[2024 Yuanyang Attraction] Travel Guide for Azheke Village (Updated Nov)

Yunnan Honghe Prefecture: Hani Ancient Village - Azheke

Azheke Ancient Village is located in Yuanyang County, Honghe Prefecture, Yunnan Province, deep in the middle of the Yuanyang Terraces. Azheke Village is a Hani village that still retains the style from before 1960, with a history of over 210 years and more than 60 households. ☆ In Hani language, Azheke means a place where bamboo grows in patches and forests, often shrouded in a sea of clouds. The characteristic buildings are mushroom houses, all without doors! ☆ The drinking water in Azheke has always been mountain spring water. The spring water is channeled into large pools, and multiple water outlets are installed at the bottom of each large pool, locally referred to as divine water (see Figures 4 and 16).

Recommend Yuanyang Terraces Homestay - Yuanshe·Azheke

This homestay is not located in the core scenic area of Yuanyang Terraces, Duoyishu, avoiding the bustling crowds. Instead, it is adjacent to the ancient village of Azheke, boasting a vast expanse of stunning terraces. The homestay has a project that supports the Azheke village, allowing free entry to Azheke, but that's not the main point. The important thing is that you can truly relax here for a day, admire the colorful terraces, and even walk through them to experience a different kind of fun. If you like tranquility, stay here for a night. The terraces under the morning glow, the terraces under the sunlight, and the starry sky at night are really beautiful! (This is not an advertisement, but a genuine experience.)

Hani Ancient Village

Azheke Yuanyang is not only famous for its terraces Why not take a look at the Hani ancient village in Azheke as seen in the movie 'Forever Young' Ticket price: 30 yuan (half price for seniors over 60 and students) Business hours: 8:00-18:00 Visiting route: Just follow the path Features: Mushroom houses, the viewing platform at the bottom of the valley offers a chance to capture the beauty of the gorge Cuisine: Any small shop offers authentic Hani flavors TIPS: 1. The village is small, and the touring time is 1-2 hours; 2. There are old mushroom houses in the village, as well as newly built ones, but all are distinctive; 3. This is a famous poverty alleviation project site, where the income from each ticket sold is shared among all villagers, somewhat like a collective; 4. There is a saying on the ticket: Do not give snacks or money to the children in the village, to avoid fostering a habit of gaining without working. I admit this is not a travel destination for everyone, as the saying goes, 'One man's meat is another man's poison.' You may not love it, but please don't disparage it, just reserve your opinion.

Yunnan's last secret realm, Azheke

Azheke is the filming location for 'Forever Young'. It boasts the famous Yuanyang Rice Terraces. The name Azheke is somewhat peculiar; it means a place that is lush and prosperous in the Hani language. It is a poverty alleviation point, yet it possesses an unspoiled simplicity that poverty has not tarnished. The ticket bears this message: 'Do not give money to local children to prevent them from gaining without working.' This instantly adds a layer of respect for this place! 🚄Transportation: First, arrive in Kunming from all over the country. Route A: Kunming—Jianshui (train), Jianshui—Nansha Town (30R), Nansha Town—Xinjie Town (20R), carpool from Xinjie Town to Duoyishu (15R)/Azheke (20R). Route B: Kunming—Gejiu (train), Gejiu—Nansha Town (20R), Nansha Town—Xinjie Town (20R), carpool from Xinjie Town to Duoyishu (15R)/Azheke (20R). 🌿Attractions: 1️⃣Duoyishu Rice Terraces: Where you can watch the sunrise and the stunning terraces under the sunrise. 2️⃣Blue Terrace Viewpoint, about 6 kilometers from Duoyishu, where you can see the sky-like blue terraces on a clear day. The view of the terraces here is broader than that of Duoyishu. 3️⃣Azheke Village: A 210-year-old ancient village, where the mushroom-shaped buildings are traditional Hani houses. The village is full of winding stone paths, and transportation of heavy objects relies on mules, donkeys, or human strength. An elderly lady carrying a heavy basket tried her best to answer my questions in her broken Mandarin. Stone paths, rice terraces, water mills, swings, green trees all make up this tranquil place like a paradise. The elderly and children, the crisscrossing paths, the sound of chickens and dogs, all contribute to a very comfortable atmosphere. The hometown that Huang Xiaoming takes Zhang Ziyi back to in 'Forever Young' is Azheke. 🏡Accommodation recommendation: Near the viewing platforms of Azheke or Duoyishu, for the convenience of watching the sunrise and sunset.

