5 Days Yuanyang Rice Terrace Tour
Tour Description
Day 01: Kunming – stone forest-- Jianshui
Drive to 1.5hours and Visit stone forest in the day time. Then drive 2.5 hours to Jianshui County. It is a history dating back to the Han Dynasty; Jianshui's extensive architectural legacy bears witness to this former glory. Overnight in Jianshui
Day 02 Jianshui
We will visit the 400 years old Chaoyang Tower. The small city Jianshui is the cultural center of southern Yunnan province. In the past, the people of this city became very rich due to the natural deposits of tin. So now, you can see many private houses with typical chinese architecture style in the city. You will have a chance to visit one of them - Zhu Family Garden which is formed by 250 rooms and 42 courtyards, It’s even much better than the gardens in suzhou city. You can also visit the second largest Confucian-temple in China. Overnight in Jianshui
Day 03: Jianshui - Yuanyang
Set off from Jianshui to Yuanyang, Yuanyang is renowned for its rice terraces, which claim as the world's largest and most spectacular one, crafted out by bare hands by the Hani people one thousand years ago and is still in use today. The landscape changes vividly through the year. The flooded paddies from Dec. to April create reflecting pool effect, which is a photographer's dream. We will visit Lao Hu Zui fields in the afternoon. Overnight in Dali Yuanyang
Day 04: Yuanyang
whether you can take great photos in Yuanyang really depends on the weather. A sunny day with fog in the morning and cloud in the dusk is perfect. The ideal spots for sunrise are Duoyishu and Qingkou, at least one morning for each place. Be prepared to get up early at around 5 a.m. to head for Duoyishu. It takes around one hour to travel from Xinjie Zhen to Duoyishu. Qingkou is much closer and can be arrived within 15 minutes, more attractive in a foggy morning. After the sunrise, spend your daytime to explore at least one local village. Overnight in Yuanyang
Day 05: Yuanyang –Kunming
Drive 6 hours from Yuanyang Xinjiezhen back to Kunming.
Yuanyang lies in the relatively underdeveloped southeast part of Yunnan, Honghe Hani and Yi People's Autonomous Region, about 300km south of Kunming. Yuanyang is renowned for its rice terraces, which claim as the world's largest and most spectacular one, crafted out by bare hands by the Hani people one thousand years ago and is still in use today. Because it is a relatively inaccessible part of Yunnan, the subtropical area escaped heavy development for tourism, and has so far been overlooked by the big masses. It is a self sustaining ecosystem and a perfect example of a symbiosis with nature. During winter to early spring, the entire field is irrigated with spring water from the forest above to rejuvenate and getting prepared for the next season. The Hani people have repeated this for more than a thousand years.
Although not many general tourists have visited the Yuanyang Rice Terraces, hordes of photographers have. The landscape changes vividly through the year. The flooded paddies from December to April create reflecting pool effect, which is a photographer's dream. In summer, the paddies are luxuriantly green with growing rice stalks. After the fall harvest, the paddies become naked bare earth.
An optional gateway to Yuanyang, Jianshui is a little town with interesting historical architecture and relics. Once an important center of Yunnan and a required stop on the road from Kunming to Vietnam, Jianshui grew on the profits of its lucrative position as a center of trade. In the peaceful town, you won't be disturbed by the flocks of tourists from home and abroad. You can take your time to stroll at old streets and see ancient houses and wells at your pace.
Arrival in Kunming
Day 1
Arrive in Kunming, knows as “City of Eternal Spring”. Meet your guide on arrival and drive to Stone Forest (90 km). Stone Forest, one of China’s most well-known karst wonders, consists of innumerable bizarre-shaped ancient limestone cliffs and peaks created by wind and water erosion some 270 million year ago. Then, visit Seven Star Yi people’s village. (L-D)
Overnight at TianQi Ashima Hotel or the similar (3 star)
Stone Forest to Jianshui
Day 2
Drive from Stone Forest to Jianshui (200km, 4 hours), a very important political center in ancient time and still a very interesting city today because of its special architecture. Upon arrival, visit Confucius Temple, the 2nd largest Confucius temple in China, Chaoyang Gate in this old city of Ming Dynasty, Double Dragon Bridge with seven arches, and Zhu's Family Garden. (B-L-D)
Overnight at Huaqing Hotel or the similar (3 star)
Jianshui to Yuanyang
Day 3
Visit Zhang's Family Garden after breakfast. Then, drive to Yuanyang (112km, 3 hours), Honghe Hani Autonomy Prefecture, passing by Mt. Ailao, terraced fields, crossing Red River, along where is rich in traditional farming. (B-L-D)
Overnight at YunTi Hotel (3 star)
Yuanyang
Day 4
Visit Panzhihua and Shengli Hani & Yi's area of magnificent terraced fields, villages, markets and the old town of Yuanyang. (B-L-D)
Overnight at YunTi Hotel (3 star)
Yuanyang back to Kunming
Day 5
Take the last view of the rice paddies before breakfast and then drive 6 hours to Kunming. On route, you will also see fully blossomed rapeseeds flowers (Feb. to March). After lunch, we arrive in Kunming in the afternoon. (B-L)
End of trip.
Detailed quotation and tour info please check the link below
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Attractions Visited in This Tour
