Harmony between man and nature, Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces

The Hani Terraces, built on the hillsides of the valley on the south bank of the Red River, are a typical example of the Hani people living in harmony with the nature of the Ailao Mountains and their pursuit of harmony between man and nature. According to Chinese literature, the Hani Terraces have a history of reclamation and cultivation of more than 1,300 years. For thousands of years, the ethnic groups living here, represented by the Hani people, have cleverly utilized the advantage of the Ailao Mountains, where "the higher the mountain, the higher the water", and integrated terraces, villages, and irrigation systems into the natural ecosystem in a sustainable way, thus constructing an isomorphic ecology of "forests, villages, terraces, and water systems", which has continued to be used and developed to this day. The terraced fields wind around the mountain like a long dragon, with ridges and dikes stacked one on top of the other, the highest reaching more than 3,000 levels and an altitude difference of more than 1,300 meters. As people cultivate, sow, and harvest, the terraces present different landscapes in each season. From November to April of the following year is the fertilizer storage and water irrigation period for the terraces. People draw water from the highest point of the mountain to irrigate the fields. The water flows down the mountain into the terraces. Each field becomes a mirror, reflecting not only the mountains, forests and villages, but also presenting different colors with the sky. The scenery and momentum are breathtaking, attracting countless photography enthusiasts and tourists. If the weather is good and there is a sea of ​​clouds, it will look like a divine ladder descending from the sky, beautiful and spectacular. The main attractions of Yuanyang Hani Terraces Scenic Area include Laohuzui, Bada, Duoyishu, Aichun and Azheke. You can watch the sunset at Laohuzui and Bada, the sunrise at Duoyishu, the blue terraces at Aichun, and Azheke is an ancient Hani village. There are not only large tracts of terraces here, but also you can experience the Hani people’s mushroom houses and daily life up close. The end of February is the time when the Yuanyang Rice Terraces are at their most beautiful and it is also the time when there are the most tourists. There was traffic jam on the road and the tourist spots were crowded with people. In order to take pictures of the sunset and sunrise, we really worked day and night. Because of a vehicle scratch accident at Laohuzui, our car was stuck for nearly 2 hours. When we arrived at Bada, we encountered another traffic jam. The car could not move more than one kilometer away from the entrance of the scenic area. Everyone got off the car and ran. When we finally arrived at the viewing platform, it was crowded with people. I was short and had no drone, so I couldn't take any pictures of the sunset. The next day, in order to "grab" a good camera position, we set out for Duoshu at 6 o'clock. When we arrived, we saw that the viewing platforms were already filled with tripods and people. Someone told us that many photography enthusiasts came to "grab positions" at more than 3 o'clock, which shows how difficult it is to take good photos. While waiting for the sunrise, some of the group members met Taiwanese and Koreans, and had warm and friendly conversations with them. It turns out that the Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces are also quite well-known internationally.