Honghe Terraced Fields, Yunnan Province

Proposed World Heritage Classification: Cultural Site
Location: South Yunnan
 

The Terraced Fields site is located in Yunnan Province, in the Honghe Hani and Yi Nationalities Autonomous Prefecture. The total protective area of the nomination is 13,190 hectares with a surrounding buffer zone of 14,810 hectares. Most of the villages in the area have been established halfway or more up the mountainsides, at between 1000 and 1500 meters above sea level. The history of the Terraced Fields can be traced back over 1,300 years, and despite having been exposed to the influence of modern civilization, the Honghe Hani Terraced Fields have remained a site of breathtaking beauty and simplicity.

The Honghe Hani Terraced Fields exemplify a perfect ecosystem in which field, forest, house and river co-exist in a harmonious relationship between human and the natural environment. The people of the Hani and Yi ethnic minorities adapted rapidly to the mountainous region to which they fled over a thousand years ago, settling on steep mountain ridges.

The Hani have a saying that water can flow as high as any mountain. Historically, the locations they chose to build their villages and open their terraced fields lay between dense forests high on the mountainside and river valleys The traditional Hani village generally lies just below a ridge of dense forest; a bamboo filled hollow beside it provides water year-round; terraced fields lie further down and stretch down to the river banks.

Because of the high temperature in the river valleys, water vaporizes and forms clouds and fog. When the clouds and fog rise to the forests on the mountains, they cool and form water droplets, which then settle on branches and leaves. Numerous droplets come together and become streams, which then flow downwards. The Hani people draw stream water to their villages for daily use, and channel water to irrigate their terraced fields.The forests, villages, terraced fields, and river valleys, one below the other, form an ecosystem that works day after day, year after year.

Outstanding Feature: Harmonious ecosystem in which human culture is perfectly integrated.

The main scenic spots: Laohuzhui Terraced Field The largest terraced field in Honghe with a splendid view.

 

Laohuzhui

 

Duoyishu Terraced Field

Located 1900 meters above sea level, this is the highest point in Yenyang.

Duoyishu

 

Bada Terraced Field

One of the largest fields in Honghe county.
 

Bada

Qingkou Terraced Field

The Hani live here in a unique style of home called “mushroom house”.
 

Qingkou