Are Yuanyang Terraced Fields Worth Visiting?

Landscapes in Yuanyang are dominated by terraced paddies, which stretch across every corner of the region. No matter which direction you head out, you will be greeted by breathtaking terraced vistas.

It covers nearly ten thousand mu of interconnected terraces spanning Duoyishu, Aichun and Dawazhe. Surrounded by mountains on three sides and dropping steeply into a valley on the fourth, the terrain resembles a vast bay. The upper terraces sit on gentle slopes, while the lower sections plunge sharply downhill. Viewed from above, the cascading layers look like giant waterfalls in full flow, creating an awe-inspiring sight. Shrouded in mist all year round, Duoyishu boasts spectacular sea-of-cloud views. As a popular sunrise photography location, visitors must arrive early to capture the magical morning scenery.

This zone holds over 6,000 mu of terraces including Mengpin, Dongpu, Amengkong and Baoshan Village. At its heart lies Mengpin Terraces, shaped like a huge blooming white flower; overlooking from the mountain top offers a perspective similar to aerial photography. To the west, Amengkong Terraces sprawl across three mountain ridges with undulating, winding contours full of rhythmic beauty, making its sunset scenery second to none. To the east, crescent-shaped Baoshan Village Terraces feature elegant outlines and striking three-dimensional depth. In the far upper-left corner of the viewing frame at Laohuzui, a shape resembling a galloping steed can be faintly seen — this iconic landmark of Yuanyang Terraces once graced the cover of China National Geography.

Located within Yuanyang Terraced Fields National Wetland Park and the core zone of the World Cultural Heritage nomination site, the village sits 8 kilometres away from the old county seat (Xinjie Town). It preserves a complete integrated ecological system featuring four core elements: forests, water systems, mountain villages and terraced fields. Distinctive Hani folk customs, unique ethnic culture and traditional farming lifestyles thrive here. Terraces and seas of clouds blend harmoniously with ancient mushroom-shaped stilt houses, forming an exemplary model of agricultural development that rationally utilises natural resources.

Situated in the core heritage zone, 20 kilometres from Xinjie Town, the scenic area encompasses more than 850 hectares of magnificent terraces of diverse shapes and imposing momentum. On clear days in winter and spring, water-filled paddies form natural patterns of two galloping horses, coiled dragons and crouching tigers, as well as a thousand-year-old giant tortoise resting at the valley bottom, silently telling the long and arduous history of Hani ancestors reclaiming mountain slopes into farmland. Featuring the steepest mountain terrain and grandest terraced landscapes across Yuanyang, it is hailed as the pinnacle masterpiece of "sculptures of the earth". This extraordinary landscape was listed by French newspapers in 1993 as one of the world’s seven newly discovered cultural landscapes, bringing it international fame. A French film producer named Yann Lama visited the site with his fiancée to hold their wedding, and produced the landscape documentary Sculptures of the Earth, which was distributed worldwide.

Key attractions of Laohuzui: Laohuzui Terraces, Amengkong Terraces, Baoshan Village Terraces, Mengnong Tusi Ruins.

Lying 23 kilometres from Xinjie Town in the core heritage zone at an altitude of 1,900 metres, the scenic area contains 650 hectares of terraces spread across bay-like hillsides with slopes ranging from 25° to 50°. It ranks as the premier spot for viewing and photographing cloud-shrouded terraces, sunrise and mountain hamlets. The famous landscape film Stories of Yunnan was largely shot amid these paddies and villages.

Key attractions: Huangcaoling Terraces, Pugao Old Village Terraces, Duoyishu Terraces, Zongwa Tusi Village Yamen Ruins.

Fourteen kilometres from Xinjie Town within the heritage core zone, Bada Scenic Area boasts over 950 hectares of spectacular terraces. Renowned for grand scale, graceful flowing lines and powerful three-dimensional layering, thousands upon thousands of terraced tiers stretch uninterruptedly from Malizhai River at 800 metres above sea level all the way up to mountain summits at 2,000 metres, lifting Hani hamlets including Malizhai, Bada, Shangmadian and Quanfuzhuang high above a sea of clouds. Over 3,700 tiers of terraces form a celestial ladder reaching toward the sky. At sunset, the water-filled paddies glow golden and silvery, presenting an unrivalled feast for the eyes. It is the ideal destination for watching and shooting cloud terraces, sunset and mountain villages.

Key attractions: Quanfuzhuang Terraces, Malizhai Terraces, Bada Terraces, Shangmadian Terraces.