Explore Jianshui Ancient Town & Yuanyang Rice Terraces

► Route: Kunming → Jianshui Ancient Town → Yuanyang Rice Terraces

Day 1 Kumming to Jianshui Ancient Town

Local Market in Yunnan

First, you need to take a high speed train from Kunming to Jianshui. There are 18 trains running from Kunming to Jianshui every day, among which the train No. C8313 is highly recommended for it is the fastest and departs properly in the morning.

► Departure: 7:54 at Kunming South Railway Station
► Arrival: 9:19 at Jianshui Railway Station
► Travel Time: 1h25m
► Ticket Fare: CNY 50 for second class seat; CNY 80 for first class seat

● Alternatively, you can take a coach from Kunming South Coach Station to Jianshui. From 11:00 to 19:10, there are 5 buses. The single way of 180 km (112 mi) takes 2.5 hours and costs CNY 81 per person.

Check in at a local hotel in Jianshui and have a good rest. Then visit Jianshui Ancient Town.

► How to get there: From Jianshui Railway Station, you can take bus line 919 to the ancient town in 30 minutes at a cost of CNY 2. A Taxi takes 20 minutes and costs CNY 20. From Jianshui Coach Station, bus line 11, 15, 16, or 19 can take you to the ancient town in 20 minutes at a cost of CNY 2. A Taxi takes 10 minutes and costs CNY 8.
► Top Attractions: Zhu Family Garden, Confucius Temple, Chaoyang Tower, Shuanglong Bridge, Tuanshan Village, Swallow Cave, Yigongfang Art District…
► Opening Hours: The town opens all day long. The scenic spots open from 8:00 or 9:00 to 18:00 or 20:00.
► Recommended Time for a Visit: 1 day
► Ticket Price: Free entry for the town. CNY50 for Zhu Family Garden, CNY30 for Confucius Temple, CNY20 for ascending Chaoyang Tower, CNY 50 for Tuanshan Village, CNY80 for Swallow Cave, CNY30 for National Examination Site; CNY 133 for a combo ticket including Confucius Temple, Zhu Family Garden, and Swallow Cave.

You can first visit the Chaoyang Tower, which is located at the east gate of Jianshui Ancient Town. The tower was built in the year 1389 and has been known as a mini Tiananmen Tower.

From the tower, you can walk 15 to 20 minutes to the Confucius Temple. First, walk 700 meters (766 yards) southwest along Lin'an Road, turn northwest to Beizheng Street for 350 meters (380 yards), and then turn southwest to find the Confucius Temple. Initially built in the Yuan Dynasty (1271 - 1368), the temple has been renovated and expanded over 40 times and it is now the third largest Confucian Temple in China after the ones in Qufu and Beijing.

If time permits, you are advised to visit the Zhu Family Garden. From the northeast gate of the Confucius Temple, you can walk 10 minutes east to find the Zhu Family Garden on Hanlin Road. The garden was owned by a rich family, Zhu's family, during the late Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911). Now, some of the houses in the garden have been turned into guesthouses for visitors.

Get back to your hotel and have a good night.

Day 2 Yuanyang – Heaven for Photographers

Local Hani People

After breakfast, check out of the hotel and go to the Jianshui Bus Station to catch the only direct bus to Yuanyang.

► Departure Time: 11:30
► Destination: Xinjie Bus Station of Yuanyang
► Distance: 160 km (100 mi)
► Duration: 2.5 to 3 hours
► Fare: CNY 38

● There are buses from Jianshui Bus Station to Nansha Bus Station of Yuanyang, running from 7:15 to 18:40 with a frequency of every 30 minutes. Then you need to take a local minivan or carpool a taxi with other travelers to the old Xinjie Town for it is near the scenic spots. It costs CNY15 per person and takes one hour.

How to Get to Yuanyang Rice Terraces:

After arrival at Xinjie Town, find a local hotel to have a short rest, and then you can carpool with other travelers to get to the main entrance of the rice terraces and travel among different fields. It costs CNY 5 to 10 per person for one ride. As all the fields are located in the countryside and there is no public bus, you can also hire a car to tour, costing about CNY300 for a day.

► Top Attractions: Bada Field, Laohuzui (Tiger Mouth) Field, Duoyishu Terraced Field, Qingkou Folk Village, Quanfuzhuang, Mali Village…
► Best Time to Visit: November to April the next year, when the fields have no plants but are filled with water and bright with the perfect balance of light and shadow. February is a good time to enjoy the sea of clouds and the beautiful early spring flowers.
► Opening Hours: All day long, while some sites open from 6:00 to 19:30.
► Recommended Time for a Visit: 1 to 2 days
► Ticket Price: CNY 100 for a through ticket to terraced fields at Bada, Laohuzui, and Duoyishu, and Qingkou Folk Village.

Yuanyang Rice Terraces, Yunnan

Terraced fields in Yuanyang

Memories of Yuanyang, are always of its gorgeous terraced fields, which are the achievement of the Hani people through the generations. No matter if it is sunny or gloomy, you will be attracted by the charming fields.

This afternoon you can hire a car to visit the Bada Field or Laohuzui (Tiger Mouth) Field, which are the best places to appreciate the spectacular sunset and evening glow.

Day 3 Yuanyang Rice Terraces

You need to get up very early so as to catch a glimpse of the beautiful sunrise at Duoyishu Terraced Field. After that, proceed to Bada Field, which is definitely a memory card killer and a feast for your eyes. The fields are more charming and attractive in mist and clouds. The last destination is Hani Qingkou Field. There you can not only see the gorgeous fields, but also get in close touch with the local Hani people.

The rest of the fields are free to enter, so you can visit more if you are interested. At last, you can get back to Kunming by bus or go on to explore other destinations in Yunnan.

Itinerary Involved:

Kunming Extension Tour: 6 Days of Kunming - Jianshui - Yuanyang - Kunming