Record of a two-day trip to Yuanyang on February 26 and 27, 2024

Sunrise🌅: Starts at 8:00, the golden edge appears at the Duoyishu Viewing Platform. The Moji Weather app shows sunrise at 7:30, but due to the sea of clouds, the golden edge appeared half an hour later than expected. It's all about luck, Sunset🌇: Bada Viewing Platform and Dawazhe Viewing Platform. Personally, I find Dawazhe more stunning than Bada. Bada is too crowded, and it's really hard to get a good photo spot without getting there early, as it's packed with people. Dawazhe is only accessible by small car, more suitable for self-driving tourists, or you can ask locals to drive you there. It's closer to the terraces, and you can manage without a telephoto lens. Hiking🚶🏻‍♀️: Dayutang-Full Fortune Village-Bada. In theory, all paths on the ridges are connected, and as long as you're going in the right direction, you can get through. There's no clear path from Dayutang to Full Fortune Village, but there is a clear path from Full Fortune Village to Bada Viewing Platform. It depends on how far you want to walk, each section is about 4 kilometers.⭐ If you're not good at balancing, please don't consider the section from Dayutang to Full Fortune Village, as it's all ridges. The path from Full Fortune Village to Bada is more established. Additional charge for scenic spots outside the scenic area: Azheke ancient village, preserving the village gate and mushroom houses. The village implements a profit-sharing system, and you can see local elders living in the village, working and chatting in the fields. It's very comfortable when there are few people. Winnowing Basket Feast🍜: Yuanyang produces red rice, so the rice is red. The winnowing basket feast is a spectacle during the New Year, and we also found a place to experience it, featuring local specialties. 🏨Accommodation in Yuanyang: 1️⃣Duoyishu is close to the core of the scenic area, but it's often damp. You can choose to stay at Love on the Road Inn or Idle Guesthouse for a slightly different experience. The advantage is that you don't need to drive to see the sunrise. 2️⃣If you don't want it too damp, you can choose Dayutang, which is a bit further away. Ha Wowo Peach Garden Homestay is a newly opened guesthouse, but you'll need to drive to see the sunrise. 3️⃣Chujian Yuanshan Guesthouse is also in the middle, and you'll need to drive to see the sunrise. 🍛Yuanyang Cuisine 1️⃣Must recommend, Hani Hotpot's old duck soup. It's best to book in advance. Freshly killed duck stewed with bamboo shoots is delicious. If you don't book in advance, you might miss out and only get chicken soup and stir-fried dishes. 2️⃣Tianshang Jiayuan in Dayutang offers local specialty stir-fries. The taste is quite good, with local flavors, and they can also prepare a winnowing basket feast. That's about it! If you have any questions, see you in the comments section! I wish everyone can see the sunrise and sunset. Goodnight💤

The Hani people

❤ The Hani ethnic group sustains itself with terraced rice cultivation, and Hani women are especially hardworking. Walking through Hani villages, one sees women engaged in heavy and tiring labor, experiencing the incredible Hani culture. 📝 Between 384 and 362 BC, the Qin dynasty expanded rapidly, and the ancient Qiang people, a nomadic group living on the Tibetan Plateau, were attacked and dispersed, leading to the emergence of several branches with different names. 'He Yi' was a branch of the ancient Qiang people who migrated south. After settling by the Dadu River, they adapted to the local flat plains and the 'self-sprouting valleys' geographical environment and conditions, and began an agricultural life. Later, due to wars and other reasons, they were forced to leave their farming settlements and migrate again, entering the subtropical Ailao Mountains in Yunnan. ​ The Hani rice terracing system in the Ailao Mountain range, spanning over 200,000 mu, has a cultivation history of more than 1,300 years, nurturing about 1.26 million people from the Hani ethnic group and other 10 ethnic groups.

Yuanyang Rice Terraces~~ A'kouzhe Scenic Area

The Yuanyang Rice Terraces of A'kouzhe are a very distinctive terraced field, where 'A'kouzhe' means 'a lucky small place'. With a history of more than 160 years, the A'kouzhe village is situated at an altitude of over 1800 meters, shrouded in mist throughout the year. Below the village are terraced fields cascading down the mountainside, which tourists like to call 'the terraced fields above the clouds'. A'kouzhe village is one of the five key villages for the heritage application of the Hani Rice Terraces. The village has more than 60 thatched-roof mushroom houses, which experts consider to be the best-preserved traditional Hani architectural complex in Yuanyang County.

