The Best Time to Visit Yuanyang Rice Terraces in Yunnan

Yuanyang County is about 326 kilometers south away from Kunming, famous for its rice terraces, which was once crowned as one of the China’s 17 most attractive scenic places. Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces regarded as the largest and most spectacular in the world. It’s crafted out by the Hani people one thousand years ago and now is masterpiece of the ingenuity of Hani people. Based on the landforms of mountains and the local conditional, the Hani people push up the hill sides with different shape and size. After generations’ development, nowadays, the rice terrace in large scale and still in using. Also become a famous tourism place of Yunnan. At present, more and more tourists from home and aboard come to visit Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces, it is a nice place for photography and sightseeing.

The Best Time to Visit Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces in Yunnan

The weather in Yuanyang belongs to subtropical monsoon season with an average annual temperature of 24.4 °C. Different season shows different scenery in Yuanyang Rice Terraces. It is available to visit Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces all year round. However, from November to the next April is the best time to catch the terraces the most beautiful scenery. Every year, after autumn harvest, the rice paddies will be filled with water. In the middle of December, wild cherry blossom are in bloom, there are wild cherry blossom and palm trees in the fields and the edge of fields. In February, cherry blossom, peach flowers, pear flowers, plum flowers and azalea bloom one after another. There are sea of clouds in the early morning. Until the middle of March, this period is a good time for photography lovers.

Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces in Spring (March, April, May)

Spring, when the weather get warmer, is the season of sowing and transplanting the seedlings in Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces. In the spring time, the cattle is working in the rice fields, the local Hani people is transplanting rice seedlings and after several days, the whole rice terraces turn into green which looks so lively together with green mountains. During spring, temperature changes between day and night. So T-shirts, long-sleeved shirts as well as thin jackets are needed.

Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces in Summer (June, July, August)

The temperature in Summer is higher than other seasons, though the weather is quite pleasant and not too hot. At that time, the paddies are luxuriantly green with growing rice stalks, full of vigor. On the Ailao Mountain, ultraviolet ray is strong in summer, you need sunglasses, sun cream and other sunscreen products. Also coats are needed to prevent a cold due to the large temperature difference between daytime and night.

Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces in Autumn (September, October, November)

Autumn is the harvest season, in the harvest time, terraces change its color from green to yellow, the whole Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces looks splendid. Rice terraces with different harvest times show different colors, either deep or light. Hiking along the Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces is a good way to enjoy the golden paddies and experience local Hani culture.

Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces in Winter (December, January, February)

The Yuanyang Hani rice terraces are flooded in the winter and early spring before planting rice seedlings. The water-filled rice terraces are like thousands of mirrors reflecting the blue sky, green hills and mountains, or the sunrise and sunset, reflecting through this water surface of the terraces presents a marvelous view. It is the best time for photographing. If the time is right, you can join the long street banquet at the street of Hani Minority, which is the biggest festival there, like Spring Festival, and enjoy the local Hani Culture; Hiking along the Rice Terraces to see red duckweed and the colorful Rice Terraces will be a must-do in Winter when rice hasn’t been planted into field yet.