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3 Days Yuanyang Rice Terraces & Hani Culture Discovery Tour

Cultural Landscape of Honghe Hani Rice Terraces

Many travelers said the rice terrace is so much like the Great Wall in China for they are wonders of human being. Chinese people use their own wisdom and their skillful hands to get the most out of nature and create the “Art of Earth”. Yuanyang Rice Terrace is the core area of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Cultural Landscape of Honghe Hani Rice Terrace covering 16,603-hectares in southern Yunnan. Over the past 1300 years, Hani people have been working among the rice paddies generation after generation, creating the most incredible masterpiece by their own hands.

Yuanyang Rice Terrace is in the south of Yunnan, about 320 kilometers from Kunming. Most travelers would start from Kunming and then make the transfer to Yuanyang with about 5.5-6 hours’ driving. This 3-day Yuanyang tour is the classic discovery of Yuanyang Rice Terrace with all highlights included. You won’t miss the chance to catch sunrise at Duoyishu, sunset at Bada, misty Hani village with numerous mushroom houses at Azheke, blue rice terraces in Aichun...You will definitely meet the most beautiful rice terrace in Yuanyang.

  • Type : Private Tour
  • Tour Code : CD-YYT-03
  • Price : from $595
    1. 1. This price is for one person, based on a group of 2 adults sharing one double-bed room in a 4-star hotel and traveling in low seasons;
    2. 2. This price is subject to change according to your traveling season, group size, hotel class, change of activities and possible fluctuation of currency exchange rate.
  • Trip Length : 3D/2N
  • Theme : Nature / Landscape / Photography

HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS TOUR

  • Get to the most beautiful rice terrace in China - Yuanyang Rice Terrace in southern Yunnan with a long scenic driving from Kunming to Yuanyang;
  • Catch the gorgeous sun rising over the quiet Duoyishu Rice Terrace and shoot the sunset falling down the Bada Rice Terrace with 3,000 steps;
  • Have a understanding of an integrated four-fold system of forests, water supply, terraces and houses, and the harmony between nature and humankind;
  • Take trips to the local Hani villages dotted with the typical mushroom houses and pay a visit to their home for a better known about their daily life.
Itinerary Day by Day (Can Be Customized)
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Day 1 Kunming - Yuanyang

Drive from Kunming to Yuanyang - Longshuba Rice Terrace

Today, you’ll be picked up at your hotel in Kunming downtown area. The following journey is about 320 kilometers’ driving from Kunming to Yuanyang which takes about 4.5 hours on the way. Yuanyang Rice Terrace, regarded as the most beautiful rice terrace in China, is the core area of the UNESCO World Heritage called the Cultural Landscape of Honghe Hani Rice Terraces.

Upon arrival in Yuanyang, you’ll have time to explore around Xinjie Town with a short hiking trip to Longshuba Rice Terrace (3.5km, about 45mins). Longshuba is different from other rice terraces for the oxygen in the water here varies from other fields, so it’s famous for the unique red duckweed upon the layer by layer rice paddies. Catch the best moment to enjoy the gentle and gorgeous rice terrace view during the sunset period.

After the tour, you’ll be escorted to your hotel in Yuanyang. Have a good rest tonight.

  • Longshuba Rice Terrace Longshuba Rice Terrace
  • Mushroom Houses Mushroom Houses

Day 2 Yuanyang (B, L)

Duoyishu Rice Terrace - Aichun Village - Azheke Village - Bada Rice Terrace

On this day, try to get up early and head to Duoyishu Rice Terrace to watch sunrise. Duoyishu is the best place to shoot sunrise and misty Hani village, surrounded by high mountains in three sides and stretching to the valley in one side. There are many mushroom-like houses dotted aside the rice paddies, just like the sailboat moving into the sea. The ray appears splendidly over the high mountains at first light and when the sun rises up, the whole rice terraces change its colors from quiet blue into golden, shining brilliantly.

