4-Day Jianshui Yuanyang Rice Terraces Photography Tour

Amazing Sunset in Yuanyang Rice Terraces
Explore the Old Houses in Jianshui Ancient Town
Stone Forest in Kunming, Yunnan

Tour Outline: Kunming - Shilin - Yuanyang - Jianshui - Kunming

Overview
Itinerary
Service Inclusion
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Trip Overview

Taking our hand-picked 4 days trip to Yuanyang and Jianshui, you will not only be impressed by the marvelous landscape of rice terraces in Yuanyang, but also deeply explore the ancient houses that well-preserved in Jianshui Ancient Town.

As a world heritage site, Yuanyang Rice Terraces is an amazing creature made by the local Hani ethnic group. Changing vividly through the year, Yuanyang Rice Terraces offers different scenes in different seasons, like it is green in spring when rice started to grow, golden in autumn when the rice ripens and the terraces are filled with water in winter, reflecting the sky.

As one of the national famous historic and cultural towns of China, Jianshui is an ancient town in Honghe Prefecture of Yunnan Province. With a history of over 1200 years, Jianshui Ancient Town enjoys a great reputation as a Museum of Ancient Buildings and Residential Houses in China.

Best Time to Visit
There are two best seasons to visit Yuanyang Rice Terraces and Jiangshui Ancient Town in a year.

The most recommended season is from November to the next March when the rice terraces are filled with water. The terraces all over the hills are just like thousands of mirrors reflecting the blue sky. And the sunrise and sunset are amazing that reflected by the water-filled rice terraces. It is good to taking pictures when the lines between the water in the terraces and the ridges of the fields are clear and beautiful.

The second best season to go is from July to September when it is the autumn harvest season. At this time, all the terraces are golden and yellow with rice.

During other months, it may be foggy sometimes for its wet climate. However, it is possible to visit Yuanyang Rice Terraces anytime during the year because of the subtropical climate.

Explore unique Stone Forest;
Attend sunrise and sunset at amazing Yuanyang Rice Terraces;
Enjoy the Old Town of fabulous Jianshui;
Visit secluded villages as Qingkou, Tuanshan and Xingmeng.

Best Time to Visit

November to March & July to September
Physical Demands

Very leisure tour; zero physical demand

Day by Day Itinerary

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Day 1: Kunming - Stone Forest - Danuohei Village

In the morning, you will be picked up from your hotel in Kunming. First, you will enjoy a Yunnan Pu’er Tea Ceremony, during which you can not only taste the local Pu’er tea, but also learn about the interesting tea culture of China and the history of the Ancient Tea Horse Road.

Next, you will enjoy an authentic local Yunnan lunch before you arrive at Stone Forest. After lunch, we will drive to Stone Forest, the top attraction in Kunming city. You can enjoy the shaped stones at the lookouts.

After visiting Stone Forest, you will move on to Danuohei Sani Village, which is 25 km away from Stone Forest. Since the locals have kept a traditional lifestyle, you can see the traditional houses of Sani people that built by stones, get in touch with the local Sani ethnic people and explore the traditional belief and religion of the local Sani people.

Drive about 115km for about 2 hours
Altitude: Kunming (1895m), Stone Forest (700m), Danuohei Village (1900m)
Shilin Local Hotel
Lunch

Day 2: Shilin - Yuanyang

Yunyang Rice Terraces

Marvelous Sunset at Yuanyang Rice Terraces/p>

In the morning, we will drive about 300 kilometers (4.5 hours) to Yuanyang Scenic Area, one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites in Yunnan province. The first stop is the Bada rice terraces, from which you can get a great view over the gigantic terraced valley. Then, you will move on to the Qingkou Village. Next, you will visit Laohuzui, where you can enjoy the amazing sunset over the rice terraces if the weather permits. Because of the colorful sunset, Laohuzui is praised as a recommended stop for photographer enthusiasts.

After today’s tour, you will get dropped off at your hotel.

Drive about 300 km for about 4.5 hours
Altitude: Yuanyang (2000m)
Yuanyang Local Hotel
Breakfast, Lunch

Day 3: Yuanyang - Jianshui

Old Houses in Jianshui Ancient Town

Jianshui Ancient Town Zhu's Family Garden

Zhu's Family Garden in Jianshui Ancient Town

Today, you can get up very early to see the sunrise over the rice terraces at Duoyishu Village. Then, we will visit a local street market in Shengcun village. In the market, you can see many local people, especially ethnic minorities of surrounding villages, gather together to buy and sell kinds of local food and necessities during the day.

