (Mekong) and Nujiang (Salween) rivers, in the Yunnan section of the Hengduan Mountains. It covers three autonomous prefectures and cities, including Lijiang City, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture and Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture of Yunnan Province.
The natural landscape comprises three great rivers of East Asia, namely, the Jinsha River (the upper reaches of the Yangtze River), the Lancang River (the upper reaches of the Mekong River), and the Nujiang River (the upper reaches of the Salween River). Originating in the Tanggula Mountain on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the three rivers flow parallel along the Hengduan Mountains for several hundred kilometers.
The Mekong runs through a gorge 310 km long. It crosses both Cambodia and Vietnam, and is the source of much of the food supply in both countries. The Yangtze River is China’s largest riverand the world’s 6th biggest. It stretches from here through Chongqing and Wuhan and ends at Shanghai. The Salween is important for the livelihood of the ethnic people in Burma and Thailand. The river valley in Burma is known for its beauty, and it flows to the Indian Ocean.
The Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas is representative of landscapes demonstrating the Earth’s evolution over major geological time periods and bio-evolution at important phases. In ancient times, as a result of the collision between India Plate and Eurasian Plate, the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau was ballooned up, creating the parallel mountains and rivers within a length of 150 kilometers, including the Dulong River, Gaoligong Mountain, Nu River, Lancang River, Yunling Mountain and Jinsha River in this area. Therefore the natural sceneries here are quite unique not only in China, but also in the world.
The natural scenery of Three Parallel Rivers is located at the deep narrow valleys in the mountainous areas of the southern part of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, in southwest China’s Yunnan Province. On this piece of land, there are high mountains, deep valleys, snow-capped peaks, large glaciers, lakes with potable water, wild forest, marshy grassland, rare animals and precious plants.
The height of snow-covered mountains in this area varies from 2,000 meters to 6,000 meters, and there are over 100 snow-covered mountains higher than 5, 000 meters, with Meili Snow Mountain as the top one. The deep gorges of Nu River Gorge(eg. Oriental Grand Gorge), Lancang River Gorges and Jinsha River Gorges(eg. Tiger Leaping Gorge) are particularly famous. There are 20% Higher Plants and over 25% more animals in this area including Yunnan golden monkeys, antelopes, snow leopards, Bengalese tigers and black necked cranes.
Its demographic make-up also is highly interesting as it contains many of the twenty-five minorities found in Yunnan province including the Derung, the smallest of all of China’s minority groups. Some of the other minorities found in this region are the Tibetan people, the Nu people, Lisu, Bai, Pumi and Naxi. Many of these minorities still use traditional costumes as their normal daily attire.
To Lijiang City:
Lijiang is easily reachable since becoming a popular tour destination at the end of the 1990s. Tourists can take flight, train or coach getting there. More info please refer to Lijiang Transportation.
To Diqing Prefecture:
With a small regional airport, Shangri-La mainly relies on its roads as the main means of transportation. Tourists can take the flight or coach getting there. More info please refer to Diqing Transportation.
To Nujiang Prefecture:
Tourists need to get to Liuku in Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture first, and then take the local bus to Fugong, Gongshan and Bingzhongluo Village. This itinerary gives visitors a chance to explore the Nu River Gorge. More info please refer to Nujiang Transportation.
Shangri-La
Shangri-La is depicted as “Eden in dream” by British novelist James Hilton’s Lost Horizon in the 1939, a famous area with numerous natural landscapes and unique Tibetan customs. The main attractions in Shangrila include Songzanlin Lamasery, Pudacuo National Park, Meli Snow Mountain, Baishuitai, Tiger Leaping Gorge, etc.
Lijiang City
Lijiang, a popular destination in Yunnan, is considered as a fairyland blessed with fresh air, clear streams, breathtaking snow mountains and an undisturbed landscape inhabited by a friendly group of people. The main attractions include Lijiang Old Town, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, Tiger Leaping Gorge, Lashi Lake, Lugu Lake, etc.
Nujiang Area
There are much to see or to do in Nujiang. Minorities in Nujiang is the most diverse in China and the population of minorities is the largest. The main attractions include Nujiang Grand Canyon, Bingzhongluo scenic Area, Gaoligongshan Mountain, Dulongjiang valley, etc.
10 Days Three Parallel Rivers Circle Tour with Nanjiluo and Biluo Snow Mountain Hiking
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15 Days Three Parallel Rivers Overland Adventure with Dulongjiang River Valley and Tiger Leaping Gorge Hiking
20 Days Yunnan Three Parallel Rivers Adventure Trekking Tour
46 Days Yunnan Panorama Photography Tour with 25 Ethnic Minorities Discovery and Three Parallel Rivers Hiking Adventure
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Chinese Name:罗平油菜花 English Name:Luoping Rapeseed Flowers, Qujing Keywords:Sea of Flowers, Photograph Location:in the northeast of Luoping County, Qujing City, Yunnan Province Scenic Area: Luoping Admission Fee:Free Opening Hours: The Whole ...
Why is Three Parallel Rivers Natural Reserve So Special? Three Parallel Rivers Natural Reserve is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a nature reserve extending over 170,000 km2 within the undulating...
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Address: Building 4, Yifuyuan, Hehong Road, Xishan District, Kunming, Yunnan, China
Wechat/QQ: 270384698
Office Call: 86-18812220370
Email: Trip@YasoTrip.com
Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/YasoTrip
Tel/WhatsApp: +8618088243690
Trip@YasoTrip.com