The Kingdom of Sunrise and Clouds: Witnessing the Golden Reflections at Duoyishu Rice Terraces

The Photographer's Holy Land

1.Located in Yuanyang: County, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, the Duoyishu Rice Terraces (Duoyishu Guanjingdian) represent the most photogenic and ethereal section of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Honghe Hani Rice Terraces. Situated approximately 50 minutes from Xinjie Town, this scenic area includes the villages of Duoyishu, Aichun, and Dawazhe. Unlike the massive scale of Bada or the dramatic steepness of Laohuzui, Duoyishu is revered for its dreamlike atmosphere, particularly its spectacular sunrise and the ever-changing sea of clouds. It is often described as the "Holy Land for Photographers" and constitutes a core protection zone of the Hani terraces, showcasing over 10,000 mu of fields that cascade from the forest edge down to the deep valleys,.

A Symphony of Light and Cloud

Duoyishu is universally acknowledged as the best location to watch the sunrise in Yuanyang. As the first rays of dawn break over the Ailao Mountains, the valley below is often filled with a thick, rolling sea of clouds. The rising sun paints the sky in hues of violet, orange, and gold, which are mirrored in the water-filled terraces below. As the sun climbs higher, the clouds shift and flow among the villages and paddies, creating a dynamic "ink wash painting" effect. The interaction between the golden light, the blue sky, the white clouds, and the reflective water creates a visual feast that changes every minute, making it a place where "one mountain sees four seasons, and the weather differs every ten miles",.

The Wisdom of the Hani People

2.The beauty of: Duoyishu is not just natural; it is a testament to the agricultural genius of the Hani people over the last 1,300 years. The landscape is a perfect embodiment of the unique "Forest-Village-Terrace-Water" ecosystem. The forests at the mountaintops conserve water, which flows down through the villages to irrigate the layers of terraces, finally pooling in the valley rivers to evaporate and form the famous clouds that cycle back to the mountain. Standing on the viewing platform, visitors can see traditional Hani mushroom houses (though many are modernized, the style remains) nestled amidst the terraces, looking like boats floating in a sea of clouds. The terraces here number up to 3,000 layers, linking the sky to the earth in a seamless vertical landscape,.

A Canvas of Seasons

While famous for its sunrise, Duoyishu offers distinct beauty throughout the year. The most popular time for photography is during the irrigation season from November to April, when the fields are full of water and act as mirrors for the sky. During this time, the "blue terraces" of Aichun village are particularly famous for reflecting the deep blue of the high-altitude sky. In spring (March-April), the terraces may be dotted with red duckweed or early crops; in summer, the mountains turn a lush emerald green with growing rice; and in autumn (September-October), the valley turns into a sea of golden grain, symbolizing the harvest. Whether shrouded in mist or bathed in sunshine, Duoyishu offers a profound connection to the earth and the resilient culture that shaped it.