Honghe Hani Rice Terraces – Honghe, China - Atlas Obscura

Honghe Hani Rice Terraces

Honghe, China

A complex and beautiful system of rice terraces covers a million acres over the mountains. 

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The stunning Honghe Hani Rice Terraces cover 1,000,000 acres from the slopes of the Ailao Mountains down to the Hong Kong River in Yunnan, China. 

The 1,200-year-old elaborate red rice terraces were created to bring water down from the forests to allow for farming on the slopes. The system of terraces stretches over four counties — Yuanyang, Honghe, Jinpin, and Lvchun — although the main area is in Yuanyang. 

Incorporated into the terraces are 82 villages, and a farming system involving buffaloes and cattle, as well as eels, ducks, and fish. 

The terraces were designated an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013. 

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July 9, 2013

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