the Yuanyang Rice Terraces: On this unique journey, you travel to the mostly undiscovered and still little visited south of the Yunnan province almost to the Vietnamese border. Spectacular rice terraces, ethnic minorities, colorful markets, old temples and pristine villages are the highlights your journey to Yuanzang. A visit to the well-known stone forest near Lunan rounds off this journey full of new experiences.
Yuanyang terrace fields are the pastoral scenery of the Hani (哈尼) ethnic people who have been working on this giant magnificent masterpiece for more than 1,300 years. There is no exact word can be found to describe the land of Yuanyang. Human languages are pale and shallow when come to this. A great photographer, placed in this piece of land, will instantly stop thinking by shock.
Someone once said: “If you are a backpacker and never visited Yuanyang, Yuanyang may feel sorry for you; but if you are a photographer and never set foot on Yuanyang, God will feel sorry for you.” At the end of the winter and early spring, the colorful clouds on the terraced fields are sometimes like the tame young girls. They lie in the mountains and rivers, silent and resigned. Sometimes like violent sea tides, rushing and intended to crush everything. The peaks, trees, and houses dotted between the terraces are just like the Wonderland. When the fog covers the town, and the whole place shrouded in mystery, you can enjoy this magic view no matter wherever you are, even on the highest point. This is a very unique feature of Yuanyang.
From January to February in Yuanyang, there is no plant in the fields. The intertwined and horizontal terraces have the most attractive light and shadow effect. Especially in the morning and evening, while mild sunlight hitting the water and reflect dreamy colors, you will be greatly touched by this manmade fairyland. You don’t have to close your eyes to let your spirit start to soar, and leave all the thoughts of the world you knew before.