Yuanyang Terrace Tourism Guide
Hani Terraces · Duoyishu Sunrise · Tiger Mouth · Mushroom House
The Yuanyang Terraces are mountain rice fields cultivated by the Hani people for 1,300 years, and they are also one of the most famous photography spots in China: the sunrise at Duoyishu, the curves at Laohuzui, the mushroom houses at Qingkou. Two to three days.
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Destination Details
The Yuanyang Rice Terraces are the ultimate example of "humans working with mountains": the Hani people began farming on the Ailao Mountains during the Tang Dynasty, and have maintained a system of forest–village–terraces–water for 1,300 years. They have been listed as a World Heritage Site, and the best time to view them is during the winter and spring flooding period—when the water surface reflects the sky like a mirror, something you can't see after the rice has been transplanted in summer.
Highlights
Duoyishu Terraces
The top choice for watching the sunrise, at an altitude of 1,900 meters, where the terraces emerge layer by layer as the sea of clouds rises from the valley bottom.
Laohuzui Terraces
Over 3,000 acres of terraces cascade down the mountainside, with the most varied lines, ideal for viewing at sunset.
Qingkou Folk Village
A Hani mushroom-shaped house village that preserves a complete system of water channels, water-powered mills, and sacred forests.
Bada Terraces
The largest area, with more than 3,700 rice terrace levels stacked from the river valley up to the mountain top.
Longshuba
Terraces with a red hue due to minerals in the water, the most colorful and distinctive area in Yuanyang.
Recommended Stay and Routes
- Recommended duration: 2–3 days.
- It is more efficient to link with other destinations in the same area; see "Extended Routes" and "Province" below for reference.
Local Tips
- From November to April of the following year is the flooding period, the only time worth a dedicated visit.
- The temperature difference between morning and evening is extreme (up to 15℃), so bring a down jacket or thick coat for sunrise.
- The three scenic areas are far apart, so you must hire a car or join a shared ride.