Later, move from Duoyishu Rice Terrace to Aichun Village which is about 5km away to see the blue rice terrace. It is in blue not because the water here is blue but for the terrace is the huge mirrors of the blue sky. Standing at a high observation deck, you can feast your eyes with a beautiful painting scrolls with azure sky and white clouds above, blue rice terraces layer by layer on the ground, traditional Hani houses hidden among the trees at a short distance... (Travel tip: come to visit Aichun Village during 09:00-10:00 which is the best time to appreciate blue rice terrace.)

The following time is a leisure cultural trip to Azheke Village, the most primitive Hani Village and its 51 mushroom houses are listed into the protective mushroom houses in Yuanyang. Azheke Village is the best example of harmony living between humankind and nature, fully presenting Forest - Village - River - Clouds fused together. Walking into the village, you’ll numerous old mushroom houses, stone mills, sheep, buffaloes, back pigs, smoke rising continuously from the chimneys…Pay a visit to one of the local Hani families and have a good talk with them to know their daily life and ethnic customs.

In this afternoon, have a nice shoot in the spectacular Bada Rice Terrace - the best place to shoot sunset and catch the terrace panorama. At dusk, when the sun shines on the 950-hectare rice paddies rising from 800 meters to 2000 meters, then the magnificent scene forms - like the ladders toward heaven led by bright light. Hold your breath when sunset glow shining upon the paddies and you'll see the 3700-level terraces first turns pink, then rosy and later dark red, pink, golden and white…

After the tour, be transferred to your hotel in Yuanyang.

  • Bada Rice Terrace Bada Rice Terrace
  • Duoyishu Rice Terrace Duoyishu Rice Terrace
  • Blue Rice Terrace in Aichun Village Blue Rice Terrace in Aichun Village
  • Azheke Village, the most primitive Hani Village Azheke Village, the most primitive Hani Village

Day 3 Yuanyang - Kunming & Kunming Departure (B, L)

Ethnic Market & Bazaar in Yuanyang - Drive back to Kunming for Departure

After breakfast, catch the last moment to enjoy the beautiful morning in Yuanyang and take many great pictures as you like. Your guide and driver will escort you to attend the Ethnic Market & Bazaar in Yuanyang, a bustling place for local people who dressed in traditional ethnic costumes trading daily supplies, including fresh vegetable, fruits, meats, and many other kinds of food and daily necessities. It is a great opportunity to get close to Hani people’s living conditions.

On the way back to Kunming, you’ll have the chance to stop for relaxing exploration about some other primitive ethnic villages near Yuanyang County.

With 5-6 hours’ driving, you’ll get to Kunming. After arriving in Kunming, transfer to the airport or train station to catch your flight/train (after 18:00) to next destination or back home.

Note: If your time is flexible, you can add one more day to pay a visit to Jianshui Ancient Town which is on the way between Yuanyang and Kunming. All the attractions and itinerary can be customized based on your like and time. Please feel free to contact us.

  • The Only Mongolian Village in Yunnan - Xingmeng Village The Only Mongolian Village in Yunnan - Xingmeng Village
  • Ethnic Market & Bazaar in Yuanyang Ethnic Market & Bazaar in Yuanyang

Recommended Add-on Options

+4 more days to Lijiang Ancient City and Shangri-La

In this trip, you will explore two of the most charming places in Yunnan: Lijiang - the Kingdom of Naxi People and Shangri-La - Garden of Eden! Here, you are in a world of minority people, temples, old towns, ancient streets, lakes, rivers, mountains…splendid culture and breathtaking scenery are waiting for you to explore.

In this 4 days Lijinag & Shangri-La highlights tour, you’ll graspe every second to enjoy yourself on the incredible land – have panoramic view of Lijiang Ancient City, explore the authentic Naxi Village to feel the special Dongba Culture, visit Ganden Sumtseling Monastery, and take a light hike to Tiger Leaping Gorge that is the world's deepest gorge. You will just find the tour fabulous every moment!

