Honghe Hani Rice Terraces

The Honghe Hani Rice Terraces form a vast network of stepped fields spread across four counties, rising between 1,000 and 2,600 meters in elevation. The terraces follow the natural slope of mountain hillsides and create a layered pattern of water, stone, and vegetation across thousands of hectares.

The Hani people built these rice terraces over 1,300 years ago, adapting to the steep mountain terrain by developing an advanced irrigation system. This system carries water downward from mountaintop forests to feed the fields below.

The Hani communities preserve their traditional farming ways, with each village centered around a moqiu, an open gathering space for communal celebrations. People work in harmony with the seasonal rhythm and pass down agricultural knowledge through families.

The terrain is quite hilly, so visitors should prepare for walks at different elevations as the terraces are spread across multiple levels. Arriving early in the morning offers the best light on the water and fewer crowds on the pathways.

The terraces were built without retaining walls because farmers carved directly into the limestone rock to create naturally drained fields for rice. This technique let water flow between fields without needing artificial structures.