After visiting the market, we will drive about 130 kilometers to Jianshui. Before arriving at Jianshui, you will visit Tuanshan Village en route. As a world monument of architectural heritage, Tuanshan Village attracts lots of visitors from home and abroad to see the well-preserved old houses.

Afterwards, we will visit Zhu’s Family Garden, one of the highlights in Jianshui Ancient Town. Then, you can head to the Confucius Temple in the town, which is the second largest Confucius Temple in China.

Drive 130 km for about 3.5 hours
Altitude: Jianshui (2278m)
Jianshui Local Hotel
Breakfast, Lunch

Day 4: Jianshui - Kunming

Before we get back to Kunming, we will visit a local tofu workshop in the morning. Since tofu is one of the most important food of this area, you can see how the locals make tofu in a traditional way.

Then, we will drive about 210 kilometers back to Kunming city. You will visit Xingmeng village en route to explore Mongolian culture in Yunnan. Upon your arrival in Kunming downtown, you will visit Yunnan Provincial Museum and Guandu Ancient Town.

After today’s tour, you will get dropped off at Kunming city center or Kunming Changshui Airport according to your schedule.

Option for the Evening:
Dynamic Yunnan Show is an original ethnic dance musical that directed by Yang Liping. You can get a unique “Yunnan Impression” from the show, which is a combination of folk dances and a fresh artistic concept. The show starts at 20:00 every day (except at and around the Spring Festival) and lasts for 1.5 hours.

Drive 210 km for about 3.5 hours back to Kunming
Altitude: Kunming (1895m)
Breakfast, Lunch

Price Details & Guide

Price Inclusions

Private transportation with skilled driver, including hotel pick-up and drop off; including gas, toll fee and parking fee etc.
Lodging: one night in Shilin local hotel, one night in Yuanyang local hotel, and one night in Jianshui local hotel. All hotels with breakfast (as per chosen category; based on twin-bed room for 2 pax);
Private English-speaking tour guide (1 tour guide from day 1 to day 4);
Entrance ticket fees for all the sight spots listed in the itinerary;
Meals authentic Chinese lunch as listed (3 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches);
2 bottles of local drinking water per person per day;
Compensation fee for meals and accommodations for tour guide and driver when outside of Kunming;
24/7 English-speaking customer services;
Government taxes.

Price Exclusions

International and domestic flight/train to Kunming (Note: we accept the domestic flight/train tickets booking to Kunming from other cities in advance, check the updated ticket availibility and cost with your travel consultant);
Meals that are not specified in the itinerary (Averagely a meal in the 3rdpole region cost 3~10USD per person);
Tips and gratuities for the trip leader and driver;
The expense of a personal nature like alcoholic beverages, laundry, phone call, etc;
Optional activities and excursions not specified in the itinerary;
Dynamic Yunnan Show discount tickets (please mention which category you prefer if of interest)
VIP – USD 72
Luxury – USD 54
Standard – USD 39
Budget – USD 27
Destinations not listed in the program;
China Entry visa fees;
Personal Travel Accident Insurance;

Itinerary Alteration

Once we receive your tour deposit, which is followed by signing the contract, your reservation is secured with legitimacy. Our staff will reserve the accommodation, vehicle, site tickets, meals and more, and pay the deposit for our suppliers. So if you want to alter to another itinerary, you need to cover the deposit we've paid, while no service charge is needed if you make some changes on the itinerary you booked.

Cancellation and Refund Policy

If you cancel the tour beacuse of your personal issues, you will be liable to pay cancellation charges that are bounded by 3rdpoletour.com cancellation policy as follows:

1.) If you cancel the tour more than 30 days before the trip starts, you will forfeit 10% of the total land cost per person;
2.) If you cancel the tour 15-30 days prior to your trip start date, 20% of your total land tour cost will be forfeited as a cancellation fee.
3.) If you cancel the tour 7-15 days before the trip starts, you will forfeit 30% of land cost.
4.) If you cancel the tour 7 days prior to your tour start date, you will forfeit 50% of land cost.
5.) If you fail to show up or cancel at your scheduled arrival time without prior notice or later than that, you will forfeit 100% of the land cost.

If the tour has to be cancelled because of the natural disaster or the government restrictions that is beyond both parties control, we will charge only USD50 per person, this is just the service fee and larbor fee during the preparation. This is a rare occurrence!

The cancellation fee charged by 3rdpoletour.com will be kept under your name (person who contacted us) for a usable period of 2 years. Within the applicable period you can use it for next time or you can kindly pass your authority to any of your family, friends or colleagues to use by booking a tour with 3rdpoletour.com. A certifying email from you is necessary to pass the cancellation fee to others, but it is only applicable for private group.