Lijiang Old Town Full View from Wangu Tower

The quotation for this trip is from $595 Per Person

1. This price is for one person, based on a group of 2 adults sharing one standard double-bed room in 4-star hotel and traveling with our private tour in low seasons.
2. This price is subject to change according your traveling season, group size, hotel class, change of activities in your itinerary and possible fluctuation of currency exchange rate. If you want a lower price, you can get more people to join you, or use economy class hotels.
3. This price is only valid to March 31, 2023.
4. Reference exchange rate of USD 1=RMB 6.85. The final quote is based on current exchange rate. It may change according to the currency fluctuation, while the RMB quotation will be remained the same.

What's included?

  • Professional licensed English-speaking guide;
  • Admission tickets for all attractions listed in the itinerary;
  • Accommodation as listed in the itinerary (4-star standard);
  • Necessary vehicle transfers as listed in the itinerary;
  • Domestic flights (economy class) and high-speed trains (second class) as listed in the itinerary;
  • Airport (and train station) pick up and drop off;
  • Luggage Transfers: between airports (railway station) and hotels;
  • All meals as listed( “B” for Chinese and Western breakfast buffet in your hotel; “L” for Chinese Lunch in local restaurant; “D” for Chinese dinner in local restaurant.);
  • Accident insurance;
  • Our service charge, including tour planning, handling, operational and communication charges.

What's excluded?

  • China visa;
  • Personal expenses;
  • Accommodation not listed in the itinerary;
  • Single Room Supplement;
  • Tourist sites which are not listed in the itinerary;
  • Recommended optional activities;
  • Flights or trains not listed in the itinerary;
  • Excess Baggage Charges;
  • Optional tips to guides, drivers, etc.

Check What our delighted customers are saying about our services.

Hi Wonder,

We are safely back in Guangzhou. Wonderful experience. All the planned events were highlights and the little extra side trips were a plus. Thank you for all your careful planning.

Townsend - 2023.3.29‚ USA, March 29, 2023

Hi Leo,

This is a very short customised arrangement during which the China border is not fully opened yet.

China Discovery charges a premium though, but it delivered without fail.

The VOA is very new to even the custom officers who were on duty when I cleared the immigration check at Shenzhen as well as the HK side. I must say that the agent did his professional service by always on the call to allow on-site changes of my arrival time because immigration clearance was so unpredictable. I can be assured that someone is just outside the arrival hall to pick me up and, I could tell the immigration officer that my local contact person is just waiting outside to pick me once I am cleared with this new procedure.

It is always safer to have a local contact to guide you and make arrangements for your local transfer when language ( Cantonese instead of Mandarin) is a problem in China .

Thx for the service . Thx to Matt too.

Rgds

Lowell - 2023.3.24‚ Singapore, March 24, 2023

Rita,

thank you for your arrangement. The tour and logistics were really good. We are very happy and look forward to the next trip in China with your company.

Jack - 2023.3.21‚ Vietnam, March 21, 2023

Dear Jack,

I have tried to leave the following review with tripadvisor several times now but somehow it is not accepted, I do not know why.

"Just back from our 9-day trip to Yunnan, long planned and waited for. It was our second time with China Discovery Tours. Once again they tailored the tour according to our ideas and interests - and succeeded in surprising us! Thanks to the local guides we learned a lot about history, traditions and customs, and, of course, food. We always felt in safe hands and the organization was just perfect with enough on spot flexibility. Big thanks to Jack who figured it all out so well and to the next time with China Discovery! Johannes (GER) & Elizabeth (GRC)"

Thanks again for an excellent trip, best regards, Johannes&Elizabeth

Johannes - 2023.3.20‚ Germany, March 20, 2023

Hi Jack!

It's was great, we loved it! Our tour guide Frank was very kind, informative, and funny :) We loved how easy it was and how much we got to see in a day, I will definitely recommend to our friends!

Ashton - 2023.3.16‚ USA, March 16, 2023
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Check What our customers are saying about us on Tripadvisor.com.

