Yuanyang Rice Terraces Explorations

Take train No.K9652 from Kunming to Jianshui, costing CNY 43.5 for a hard-seat. The train leaves from Kunming Railway Station at 08:42 and reaches Jianshui at 12:01. Alternatively, you can take a coach from South Coach Station of Kunming to Jianshui. The coach runs every 30 minutes from 07:30 to 21:00. The bus ride takes around 3 hours and costs about CNY77.

Check in at a local hotel or hostel in Jianshui and have a good rest. Then visit Jianshui Old Town. You can first visit the Chaoyang Tower, which is located at the east gate of Jianshui County. The tower was built in the year 1389 and has been known as a mini Tiananmen Tower. From the tower, you can walk westward along Lin’an Road for about 900 meters, and you will find Confucius Temple. Initially built in the Yuan Dynasty (1271 – 1368), the temple has been renovated and expanded over 40 times and it is now the third largest Confucian Temple in China after the ones in Qufu, Shandong and Beijing. The entrance fee is CNY60 per person.

If time permits, you are advised to visit the Zhu’s Family Garden. From the Confucian Temple, you can walk back along Lin’an Road for about 500 meters and then turn left onto Hanlin Road. Go forward for another 150 meters, and you will find the garden. The garden was owned by a rich family, Zhu’s family, during the late Qing Dynasty (1644 – 1911). Now, some of the houses in the garden have been turned into guesthouse for visitors. Get back to your hotel and have a good night.

After breakfast, check out of the hotel and go to the Jianshui Bus Station to catch a bus to Yuanyang. The bus trip takes around 3 hours and costs about CNY30 per person. You will arrive at the new town of Yuanyang, in Nansha County. As the highlight of Yuanyang, you will see terrace fields near the old town, Xinjie County. You need to take a local minivan or carpool a taxi with other travelers to the old town, costing CNY15 per person and taking 1 hour. We recommend the 3-star Yunti Hotel which is 500 meters from the bus station.

Memories of Yuanyang, are always of its gorgeous terraced fields, which are the achievement of the Hani people through the generations. No matter if it is sunny or gloomy, you will be attracted by the charming fields. It is also heaven for photographers. The best time to visit the Yuanyang terraced fields is from November to April, when the fields have no plants but are filled with water and bright with the perfect balance of light and shadow. After February, the sea of clouds can always be enjoyed and all kinds of flowers will gradually blossom, which makes a beautiful picture.

This tour leads you to visit four fields and the entrance fee is CNY30 for each of them, but we suggest that you buy a through ticket for the four attractions at CNY100.

After a short rest in the hotel, you can hire a car to visit Tiger’s Month Terrace Field, which is the best point to appreciate the spectacular sunset and evening glow. Remember to buy the through ticket. As all the fields are located in the countryside and there is no public bus, you are advised to hire a car (or carpool one with other travelers) for the following trip, costing about CNY300 per day.

Go to bed early and have a good night.

You need to get up very early so as to catch a glimpse of the beautiful sunrise at Duoyishu Terrace Field. After that, proceed to Bada Field, which is definitely a memory card killer and a feast for your eyes. The fields are more charming and attractive in mist and clouds. The last destination is Hani Qingkou Field. There you can not only see the gorgeous fields, but also get in close touch with the local Hani people.

The rest of the fields other than these four are free to enter, so you can visit more if you are interested
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