Alulong River Valley in Yiliang County, Kunming
Overview
The Alulong River Valley (阿路龙河谷) scenic area is located about 10 kilometers northwest of the Diehongqiao Scenic Area (叠虹桥景区), upstream on the Matisi River (马蹄河), a tributary of the Nanpan River (南盘江). Alulong is renowned for its picturesque valley landscapes and for the discovery of ancient Yi (彝) inscriptions from the Qin and Han Dynasties. It is situated in the northwest of Yiliang County (宜良县), neighboring 11 natural villages.
The tributary of the Mingyue River (明月河) in the Pearl River (珠江) system forms a bay in Alulong River Valley resembling a water droplet-shaped emerald pendant.
Seasonal Highlights
In the summer of 2022, a stunning colorful rice field painting was unveiled, captivating many. The rice landscape draws inspiration from the mountains, rivers, and folk tales of Alulong Village (阿路龙村). The artwork, titled “Heart Lamp Girl, Mingyue River Pendant,” was created using red, yellow, and black-purple rice, depicting a Yi girl holding a heart lamp, symbolizing the enrichment of rural revitalization.
The Alulong rural complex integrates “pastoral scenery,” “gorge landscapes,” and “Yi ethnic culture,” forming a tourism destination that offers various activities, including camping, hiking, and barbecuing. This complex promotes creative and landscape agriculture, achieving a harmonious relationship between tourism and agriculture, encouraging local farmers to participate and prosper together.
Natural Beauty
Upon entering Alulong, visitors are greeted by flower-filled pathways, lush rolling hills, and vibrant fields—a sight to behold. From a height, one can overlook the terraced fields, where scattered villages are intertwined with green mountains and clear waters, creating a beautiful pastoral landscape.
Colorful flowers, agile birds, resting dragonflies, and fluttering butterflies add dynamism to this beautiful canvas. Late summer and early autumn bring rice seedlings to their tillering stage, arranged neatly in rows, indicating a promising harvest ahead.
With a healthy ecosystem, birds arrive, flowers bloom, and the fragrance of lotus fills the air. Egrets soar through the green fields, illustrating the harmonious coexistence of humans and nature.
“Green mountains and clear waters are as valuable as mountains of gold and silver.” With the earth as its backdrop, colorful rice as its brush, and culture as its coloring, Yiliang County’s Alulong paints a new picture of rural revitalization and idyllic landscapes on the “Yunling Land” (云岭大地).
Visitor Information
- Contact Numbers: 0871-67511966; 0871-67511998
- Recommended Visit Duration: 1-3 hours
- Admission: No entrance fee; included in the ticket for the Jiuxiang Scenic Area (九乡风景区).
- Opening Hours: Temporarily closed.
- Location: Jiuxiang Scenic Area, Yiliang County, Kunming, Yunnan Province (云南省昆明市宜良县九乡风景区).