We are one of the few China travel agencies who have kept active and received lots of feedbacks and reviews during pandemic years

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Kelly T
"Beyond expectation! It came shortly after the business trip that I and my wife decided to go on a private tour. Even with such short notice, the service was extraordinary..."
Reviewed on April 3, 2023
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Kathleen C
"My husband and I visited Yunnan and Rita of China Discovery arranged every detail of the trip. We visited Kunming, Dali, Shangri-La and Lijiang. Rita booked our flights, train..."
Reviewed on March 29, 2023
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Eveyone in our company is working hard for only one goal, which is to ensure the highest level of service, luxury, and attention to detail from the minute you begin planning your trip, to the day you return home.

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After sending us an inquiry, one of our travel consultants will get back to you within 0.5~23.5 hrs. In the next few days, he/she will be working closely with you to formulate a customized tour plan, as well as providing professional suggestions based on your travel interests, time, and budget.

Beside, he/she will keep in contact with you during your entire tour in China, continually checking if everything is going well as planned.

We're working at Chengdu Bamboo International Tours, local based in Chengdu.

Local Tour Guides

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Our local guide in every destination is not only very friendly, enthusiastic but also very informative and knowledgeable.

Once you arrive in the destination, the patient and punctual guides will pick you up and take you to get under skin of the city at your own pace. By in-depth discovery and explanation, they’ll show you more about the history, culture, customs and authentic local life. Throughout the journey, they're not only expert guides who take care of all the details but also fellow travelers who are dedicated to help you explore in comfort and style.

Our guides are passionate about what they do, and it shows all the way!

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Our private service includes licensed drivers with many years’ driving experience and air-conditioned, non-smoking, clean and well-maintained cars/vans. Drivers are local, polite, friendly and helpful, taking you to your tourist sites, hotels, airport/train stations in safety. All kinds of vehicle are offered, and yours depends on the size of your group. Usually, we offer sedan cars, SUVs, business vans (MPV) and different types of buses, all with extra space for your luggage.

Our private transfer service guarantees you the highest comfort!

Comfortable & Homelike Hotels

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In each destination, you’ll enjoy a comfortable stay in a great location!

The hotels we choose are based on star rating, great locations, well-equipped facilities, cozy bed, high quality service and guests’ feedbacks. Choices are a lot ranging from luxury 5 star, comfortable 4 star to budget 3 star. You could decide where to stay to best suit for your budget and likes. Generally, the hotels have both Western and Chinese breakfast with a wide choices.

If you have already got an ideal hotel, please feel free to tell our travel consultants and they'll book the hotel for you.

Have good sleep in our well-selected hotels in all the destinations of China.

Meals & Dining

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We can satisfy all the dietary requirements no matter you want Chinese local food, western food, vegetarian food or muslin food.

The restaurants we will take you for lunch or dinner are all designated tourist restaurants approved by local tourist administration bureau. They have very good sanitary conditions and the food is prepared fresh and clean.

There will be some meals excluded in your itinerary as you like, and your private guide will be delighted to give you some suggestions and take you to the local restaurants to taste like Beijing Roast Duck, Xian Dumpling Dinner, Sichuan Hotpot, etc., if you are interested in local food tasting.

All the dining options will satisfy your stomach!

Photo gallery of this trip

  • Longshuba Rice Terrace Longshuba Rice Terrace
  • Mushroom Houses Mushroom Houses
  • Bada Rice Terrace Bada Rice Terrace
  • Duoyishu Rice Terrace Duoyishu Rice Terrace
  • Blue Rice Terrace in Aichun Village Blue Rice Terrace in Aichun Village
  • Azheke Village, the most primitive Hani Village Azheke Village, the most primitive Hani Village
  • The Only Mongolian Village in Yunnan - Xingmeng Village The Only Mongolian Village in Yunnan - Xingmeng Village
  • Ethnic Market & Bazaar in Yuanyang Ethnic Market & Bazaar in Yuanyang

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