2 Days Yunnan Photography Tour in Dongchuan Red Land

Dongchuan Redland （东川红土地）scenic spot located in southwest Donchuan （东川）district, which is nearby Huashitou village (花石头村) and about 152 kilometers northeast of Kunming （昆明）. It is considered as the grandest Redland ranked only second to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil (巴西里约热内卢). Its scene is much more magnificent than Brazil Redland (巴西红土地)， so the photographers named it as “The color palette overturned by God”. Yunnan situate in a mild and moister environment, therefore the soil contains such components as oxidized iron, after a long period of oxidation, gradually added and mixed in the soil that produced this extraordinary red soil. Above all, the Redland is glaring after a rain. From 9 September to 12 December each year, part of the land are plowed and other part of land are planted with crops, such as highland barley, wheat and so on. When seen from afar, it is like a color patch painted by God. The bright and colorful land , blue sky , white cloud and the changeable ray of light constitute the magnificent view, which is the paradise of shutterbug.
Transportation:
1. Bus passenger station in northern Kunming (昆明北部客运站), Kunming (昆明)—Fazhe (法者), ticket price: 50yuan , drive time: 7:50 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.
2. Kunming (昆明)—Don chuan(东川), the buses will rolling departure, and then transfer to a another bus to Majie (马街).
Tip: You should drop off at Huashitou village (花石头村) whichever option you choose.
Accommodation:
Hotel expense : 100 Yuan per night, live in Huashitou village (花石头村).
Repast : about 50 Yuan per day, eat in the inn.
Huashitou village (花石头村) located in the three-way intersection of Redland town (红土地镇)，Kunming (昆明) and Don chuan district (东川区), and the traffic is convenient. The scenic spot of Redland are mainly distributed in three routes. The North route , the East route and the South route are both pass here.
The North route : there are Langdadi (浪大地), Jinxiuyuan (锦绣园), Qicaipo (七彩坡) and Damakan (打马坎) from south to north. Langdadi (浪大地) is located to west of the intersection . Layer upon layer terraced fields like the waved boiling white, hence the name. Qicaipo (七彩坡) and Jinxiuyuan (锦绣园) are in the same land, which has different visual effect enjoy from different angles. This land cultivated a lot of crops , like potatoes, buckwheat , etc. It is so spectacular of color during the flowering time. Damakan (打马坎) located at the northest of north-west line, which is the best place to shoot the sunrise.
The East route : there are Dapingtang (大坪塘)，Laolongshu (老龙树), Dongguawan (冬瓜湾), Luoxiagou (落霞沟) , Yueliangtian (月亮田), etc. Laolongshu (老龙树) is a fir whose age is old than a thousand years. She lonely stands on the Redland, and she looks so plain and full of vicissitudes. Luoxiagou (落霞沟) is one of the best place to shoot the setting sun and the sunset at dusk. Yueliangtian (月亮田) is about 20 kilometers away from Huashitou village (花石头村), in which the terraced fields scenery and canyon scenery coalesce, and with distinct layer. So that it become many shutterbug’ s favorite film place.
The South route : It is a road to Kunming. There are Yuepu’ao (乐谱凹), Wafangliangzi (瓦房梁子), Dayakou (大丫口) and many spots like that on both sides. Yuepu’ao (乐谱凹) is one kilometer to Huashitou village (花石头村). Layers of level terraced fields looks like a colorful staff, and the famers are looks like notes.
Back from Hekou (河口), I have a rest for a day in Kunming (昆明). I ordered a ticket to Fazhe (法者) on the internet (www.qunar.com) on Dec. 28th, and it cost me 50 Yuan. The next day, I got up very early, and went out before dawn. I take bus first and then transfer to subway transportation line 1, and arrived Bus passenger station in northern Kunming when day breaks. I picked up the ticket and went into waiting room.

The coach departed punctually, but it successively picked passengers up in the way. We have taken fifteen in the midway. We arrived at Huashitou village (花石头村) at half past 12. The house sitting opposite is The House of photography in Redland (红土地摄影之家). I checked in firstly, then I had lunch, after then I shoot the scenery nearby upstairs. Mr. Huang, the hold of this hotel, brought us to the spots by himself at 2:30 pm. The spots dispersed distribution and faraway, so we need a car. The best way is to rent a transportation, and we 5 person shared a car. At first, we went to every spot to film, especially Luoxiagou (落霞沟) and Laolongshu (老龙树). Then we went to the West route to shoot the sunset.

Here is Luoxiagou (落霞沟), the gate and viewing platforms are engineered, and before long here may became chargeable. Entered the gate, and we got off at the park and crossed a village. There is a big viewing platform, including platform, high-platform and footpath. We could overlook the whole Luoxiagou (落霞沟) with wide view, and we feel relaxed and happy.

2 Days Yunnan Photography Tour in Dongchuan Red Land

The terrace here are different from the terrace of Yuanyang (元阳). The scenery of Yuanyang terrace is formed by the reflection of the sky, the clouds and the ray of light. But Dongchuan terrace is much more naturally. All these things such as the land, the crops and the blue sky are under the sunshine, make the terrace different.

Because of the time, we went back and visited the Yuepu’ao (乐谱凹) and the Waliangfangzi (瓦梁房子) in the South line, so we haven’t seen the sunset.

I captured these two image of the Luoxiagou (落霞沟), and the gate has been built, therefore this spot may need by ticket for entering later this year.

Mr. Huang is familiar with the scenery spots in Dongchuan Redland (东川红土地), and he will stop and let us get off the car to shoot some beautiful scene when arriving each spot. We didn’t worry about missing the spot, very well!

When we arrived Laolongshu (老龙树)，I took out the telephoto and closed in, and found there are several person taking picture under the tree.

Getting out from the Luoxiagou (落霞沟)，we filmed the Redland on the roadside. The plowed land appears red under the sunshine of the setting sun.

Later than 5 o’clock, we droved to Luosiwan (螺蛳湾) viewing platform, and seen the famous model—Sheepskin coat man. It was off duty, so I only took two pictures of the model, and shoot nearby. Then we walked to Waliangfangzi (瓦梁房子) to shoot the sunset.

After shooting, we came back the hotel, and went into the kitchen to order food. The landlady cook them for us. It cost about 30 Yuan. I drank some beer and went to bed early. It is cold at night in the mountain, but there’s electric blanket in the inn, so I feel better.
I got up before dawn and freshened up, and went to Damakan (打马坎) to shoot the sunrise in the North line. It took me about half an hour to get the Damakan (打马坎). The daybreak came at 7:30 am. We stop the car at the turning, and got off to wait the sunrise. But we haven’t see the sun because of the thick clouds.

Having shot the sunset, we went back to the Jinxiuyuan (锦绣园) have a shoot. Then we turn back to the hotel at 9:20 am. And ate some noodle with fried egg, which cooked by the landlady. The coach back to Kunming arrived at 10:00 am, and we got on it. This Yunnan travel made my several wishes come true: I have been Luguhu (泸沽湖)，Yuanyang terrace (元阳梯田), Jianshui (建水)，Hekou (河口)，Dongchuan Redland (东川红土地). I got back Shanghai on January 6th. This travel lasted 39 days.