In the south-east of Yunnan Province, one of the most beautiful sights of China is located – the Yuanyang rice terraces. All year round, the beauty of the Banyan attracts lovers of beautiful and unusual photos from all over the world. The terraces look especially attractive, oddly enough, in winter, when the rice fields filled with water reflect the full sky of clouds that play with the whimsical rays of sunrises and sunsets.
The history of the creation of terraces dates back about 2500 years ago, when nomadic tribes descended from the mountains and engaged in rice cultivation. Very quickly they noticed that the cereals on the flooded slopes yield much, ten times, more yield than those sown in dry soil. Many generations of peasants cut down the steps of terraces in the slope. It took effort, time and precision.
Loose slopes did not tolerate mistakes, and the slightest flaws in the fragile irrigation system and the maintenance of the walls led to the loss of a thin layer of fertile soil, which was mercilessly washed away by running water. The harsh struggle with nature has determined the current appearance of the Yuanyang Terrace, making them a monument to the limitless possibilities of man.
20 thousand square kilometers located at altitudes from 200 to 2 thousand meters above sea level – this is how they look now. Just like 2000 years ago, they bend around the slopes of hills of incredible beauty with dozens and hundreds of steps.
Yuanyang Terraces are also an example of a unique self-sustaining ecosystem. Water from the peaks of the mountains flowing down the hillsides provides the soil with vitality for a new crop for tens of centuries. The emerald green of rice shoots in summer and the golden cover of the hills in autumn. Clouds running in the glass surface of the water in the glow of sunsets and sunrises. There are no identical seasons on the Banyan. Every day here gives a unique experience.