Ethnic groups

  • Hani people
  • Miao people
  • Yao people
  • Dai people
  • Zhuang people
  • Yi people
  • Han Chinese

Vertical distribution of the various ethnic minority groups<br />

The Hani and Yi, the creators of the monumental rice terraced mountains which have made Yuanyang famous, are the original inhabitants of these regions. Both their languages belong to the Tibeto-Burman group. Their villages can mainly be found between 1300 and 1600 metres above sea level.

The Dai moved here 700 years ago, and the Zhuang 400 years ago. Both their languages belong to the Tai–Kadai language group. Their villages are situated in the warmer areas below 700 metres elevation, near and along the rivers. Their main crop is rice grown in paddy fields.

The Miao and Yao (of the Hmong–Mien language group) are fairly recent arrivals to the region, only settling here 200 and 270 years ago. Their villages are in the cooler and drier upland areas, between 1600 and 1800 metres above sea level, where they grow maize.

  • Gouhouzhi : in Zhongjiaozhai , Shalatuo , Ezha , Majie , Huangcaoling ; Malizhai ; Guangpingzhai in Tuanjie Township
  • Alou : in Duoyishu , Xinjie
  • Loubi and Loumei : in Ganiang , Xincheng , Xinjie , Fengshuling , Daping
  • Asu : in Zha'e , Huangcaoling , Huangmaoling
  • Duoni : in Niujiaozhai ; Zha'e

Transportation

There is no train or plane available in Yuanyang. Taking a long-distance bus is the best way to get to Yuanyang. Normally there are three buses travelling from Kunming to Yuanyang every day. The buses depart from Kunming South Bus Station and arrive at Yuanyang Bus Station which take about 6 hours.

There are also buses travelling to Yuanyang from Gejiu, Mengzi, Jianshui. For tourists who would like to transfer from Jianshui, they could take a train from Kunming to Jianshu and then take a long-distance bus from Jianshui to Yuanyang.

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File:1 yuanyang county old town 2012.jpg|Part of the town of old Yuanyang

File:1 yuanyang rice terrace qingkou 2012.jpg|Mist over Qingkou

File:1 yuanyang rice terrace paozhuzhai 2012.jpg|Sea of clouds surrounding Paozhuzhai

File:1 yuanyang county rice terrace bada view 2012.jpg|A village as seen from Bada

File:1 yuanyang aerial pano 2018.jpg|Aerial panorama from Bada

File:1 yuanyang rice terrace laohuzhui 2012.jpg|Sunset over Laohuzui

Image:Yuanyang county hani village women.jpg|Hani village women of Yuanyang county, Yunnan, China

Image:Yuanyang hani farmer.jpg|Hani farmer on his way home

File:Ethnic Hani Headgear China.jpg|An ethnic Hani girl with the typical headgear for children

File:Ethnic Yi China Costume.jpg|Typical daily attire of ethnic Hani

File:Yuanyang cow pat.jpg|Water buffalo dung drying on a wall in a Hani ethnic minority village in Yuanyang county

</gallery>

See also

  • Terrace (agriculture)
  • Paddy field

Notes

Further reading

  • ; a history of Yuanyang County in Chinese
  • Yuanyang government website