Things to do in Yuanyang

I went during the wrong season. I visited Azheke, but the village isn't very big and there's not much to see. I had some popular coffee, which was pretty good. The sunset at Bada wasn't as good as at Tiger Mouth.

The Hani Rice Terraces weren't great due to the bad weather, so the scenery was just average. The grandeur was still there, but the view was diminished by the mist, which was a shame. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

The Hani Rice Terraces are very spectacular and worth visiting many times. The scenic area management has always been online. Bada, Laohuzui, Duoyishu and Azheke are all good, very distinctive and worth recommending.

We went to the Tiger Mouth viewing platform to watch the sunset, but the terraced fields were just average, and the angle of the sunset wasn't great either, so we were a bit disappointed. The terraced fields aren't as good as those in Azheke and Duoyishu. Going down from the viewing platform involves climbing many stairs; going down was okay, but going up was quite strenuous. If you have mobility issues or aren't physically fit, I suggest you think carefully before going.

Among the terraces created by the Hani people, there is a blue terrace that is famous for its almost blue color. It is called Aichun Blue Terraces. It looks very much like Pamukkale in Turkey, so it is also called the "Blue Terraces". It is located in Yuanyang County, Honghe Prefecture, and is an important part of the Hani Terraces. Watching the reflection of the blue sky in the terraces, as long as the weather is clear, the terraces are all wonderful blue reflections. The bluer the sky, the bluer the terraces. Netizens jokingly call it the real mirror of the sky. The clearer the weather, the more beautiful the angle of the sunlight reflects on the paddy fields, forming patches of sky blue, which is the origin of the blue terraces.

you MUST walk to the very bottom for a viewing platform that is AMAZZZZZINNNNNG. (the village is very pleasant too)

The Jianshui mini-train experience is great. It departs from Lin'an Station and stops at Shuanglong Station, Xianghuiqiao Station, and Tuanshan Station in sequence. Tuanshan Village preserves ancient buildings such as Ming and Qing dynasty residences, village gates, and ancestral halls. It's a good place to eat grass sprout rice noodles and take photos.

Great! There are fun activities during the National Day holiday. You can exchange empty water bottles for silver tickets, play games to earn more silver tickets, and then use those silver tickets to bid on items at an auction. The kids love it.

Jianshui Ancient City | A Thousand-Year-Old Lin'an, Hiding Yunnan's Gentlest Slow Time ✨ Having traveled through many ancient cities in Yunnan, I have a particular fondness for Jianshui. Unlike the bustling crowds of Dali and Lijiang, this ancient city of Lin'an, with its thousand-year history, is a truly living ancient city. There's no excessive commercialization or dense clusters of trendy shops; only the rich cultural heritage and the everyday life brimming with life, hiding the leisurely pace of southern Yunnan's life within the ancient alleyways and blue-brick walls passed down through the years. The moment you step into the ancient city, all the anxieties of your journey are soothed. The winding bluestone paths, polished by centuries of wind and rain, are both warm and rustic. Along the streets are well-arranged Ming and Qing dynasty houses and elegant stone archways, their upturned eaves embodying Chinese aesthetics, their mottled walls etched with the marks of time. Deep within the alleys, locals still live and work for generations, with wisps of smoke rising from chimneys in the morning and leisurely conversations in the afternoon—a blend of everyday life and ancient charm, gentle and healing. The spirit of the ancient city is hidden in its cultural heritage passed down through generations. The Chaoyang Tower, standing majestically in the east of the city for six hundred years, bears witness to the vicissitudes of Jianshui over a millennium. Greeting the sunrise and bidding farewell to the sunset, it is the most captivating landmark of the ancient city. The Jianshui Confucian Temple, the largest in China, is tranquil and serene. Ancient cypress trees reach for the sky, and the Pan Pond reflects the surrounding landscape. Its ancient and solemn architecture, with its bracketed eaves and flying corners, exudes a scholarly atmosphere that has continued for a thousand years. A stroll through it is filled with a refined and tranquil ambiance, inspiring awe. Every step reveals a scene of ancient charm, and every brick and tile tells a story. The Zhu Family Garden, hailed as the "Grand View Garden of Southern Yunnan," features winding corridors, secluded courtyards, and exquisitely carved beams and painted rafters. Each courtyard offers a unique view, showcasing the elegant splendor of a once-powerful family. The century-old narrow-gauge railway, winding its way through rice paddies and ancient villages, its whistle whistling softly in the evening breeze, offers an immersive experience of the romance and gentleness of bygone days—a uniquely Jianshui-esque healing romance. What's most captivating is the vibrant, everyday life of the ancient town. Everywhere you look, there are stalls selling grilled tofu, their smoke rising, the crispy exterior and tender interior a testament to Jianshui's ingrained flavor. The fragrant and sweet grass-sprout rice noodles and authentic local barbecue are affordable and delicious, each bite a taste of southern Yunnan. Spend your leisure time sitting by the roadside, watching locals chat and slowly grill tofu, letting time flow by peacefully—a truly serene and enjoyable experience. And here you'll find the unique Jianshui purple pottery, its thousand-year-old kilns burning ever since. Meticulously crafted by artisans, its crackled texture is warm and elegant, embodying the craftsmanship and heritage of southern Yunnan—the ancient town's most precious cultural symbol. By day, admire the ancient architecture and cultural heritage; by night, embrace the vibrant life of the ancient city. By day, Jianshui is like Lin'an, a city steeped in history and culture, with its scholarly atmosphere and gleaming ancient buildings. By night, Jianshui transforms into a gentle, relaxed town, with soft lights, tranquil streets, and the aroma of delicious food carried on the evening breeze, making every journey more pleasant. In Jianshui, there's no need to rush to see everything; simply stroll at your leisure. See the ancient buildings reflected in the moonlight, hear the rumble of the railway tracks, savor the everyday life, and cherish the gentle passage of time. This hidden gem of an ancient city in southern Yunnan tells the story of the most healing slow-paced life in Yunnan through its millennia-old cultural heritage and gentle, vibrant atmosphere. 🌿 (For sightseeing)