Jianshui & Yuanyang brief

Jianshui and Yuanyang are located in Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture of Yunnan Province. With a 1200-year history, Jianshui is rich in cultural heritages from the ancient time. You can take your time to stroll at old streets and see ancient houses and wells at your pace.
Yuanyang County is located in the depth of the Ailao Mountains. Thousands of years ago, the Hani people living in this place created a wonder by developing large areas of terraced fields on the mountainsides and in the valleys. The terraced fields in Yuanyang are called Ladders toward Heaven by the Hani people. 

Top attractions
Jianshui: Jianshui is a small city with a few historic and cultural sites. The highlight is that you can even stay overnight at the guesthouse of Zhu Family Garden, which is a well-preserved ancient residence of Zhu Family. Then, you could visit the Confucius Temple, the second largest one of the whole country, just smaller than the Qufu Confucius Temple; Chaoyang Gate that is praised as "Lesser Gate of Heavenly Peace", has a history of more than 600 years, the tourists can see and experience the life of local people from the market in front of the gate; Double Dragon Bridge with seven arches; Zhang's Family Garden, and etc. Here, you won’t be disturbed by the flocks of tourists as the touristy Lijiang and Dali. It is relaxed and peaceful experience of strolling along the old streets and sightseeing the ancient houses.
Yuanyang: Yuanyang is famous for the amazing rice-terraces built on the red-soil mountains. 2500 years ago, the ancestors of Hani people came from Tibetan Plateau to this land and worked out the terraced fields on mountains generations after generations. Now we can see the terraced fields step upwards over range upon range of slopes from a height 144 to 2000 meters. The area of terraced fields amount to more than 11,000 hectares, and for more than 3,000 steps of which stretch from the foot of a hill up to the top. The best places to appreciate the charm of the spectacular terraces are Laohuzui (Tiger Mouth Pass), Duoyishu and Bada. 

Recommended tour
The best season is March and April for the most beautiful scenery of endless rice terraced fields. At that time the terraced fields are filled with water, ideal for taking pictures.
(MDD-001) Kunming-Jianshui-Yuanyang-Kunming (7 Days)

Shopping & Entertainment
Shopping:
Jianshui shopping is famous for the purple clay and steam boiler. It is said the chicken or pigeons taste the best if they are braised by purple clay steam boiler.
Entertainment:
Yuanyang is a big draw to tourists and photographers to take pictures of the amazing rice-terraces.
Hani New Year, called Angmatu, is celebrated early in the tenth lunar month, and lasts 6 days. During the festival, the Hani people get together to worship water, the dragon and heaven in expectations of a bumper grain harvest and favorable weather for the coming year. On the second day of Angmatu, each household contributes to the preparation of 40 Hani style chicken, fish, and minced pork dishes. These are placed on a 700-meter-long dragon-shaped chain of tables from each household in the main street. The street banquet then commences, amid a festive atmosphere of crashing gongs and thundering drums. All participants, young and old, dress in their best. The villagers select an elder male of good moral standing and reputation to sit at the head of the banqueting table. When the time comes to offer sacrifice, his task is to slaughter domestic animals and offer them to the gods on the villagers' behalf. Anyone lucky enough to be passing by is urged to join in. To the 4,000 Hani residents, eating, drinking and singing are the best ways of celebrating the New Year. The banquet lasts from noon to late afternoon.