Dongchuan Red Land Travelogue in Kunming

Thoughts of Dongchuan's scenery, Drive through the evening mist. Gentle breeze brushes the path, Autumn hills painted with beauty. Nestled among the rolling hills of Dongchuan District in Kunming, there lies a red land area about 140 kilometers from the old Wuhua district of Kunming, in a north-easterly direction. Photographers call it a paradise for photography, those feeling the heavy pressures of life and work consider it a healing sanctuary, and the average tourist usually spares no praise in expressing their feelings. There is no reason not to immerse oneself in the wonders of this place. One autumn evening, we checked into the Red Land Field Inn in Huashitou Village within the red land scenic area. Within a radius of several kilometers around Huashitou Village, there are many hotspots scattered about, such as Luosiwan, Jinxiuyuan, Yuepu'ao, Red Land Panorama, Thousand-Year-Old Dragon Tree, and Luoxiagou. After enjoying a breakfast of egg noodles made by the innkeeper, we set out to tour the area. Billions of years ago, nature incorporated a large amount of elements such as iron, aluminum, and phosphorus into the surface of Dongchuan, which, after a long process of rain erosion and weathering, formed the extensive red land. The Han and Yi ethnic groups have lived on this red land for generations, transforming the hills into terraced fields with their hardworking hands, cultivating plateau grains and vegetables, giving the hills a burst of color. With the change of seasons or weather, the colors of the terraced fields change from dazzlingly bright to misty and enchanting, like a dream. Luosiwan is right in front of the inn, named for the terraced fields that spiral up the hills like snails. Jinxiuyuan is located beside the Jiaozi Mountain ski resort. Before the snow season, the top of Jiaozi Mountain is empty and uninhabited, making it an excellent spot to view the colorful terraced fields. The view is open, and each terraced field shows different colors due to the different crops and angles of reflection, ranging from yellow-green to dark green, from light red to dark red, with the occasional smoke from burning fields drifting in the air. At the Red Land Panorama, visitors are surrounded by the patchwork of fields, their hearts and minds blending into the light and shadows of the land, all with smiles on their faces. Luoxiagou truly lives up to its name. Standing on the viewing platform and looking down, the red and white houses interspersed with the red fields and green meadows lie in the valley, as if the ravine is filled with colorful clouds. The Thousand-Year-Old Dragon Tree is a legendary fir tree that has absorbed the essence of heaven and earth and the brilliance of the sun and moon. It has experienced the miracle of withering for three years and then flourishing anew with branches, and it became famous through the movie 'Forever Young'. In Yuepu'ao or Huashitou Village, visitors may encounter an octogenarian internet celebrity old man with his old sheep and golden retriever, or perhaps his brothers and a four-horned sheep. Expanding the scope of the tour reveals even more attractions, naturally requiring more time. Visiting the red land off the peak tourist season offers captivating scenery without the hustle and bustle of crowds, allowing for a leisurely appreciation and an extraordinary experience.