3 Days Yuanyang Rice Terraces & Hani Culture Discovery Tour

Day 1 Kunming - Yuanyang

Drive from Kunming to Yuanyang - Longshuba Rice Terrace

Today, you’ll be picked up at your hotel in Kunming downtown area. The following journey is about 320 kilometers’ driving from Kunming to Yuanyang which takes about 6 hours on the way. Yuanyang Rice Terrace, regarded as the most beautiful rice terrace in China, is the core area of the UNESCO World Heritage called the Cultural Landscape of Honghe Hani Rice Terraces.

Upon arrival in Yuanyang, you’ll have time to explore around Xinjie Town with a short hiking trip to Longshuba Rice Terrace (3.5km, about 45mins). Longshuba is different from other rice terraces for the oxygen in the water here varies from other fields, so it’s famous for the unique red duckweed upon the layer by layer rice paddies. Catch the best moment to enjoy the gentle and gorgeous rice terrace view during the sunset period.

After the tour, you’ll be escorted to your hotel in Yuanyang. Have a good rest tonight.

• Longshuba Rice Terrace
• Mushroom Houses

Day 2 Yuanyang (B, L)

Duoyishu Rice Terrace - Aichun Village - Azheke Village - Bada Rice Terrace

On this day, try to get up early and head to Duoyishu Rice Terrace to watch sunrise. Duoyishu is the best place to shoot sunrise and misty Hani village, surrounded by high mountains in three sides and stretching to the valley in one side. There are many mushroom-like houses dotted aside the rice paddies, just like the sailboat moving into the sea. The ray appears splendidly over the high mountains at first light and when the sun rises up, the whole rice terraces change its colors from quiet blue into golden, shining brilliantly.

Later, move from Duoyishu Rice Terrace to Aichun Village which is about 5km away to see the blue rice terrace. It is in blue not because the water here is blue but for the terrace is the huge mirrors of the blue sky. Standing at a high observation deck, you can feast your eyes with a beautiful painting scrolls with azure sky and white clouds above, blue rice terraces layer by layer on the ground, traditional Hani houses hidden among the trees at a short distance... (Travel tip: come to visit Aichun Village during 09:00-10:00 which is the best time to appreciate blue rice terrace.)

The following time is a leisure cultural trip to Azheke Village, the most primitive Hani Village and its 51 mushroom houses are listed into the protective mushroom houses in Yuanyang. Azheke Village is the best example of harmony living between humankind and nature, fully presenting Forest - Village - River - Clouds fused together. Walking into the village, you’ll numerous old mushroom houses, stone mills, sheep, buffaloes, back pigs, smoke rising continuously from the chimneys…Pay a visit to one of the local Hani families and have a good talk with them to know their daily life and ethnic customs.

In this afternoon, have a nice shoot in the spectacular Bada Rice Terrace - the best place to shoot sunset and catch the terrace panorama. At dusk, when the sun shines on the 950-hectare rice paddies rising from 800 meters to 2000 meters, then the magnificent scene forms - like the ladders toward heaven led by bright light. Hold your breath when sunset glow shining upon the paddies and you'll see the 3700-level terraces first turns pink, then rosy and later dark red, pink, golden and white…

After the tour, be transferred to your hotel in Yuanyang.

• Bada Rice Terrace
• Duoyishu Rice Terrace
• Blue Rice Terrace in Aichun Village
• Azheke Village, the most primitive Hani Village

Day 3 Yuanyang - Kunming & Kunming Departure (B, L)

Ethnic Market & Bazaar in Yuanyang - Drive back to Kunming for Departure

After breakfast, catch the last moment to enjoy the beautiful morning in Yuanyang and take many great pictures as you like. Your guide and driver will escort you to attend the Ethnic Market & Bazaar in Yuanyang, a bustling place for local people who dressed in traditional ethnic costumes trading daily supplies, including fresh vegetable, fruits, meats, and many other kinds of food and daily necessities. It is a great opportunity to get close to Hani people’s living conditions.

On the way back to Kunming, you’ll have the chance to stop for relaxing exploration about some other primitive ethnic villages near Yuanyang County.

With 5-6 hours’ driving, you’ll get to Kunming. After arriving in Kunming, transfer to the airport or train station to catch your flight/train (after 18:00) to next destination or back home.

Note: If your time is flexible, you can add one more day to pay a visit to Jianshui Ancient Town which is on the way between Yuanyang and Kunming. All the attractions and itinerary can be customized based on your like and time. Please feel free to contact us.

• The Only Mongolian Village in Yunnan - Xingmeng Village
• Ethnic Market & Bazaar in Yuanyang