Here is shooting plan for your reference.
1. When to go? Late November through early March each year when the fields are filled with water.
2. Getting there
You will need to fly to Kunming, China first. Kunming is the capital city of Yunnan Province. It is pretty big. You may want to stay there for at least one night. There are quite some attractions around the city.
To go to Yuanyang, you would take a bus from this Long Distance Bus Station in Kunming:
昆明南部汽车客运站 (Long Distance Bus Station South)
Your final destination will be 胜村(Shengcun,the best location) or 新街镇(Xinjie or New Street, the second best location to stay). The town Xinjie is bigger than Shengcun so you will have more selections of hotels. I strongly recommend Shengcun. It is convenient for you to go around.
When I went there, I stayed in local village hotel where you could photograph these fields from your room windows. Contact me if you want to stay in these tiny hotels.
Village hotel night
Sometimes there are no direct rides to Shengcun. In that case you will have to buy ticket to 个旧(Gejiu city), then change your bus from there (get off the bus and buy another ticket to Shengcun). There is a 267 km highway from Kunming to Gejiu so it takes about 4 hours to get there. From Gejiu to Xinjie or Shengcun is a 101 km narrow country road and it may take up to 4 hours for this section. Overall, it will take a full day to travel from Kunming to Shengcun. You will have to start early, eg, 8 am from Kunming.
Hani girl dancing
3. Shooting
Assuming you stay in Shengcun, ask the hotel manager to hire a small taxi for you for the next few days. They are the major vehicles for you go around and take pictures. The drivers are very familiar with the locations. The cost of a full day taxi, including gas, is about 200-300 Yuan (30-50 USD). No need to pay tips but it is better to buy a simple lunch for the driver.
4. Major Photo Locations
There are huge numbers of photo opportunities there but the following are the major ones:
Qingkou Hani Village (箐口哈尼族生态村) – 8 km from Xinjie
A minority (Hani) village where you expect to see lots of local traditions. The terraced fields are also very good.
A Hani girl
Quanfuzhuang Zhongzhai (全福庄中寨景点)
Quanfuzhuang Xiaozhai (全福庄小寨景点)
Mali Zhai Cha Chang (麻粟寨茶厂景点)
Bada (坝达景区)
Luoma Dian (倮马点村景点)
Mali Zhai – Laoyingzui (麻粟寨景点-老鹰嘴）。
Duoyishu (多依树景点)
Ahzheke (阿者科景点)
Paozhu Xinzhai (抛竹新寨景点)
Mengin – Laohuzui (勐品景区 – 老虎嘴）
Niujiaozhai (牛角寨)
Shalatuo (沙拉托景区)
5. Yuanyang Titian photography location map
From Kunming to Shengcun
Shengcun area map and directions
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