Written by Catherine |
Yuanyang is a beautiful county in the southern part of Yunnan province. You might not have heard of this place, but you’ve definitely seen stunning photos of it online or in traveling magazines. It is world famous for its terraced rice fields, which have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. These magnificent agricultural wonders are the masterpieces of generations of local Hani people.
People from all over the world travel to Yuanyang to witness and photograph the amazing rice terraces and life of the local ethnic minorities. This article is a comprehensive travel guide on how to plan a Yuanyang trip, including the most popular Yuanyang tourist attractions, travel itineraries of different length, best time for your trip, transportation tips, and accommodation options.
What to See and Do: Top Things to Do in Yuanyang
Admire the beauty of Yuanyang Rice Terraces
Yuanyang is a beautiful county in the southern part of Yunnan province. You might not have heard of this place, but you’ve definitely seen stunning photos of it online or in travel magazines. It is world-famous for its terraced rice fields, which have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. These magnificent agricultural wonders are the masterpieces of generations of the local Hani people.
People from all over the world travel to Yuanyang to witness and photograph the amazing rice terraces and the life of the local ethnic minorities. This article is a comprehensive travel guide on how to plan a Yuanyang trip, including the most popular Yuanyang tourist attractions, travel itineraries of different lengths, the best time for your trip, transportation tips, and accommodation options.
Visit the traditional Hani Azheke Village
Azheke Village is a primitive Hani village in between a vast area of rice terraces and the sky. It still has 51 well-preserved traditional mushroom houses of the Hani people. It’s listed as one of the five Hani villages recognized by UNESCO. You can explore the village and learn about the daily life of Hani people in these mushroom houses on your Yuanyang rice terraces tour.
Explore ethnic markets
Yuanyang County is home to many ethnic groups who host their own vibrant markets like Shengcun Market, Xinjie Market, and Niujiao Village Market. You can shop for traditional handicrafts, taste local delicacies, and engage with the locals. The market days vary in different villages with most villages hosting one twice a week.
How Many Days Should a Yuanyang Rice Terraces Trip Be: Recommended Itineraries
Typically, it is recommended that you set aside at least 3 days for your Yuanyang rice terraces trip, because visitors usually get into Yuanyang from Kunming, which is 4.5 hours away by car. There’ll be quite a bit of time spent on the road. With 5-7 days or more, you can extend your Yunnan tour to nearby cities to explore the rich landscapes of the province.
Here are some suggested Yuanyang rice terraces itineraries.
3-4 days
3-4 days is usually enough for fully exploring the rice fields in Yuanyang. We recommend:
- Day 1: arrive in Yuanyang from Kunming; enjoy the sunset over Bada Rice Terraces
- Day 2: admire the sunrise at Duoyishu Rice Terrace; head to Aichun Village to see a sea of blue terraces reflecting the sky; explore Azheke Village
- Day 3: visit other ethnic villages around Yuanyang and explore the ethnic markets; watch the sunset at Laohuzui Rice Terraces
- Day 4: head back to Kunming
Recommended Yuanyang Rice Terraces Tours:
- 3 Days Yunnan Yuanyang Tour from Kunming
- 3 Days Jianshui and Yuanyang Rice Terraces Tour
- 4 Days Yuanyang Rice Terrace Photography Tour from Kunming
5-7 days or more
Make the most of your time and budget by extending your Yuanyang rice terraces trip to other parts of Yunnan. The province is known as a paradise on earth for hiking and photography tours. Here’re some popular nearby destinations that visitors like to include.
- Kunming(4.5 hours) – Stone Forest and Dongchuan Red Land are stunning spots for photography; visit the landmarks of Kunming, Dianchi Lake and Western Hills
- Jianshui(3 hours) – see the ancient architecture of Jianshui Ancient Town and Double Dragon Bridge
Recommended Tour: 8 Days Yunnan Photography Tour to Luoping, Jianshui, Yuanyang
Practical Tips for Planning Your Yuanyang Photography Tour
- The best time for shooting the Yuanyang Terraces is from December to mid-March of the following year. Generally, some terraces are irrigated in mid-December, most terraces are irrigated in January, and the water area of the terraces is at its best from early February to early March. At this time, the layers of terraces are extremely spectacular.
- Shooting the sunset at Bada and Tiger Mouth. Around 15:00, you can follow the scenic road and pass by Quanfuzhuang Observation Platform and Maixiazhai Tea Factory Observation Platform for shooting. Then, head to shoot the sunset scene of Bada Terraces. The Bada Scenic Area has an open terrain and rich colors, making it the best place to view and shoot the sea of clouds terraces, the sunset, and the village. At around 17:00, go to Mengpin to shoot the sunset scene of the Tiger Mouth Terraces Scenic Area. This is the largest and most spectacular place among the Yuanyang Terraces. There are two observation platforms here. If you are elderly or have difficulty walking down, it is recommended not to go down and just shoot from the upper observation platform.
- Head to the Duoyishu Scenic Area to shoot the sunrise. Around 6:00am, the morning sun, disperses the morning fog, and the terraces gradually become golden. The Hani and Yi ethnic villages nestled among them are shrouded in mist. To get the best shooting position, you need to arrive early, or you won’t be able to capture anything.