When you go to Yuanyang Terraces, I won't allow you to miss this ancient village

There is a mushroom house town in Italy called Alberobello, and there is also such a mushroom house village in China. What's more fascinating is that there is also a spectacular terraced landscape here. Azheke is a very "vibrant" village in Yuanyang. There are no noisy folk performances or brightly lit commercial streets here, nor is it hollowed out as a whole like Wuzhen, and the houses have all become homestays. Here, you will feel that Azheke is indeed a "living" village, and those mushroom houses and the spectacular terraces behind them are examples of the continuation of this traditional way of life. Azheke is also a poverty alleviation project recognized by the United Nations World Tourism Organization. The proposer of the "Azheke Project", Professor Bao Jigang from Sun Yat-sen University, also won the "Nobel" of the tourism industry - the Ulysses Award this year. There is an introduction to the "Azheke Project" on the sign at the entrance of the village, the content is very detailed, and those who are interested can learn more. Azheke is a village that charges a fee - 30R, and it also offers some local lifestyle and cultural experience activities, such as paddy field fishing, which are charged separately, but need to be booked in advance, and there is a minimum order number, which is about three or four. According to the Azheke Project, there is no foreign capital here, and the tourism income will be pooled into the village collective enterprise, so the ticket can be regarded as direct poverty alleviation. Azheke Village is actually very small, with only more than 60 households in total. If you are fast, one hour is enough, but the houses and terraces here are worth slowing down to experience. Must-see viewpoints: Many tourists go directly into the village after checking their tickets. Pay attention not to enter the village first, turn right and there is the best photography point for shooting the whole view of the village! Walking along the stone path in the terraces to the distance, you can enjoy the full view of the terraces and the unique village of Azheke. The mushroom houses of the same color as the earth stand in the magical terraces carved by time, and the sounds of geese, ducks, chickens and dogs come from the distant village from time to time. For people who have lived in the city for a long time, the rural countryside is presented in an extremely concrete form in front of their eyes, ears and even smell. U-shaped terraces: At the back of the village, you can see it through the square! You can take pictures standing on the lower ridge, it's very spectacular. Canyon viewing platform: Walk down from the village for ten minutes, here you can see the spectacular terraces, the layered textures spread out on the earth, and you can't even see the end. But unfortunately, when I arrived, the clouds in the mountains gradually rose, and the scenery was a bit blurry.

Cross the mountains to see the most beautiful village rated by National Geographic! Surrounded by mountains and terraces

Cross the mountains to see the most beautiful village rated by National Geographic! Surrounded by mountains and terraces Located above the terraces at an altitude of 1800 meters, not only is the beauty of the earth's palette World Cultural Heritage 'Yunnan Honghe Hani Terraces' And the Hani traditional village-Azheke that has continued for 200 years Hi, I am Sari A photographer who drives from Qingdao to Yunnan for the winter, discovers a small village with a story every day. Friends who like nature and humanities must not miss Yunyang Terraces

The ancient Azheke village

Azheke village is a most representative place of the Hani people, still retaining the original mushroom house residential life of the small village. The whole village has only more than 60 households, self-sufficient, without the injection of foreign capital, very backward, the 30 yuan paid by tourists can be regarded as support for the villagers to improve their living conditions! These simple residents are still using their hardworking hands to plow and sow, using thousands of years of work and rest habits to carve out the magnificent terraces with world cultural heritage!! Cultural treasure!!

A Zhe Ke is a stunningly authentic village in the Honghe area of Yunnan. While here, we learned that locals will hold an annual banquet called the Long Street Banquet - every family will cook a dish or two, dress up and gather together with their neighbours to eat and celebrate. 📍A Zhe Ke, Yunnan, China #leaveyourmark

In the depths of the terraced clouds, like the village of Wonderland, it is the Akeke, the Red River Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, the most primitive and primitive Hani village. If you have seen the movie "Nothing to Ask about West", you will definitely feel familiar. In the film, Huang Xiaoming returned to Yuanyang with his face injured Zhang Ziyi, avoiding the crowd to recover. The Hani's mushroom house appeared in the camera again and again, and the simple people healed Zhang Ziyi's wounded heart, that is, the Akeke. Approaching the Akeke, there is only one stone road that can be walked in. For hundreds of years, the Hani people in the village have entered and exited through this road. The inconvenient transportation has made the Akeke full of tradition and history. Stepping on the stone road, quietly listening to the village's one breath and one suck, as if talking to the ancestors.