Yuanyang Terraced Fields

• Chinese: 元阳梯田 Yuányáng Tītián 'Yuanyang Terraced Fields'
• Area: 113 sq km (44 sq mi)
• Popular activities: photograph terraced rice fields, explore ethnic Hani villages
• Suited to: nature lovers, photographers
• Recommended time for a visit: 1–3 days depending on the weather, when you stay, and how many beautiful pictures you want to take

The 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 fields — a manmade landscape of breathtaking beauty.

Yuanyang's terraces are in the south of the Ailao Mountains. For generations, the local Hani people built terraces on hillsides with slopes between 15 and 75 degrees. The terraced fields stretch across Honghe, Yuanyang, Luchun, and Jinping counties south of Honghe — 'the Red River'. Yuanyang County is the core area of the ​​Honghe Hani terraces with the grandest scale.

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.

Duoyishu Scenic Area
This is the most beautiful natural and cultural landscape of Yuanyang Terraces, and it is the best place to go if you wish to photograph the sunrise. The terraces in this scenic area, including Duoyishu, Aichun, and Dawazhe, are more than 6.7 square kilometers (1647.4 acres) in total. Sunrise provides the most beautiful sight in Duoyishu as the morning there highlights the superlative dynamic landscape. As a kind suggestion, we recommend that you can pay special attention to the changing color of the water during the early morning sunrise. As the reflections and shadows are constantly changing, the visual impact can be overwhelming.

Bada Scenic Area
Yuanyang Rice Terraces, Honghe, YunnanIt is the biggest attraction in terms of acreage of Yuanyang Terraces and the best of the sunset scenery can be seen here. The terraces here include the Qingkou, Quanfuzhuang, Malizhai, Zhulu and other contiguous areas extending over more than 9.3 square kilometers (2306.3 acres). The Bada terraces at sunset are truly amazing and the incessantly changing colors will make you feel that you are in a magical kingdom.

Laohuzui (the Tiger Mouth) Scenic Area
The third dimension and the colorific hierarchy of Laohuzui is the most intense. The colors are as though they have been painted by an artist, while the terraced slopes are more rugged. The lowest section of the terrace is the most attractive and the outline resembles a galloping horse.


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.