Yuanyang Terraces - A place to visit many times and countless times

🌟Highlights: Yuanyang Hani Terraces, with its unique beauty in all four seasons, is a masterpiece left by generations of Hani people. Utilizing the special geographical climate, they created the agricultural wonder of terraced fields. It was listed as a World Heritage Site in 2013! According to the ancient Hani legend of 'Heaven. Earth. Man', a giant fish created the universe and the first pair of humans, a man named Zhita and a woman named Tapo. Tapo gave birth to 22 children, the third of whom was a dragon. When the dragon grew up, it became the Dragon King of the sea. To show gratitude for Tapo's nurturing, it offered three bamboo tubes of gifts, one of which contained rice seeds. This means that the Hani people believe rice has existed since the creation of the world 🌾 The Hani people are among the earliest to domesticate wild rice. Rice cultivation is an ancient production activity of the Hani people. For thousands of years, they have domesticated wild rice in the Ailao Mountain region's Sanjiang River Basin into upland rice and then improved it into paddy rice. This unique ecological environment made the Sanjiang River Basin one of the early regions for human rice cultivation. 🚉Transportation Guide: The terraces are located deep in the mountains at an altitude of 300-2000 meters, making transportation inconvenient. It is recommended to drive yourself. You can take the Yuan-Green secondary road or National Highway 245. The Yuan-Green secondary road is easier to drive, but for those who want to experience mountain roads, the national highway is a must. Although it has many bends and steep slopes, the scenery is superb👌🏻 🎫Ticket Information: Main terrace scenic areas: 70 yuan, including Bada Scenic Area (sunset), Duoyishu Scenic Area (sunrise), Laohuzui Scenic Area, and Qingkou Folk Village; Azheke (30 yuan) 📝Tips: ❶ The terraces are beautiful all year round. In May-June, rice planting takes place, summer brings lush green waves of rice, October sees a golden harvest, and in winter, the water-filled terraces glisten with a silvery light. Officially, winter is also considered the most beautiful season for the terraces. ❷ At sunrise, the beautiful contours of the terraces are faintly visible in the dawn light. From a high vantage point, they resemble an elegant ink painting. As the sun rises from the east, the faintly visible working people around the terraces seem to step into a childhood dream. ❸ When I visited in May, we drove up the mountain in a torrential night rain, only to find many inns closed. After inquiring, we learned it was the off-season, and many innkeepers at the highest points were not locals. So, remember to call ahead☎️ to check. ❹ For accommodation, I recommend staying near the Duoyishu Scenic Area. The sunrise over the terraces is truly dreamy. For meals, be sure to try the red rice🍚, with its light pink hue, it is both beautiful and delicious