The Hani Rice Terraces, covering more than 16,000 hectares in southern Yunnan, are marked by spectacular terraced fields that cascade down the slopes of the towering Ailao Mountains to the banks of the Hong River.
For the past 1,300 years, the Hani have built a complex system of channels to bring water from the forested mountaintops to the terraces.
In some areas of the Yunnan region, the farmers have created as many as 3,000 adjacent terraces, using a complex series of ditches and canals to move rainfall and spring water from one place to another.
From elevations as high as 6,500 feet, the terraces undulate down into the valleys, forming intricate patterns that mirror the clouds and the sky. The fusion of man and nature creates awe-inspiring beauty.