View of Tiger terraces - perfect weather
Group of 17 pax consists of 12 past Yongers and 5 newbies
Street food in Bird and Flower Market of Kunming
We chartered this local King Long 33 seats bus
Day two travel from Kunming to Jianshui 220km from Kunming
Stop for pictures in a rapeseed field
Locals still use horse-carts to move about
Pretty village like this common on the 5hr journey to Jianshui
Lunch stop in a muslim restaurant
Chaoyang Gateway Arch was built in 1389 in Jianshui
Tobacco box dance
Unique to this area and for exercise
Good views of Jianshui town from top of tower
Locals gather for exercises, music and singing
Jianshui is home to Hani and Yi minorities
Locals gather
Traditional bamboo tobacco pipes are now made of plastic and metal
It's Chinese New Year in just over 2 weeks
Wen Miao Confucian Temple is 2nd largest in China
Jianshui is famous for its tofu becasue of its “special” waters
One of the most popular wells in this village of some 300 wells
Each tofu is individually made cost Y0.20 ech
An ancient Han bridge
We visit Tuanshan Village - a Han village
Has a long history and pretty old houses and mansions
Also famous for its wood carved doors and panels
Tuanshan is located some 20 min from Jianshui
Moon gates are common here
These used to house wealthy Chinese families
But now are homes to ordinary Chinese
Home cooked meals at one of the mansions
1000 patience will bring much gold (wealth)
The couple are the current owners
Stools made of grass and straw cost Y35 each
Map of a Zhu garden in Jianshui town
Muslim serving spicy and hot hot snacks
Typical Chinese hotel room on our Yuanyang trip
On day 4 we visit Swallow Cave on the way to Yuanyang
Reputed to be one of the largest cave chamber in China
Locals still gather the swallow's birdnest by climbing these karst formations
This well managed cave is 30 km from Jianshui
Entrance fee is Y80 for a 1.5 hr guided tour
Day 5 to Yuanyang sunrise viewpoint at 6AM
Too misty and foggy on this day, sigh!
Local children offers warm eggs for Y1 each to visitors
On our way back to Yuanyang town, we stop for some pics here
Yuanyang has the biggest and most number of rice terracing in China
One of the many “spots” for viewing the terraces
This one is some 10 min from Yuanyang town
Yuanyang is 120 km 3 hr from Jianshui
Yuanyang is located in South East Yunnan Province
Three wheeler taxis - good and cheap local transport
Market day in Yuanyang
Yi minority
Hani minority are moderately dressed
Season for Oranges
More Hani folks
Younger Yi are more chic
Pretty Yi girl
Market days do not follow the weekdays
But are based on lunar and solar calender
Such markets are held in many places around Yuanyang
One of my favourite “monority” picture
Nice warm days
but mornings and nights are cold
Traditional poultry basket and straw raincoat
Baskets are popular buys
Local markets are great for photo taking
A local beauty
Large wok
Street food stall are good and cheap
We travel to sunset place after the local market
Thousands of rice terraces at Tiger's terraces
Still foggy and misty though
Sunset viewpoint is some 30 min from Yuanyang by road
High terracing
Fields are left fallow in Jan and Feb
Planting will normally commence in/after Mar
Yuanyang is famous for views of “water” terraces
wished the weather had been more cooperative though
High terraces
Rice cultivation still manual
a Yongo photographer
No mechanisation
Buffaloes are the widely here
Organic rice is produced here
thousands of rice fields
relatively flat
We wait for the sun to come down
Shelters for rest
Different times of the year, differing views
Photographers visit often
hoping for the perfect weather condition
Local China photographers come equiped
the sun sets
but still rather misty
sun's reflection
Day 6 is a 5-6 hr walk to local villages
We visit four villages on a round trip near Yuanyang
Locals here still find tourist a novelty
Buffaloes are very important here
Hani children are pretty
All villages have piped water, electricity and good mobile coverage
Red coloured water-weeds
Terraces up close
Hani women going to work
work is good for health
Hani peasant
going home
Yongers experience rural China
Villages are linked by good walking paths
Much of of which are made of concrete and stone
Pigs breed quickly
More red terraces
Our lunch stop
these red plants are food for ducks
Packed lunch among the terraces
Group buy foodstuffs the day before
Our local Hani guide
Contemplation ...
Yuanyang is 7 hr direct drive to Kunming
Almost endless photo taking
Next village ...
We head back to Yuanyang town
Yuanyang town is a nice small town
unlike the 'big“ towns of Kumning
Do visit before it grows
Yuanyang is being considered for UNESCO listing
Best times to visit are from Jan to Mar
Water is plentiful is these hills
Endless walking opportunities
One of the “famous” villages
Enjoy the walk
Pretty fields
Reflecting ...
Locals “lepaking”
75-yr young Yonoger
A Yi wedding in Yuanyang
dressed in their best
different vest - embrodiary and silver
Babies always participate
close up
All clothing still home made
Busy
