The ideal window to admire Yuanyang’s terraced fields runs from November each year to March of the following year. After the autumn harvest, the paddies are filled with water for maintenance. During this period, the terraces boast distinct layered textures, shimmering brightly under sunlight with breathtaking beauty. Around the Spring Festival, sea of clouds can often be seen. Near the Lantern Festival, wild cherry blossoms, wild kapok, wild peach blossoms and birch-leaf pear flowers blanket the mountains in striking red and white hues, forming a spectacular view!

Winter is the prime season for photography in Yuanyang, suitable from late December to April. January and February stand out as the optimal months, thanks to the favorable angle of the sun that creates stunning reflections on the water surface. Seas of clouds also appear frequently at this time. Late April is perfect if you wish to capture scenes of rice seedling transplanting. The autumn harvest period also offers gorgeous scenery.

While November to the following March annually is when the terraces present their grandest and most gorgeous sights, professional photographers prefer visiting Yuanyang in January and February. At this time, the paddies are free of rice crops; the water-covered horizontal terraces are translucent layer upon layer, delivering outstanding light and shadow effects. With a stroke of luck, you can even photograph seas of clouds.