- The Jingkou Terraces Observation Platformis suitable for shooting the sea of clouds in the morning. From the left side of the path, you can visit Jingkou Folk Village.
- The Aichunlan Terracesare the best place to view and shoot the blue terraces. The best viewing time is before 10:00 in the morning. As long as it is a clear day, the terraces will be blue.
- In Azheke, walk through the ancient horseback caravan road to shoot the gradually appearing mist-covered cliffs, the stacked terraces, and the 51 traditional and intact Hani mushroom houses in the village.
- Head to Xinjie Town to shoot the red terraces under the sunset.
Best Time for a Trip to Yuanyang Rice Terraces
The beauty of Yuanyang rice terraces changes with the season. Typically, the best time to visit Yuanyang is considered November to March the next year when the fields are filled with water after the autumn harvest. The water turns the fields into vast mirrors of the earth reflecting the colors of the sky.
Yuanyang Weather in Four Seasons
In spring (March to May), Yuanyang gradually gets warmer with more rainfall. The average temperature ranges from 8°C (46°F) to 22°C (72°C). It’s the seeding season for the rice fields, so the slopes will be covered in green and dotted with flowers.
In summer (June to August), Yuanyang can get quite hot and humid. Temperatures can soar to as high as 40°C (104°F), and drop to under 20°C (68°F) after sunset. As the rice continues to grow, the mountains appear more vibrant and lusher in green. The rain makes the stocks seem livelier.
In the fall (September to November), Yuanyang gets cooler with less rainfall. The temperature ranges from 9°C (48°F) to 21°C (70°F). It’s the harvest season for the locals, and after that comes the best season for Yuanyang rice terraces trips. The fields will be empty except for water. The slopes take on different colors throughout the day, making sunrise and sunset the most magical time.
In winter (December to February), Yuanyang is cold and dry. It sometimes drops below zero in the mountains even when it’s sunny. With little rainfall, it’s the perfect time to go outdoors and capture the gorgeous views.
Here are some suggested Yuanyang rice terraces itineraries.
3-4 days
3-4 days are usually enough for fully exploring the rice fields in Yuanyang. We recommend:
- Day 1: arrive in Yuanyang from Kunming; enjoy the sunset over the Bada Rice Terraces
- Day 2: admire the sunrise at Duoyishu Rice Terrace; head to Aichun Village to see a sea of blue terraces reflecting the sky; explore Azheke Village
- Day 3: visit other ethnic villages around Yuanyang and explore the ethnic markets; watch the sunset at Laohuzui Rice Terraces
- Day 4: head back to Kunming
How to Get to Yuanyang Rice Terraces
As the Yuanyang rice terraces are built in the mountains, they are located away from urban areas and may be difficult to reach for visitors traveling to Yunnan. There is no airport or train station in Yuanyang. Kunming is, in comparison, the largest transportation hub nearby, so it is recommended that you start your Yuanyang trip from there. Here are a few options for getting to Yuanyang.
From Kunming
Many visitors like to make an excursion to Yuanyang on their Kunming tours. The distance between is around 326 kilometers (203 miles). There’re a few options to get to Yuanyang from Kunming.
Option 1:
- drive directly from Kunming for 4.5-5 hours
Options 2:
- take a bus from Kunming South Bus Station to Xinjie Bus Station
- take a local transport to Yuanyang Rice Terraces
From other parts of Yunnan
- take a train first to Jianshui or Yuanjiang
- take a bus to Nansha Bus Station
- take a bus to Yuanyang Rice Terraces
By private car
If you’re in Kunming, Dali, Jianshui, or other nearby areas, hiring a private car or booking a tour will be your easiest option. With private transportation, it’ll be easier to get around Yuanyang as well once you’re there. You can contact us for a customized trip to Yuanyang rice terraces.
Where to Stay on a Yuanyang Rice Terraces Trip
Because of its location in the mountains, accommodation options in Yuanyang mostly consist of guesthouses or homestays. They are full of local features and have comprehensive infrastructure. In recent years, there have been more hotels choices as well.
- Duoyishu area features several high-end scenic inns. It is convenient for catching the sunrise in the morning.
- Shengcun Village has many budget hotels. It’s a 15-minute drive from the Duoyishu viewing platform.
- Hani Town is the core area of Yuanyang Rice Terraces with a wide range of hotel choices. It’s a 15-minute drive from Bada and a 30-minute drive from Duoyishu.
- Azheke Village offers many high-end homestays and allows you to get close with traditional Hani life and culture.
Plan Your Perfect Trip to Yuanyang with Chinaxiantour
A Yuanyang Rice Terrace tour with China Xian Tour will be all about immersing yourself in the enormous terraced fields and local life. Chasing the sun rising/setting at the Luhuzui or Duoyishu, meeting the Hani people at the local markets, or tasting local snacks. From endless photography opportunities to exclusive connections with locals, our expertly crafted Yuanyang tours will leave you with memorable travel experiences for a lifetime.
