3 Days Jianshui and Yuanyang Rice Terraces Tour from Kunming

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Kunming to Jianshui
   Discover Jianshui Heritage and Diverse Ethnic Traditions in Jianshui

   Around 8:30 a.m., your tour guide and driver will be at your hotel in the city center to pick you up. We will take a stop at Xingmeng Mongolian Village, which is the only Mongolian area in Yunnan. You can tour the typical yurts, get an insight into the three-hundred-year-old history of the village, and even have a look at the life of the mobile people.

   1.5 hours of driving will bring you to Jianshui, which is one of the most delightful little ancient towns in China, displaying a rich Confucian past. Start your tour in Jianshui at the Zhu Family Garden as soon as you get there. The complex covers a substantial Qing Dynasty area that has mainly been residential and has ancestral halls. The masterfully tilted courts are full of exquisite wood carvings and charming pavilions, fish ponds, rockeries, gardens, and opera stages. Your guide will narrate the Zhu family’s fantastic thirty-year saga.

   

   Then go on to see the Jianshui Confucian Temple which is the second largest Confucian temple in China and has been around for more than 700 years. You will get to know how the teachings of Confucius have been shaping the people of China by passing through the solemn halls and the gates with red pillars. The still lake and old trees together with the temple add up to the philosophical ideals.

   After the visit, we check into a local four-star hotel. After a short break, you can freely stroll through the Jianshui Old Town, admire the traditional houses with purple sandstone walls, browse the small artisan shops, or sit in a teahouse and immerse yourself in the peaceful atmosphere.

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Jianshui
2. Day 2: Drive from Jianshui to Yuanyang
   Stunning Rice Terraces Sunset after Jianshui Buildings

   We start our day with breakfast at the hotel, and then we proceed to visit Shuanglong Bridge in Jianshui, which is also called the "Seventeen-Arch Bridge" and it is an Yunan's bridging marvel among the old ones. The bridge is a creation of the Qing Dynasty and it has 17 arches that are very graciously designed and placed over two rivers. Moreover, at each end of the bridge, there are two dragon heads and tails that have been carved out of stone. The head of the dragon is positioned right above the stream and the design is such that it combines both the science and art of bridge architecture.

   Next, we head to Tuanshan Village, which has quadrangle courtyards from the Ming and Qing dynasties as its icebreaker gates. The narrow street is bordered by purple sandstone walls and the charming wooden doors from both sides. The tour guide will tell you how the village has managed to keep its structures so pure over the years.

   

   Then, explore the Zhang Family Garden, which was built at the end of the Qing Dynasty and covers an area of about 10,000 square meters. It is the private residence of the Zhang family. You can stroll through the open courtyards, classical pavilions and ornamental gardens, while learning about the influential deeds of the Zhang family.

   Later on, we drive to the spectacular Yuanyang Rice Terraces, which were designed by the Hani people over more than a thousand years and got recognized under the World Heritage List in 2013. The visit will include Qingkou Village where the rustic mushroom-shaped houses and paddies depict the very closeness between mankind and nature. Nature walks through the village and you’ll get to learn more about the lifestyles of the local ethnic groups and also see the water distribution system of the rice fields.

   Finally, watch the sunset at the Bada Rice Terraces. When the sun sets, the terraced fields, layer upon layer, sparkle with changing colors, mirroring the blue sky. This is very much to the photographer's taste.

   

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   4-Star Hotel in Yuanyang
3. Day 3: Yuanyang Back to Kunming
   Witness Breathtaking Terraces and Explore Authentic Hani Village Traditions

   Get up early and enjoy the spectacular sunrise at the Duoyishu Rice Terraces, which is one of the most representative scenic spots in Yuanyang. At dawn, the terraced fields sparkle with golden and pink light, like a huge natural mirror reflecting the morning sky (from November to March of the following year).

   After sunrise, return to the hotel for breakfast and then head to the local ethnic market. This bustling market is where the Hani, Yi and other ethnic minorities gather to trade fresh agricultural products, daily necessities and handicrafts. Wander among the colorful stalls, and you can admire the traditional styles of ethnic minority costumes and experience the true slow-paced rural life.

   Continue your visit to Akezhe Village, a typical Hani village. Here are very unique mushroom-shaped houses, built with wooden structures and thick earthen walls. Your guide will lead you through the village to learn how these unique houses are designed to be warm in winter and cool in summer. You also can visit a local family's house and learn about their farming tools.

   After having lunch at a local restaurant, we drive for six hours back to Kunming. You will be sent back to your hotel in Kunming. If you would like airport pick-up service, we can also arrange it. This is the end of your 3-day Jianshui and Yuanyang tour. Thank you for choosing China Xian Tour!

   

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