Yunhe Terraces

Yunhe Terraces, located in Chongtou Town, Yunhe County, Lishui City, Zhejiang Province, is the first terraced field to become a national 5A-level scenic spot and is also known as "China's Most Beautiful Terraces." Yunhe Terraces span an altitude range from 200 meters to over 1,400 meters, with a vertical height difference of more than 1,200 meters, crossing three geological landscape zones: high mountains, hills, and valleys. The scenic area features terraces, mountain villages, bamboo seas, waterfalls, streams, and in different seasons and times, visitors can enjoy natural phenomena such as sea of clouds and rime frost. The entire Yunhe Terraces are characterized by the "Three Thousands and Three Tens of Thousands." The "Three Thousands" refer to a thousand years of history, a thousand meters of elevation difference, and a thousand layers of terraces. The "Three Tens of Thousands" refer to ten thousand mu of bamboo sea, ten thousand mu of azaleas, and ten thousand mu of sea of clouds. Of course, due to factors such as time, season, and physical strength, few travelers can truly appreciate this "Three Thousands and Three Tens of Thousands." Most people come to see the countless layers of terraces on the mountains and in the ravines. The terraces follow the mountains, slopes, and gullies, appearing either straight or curved in wave-like patterns. Key attractions within the scenic area include Kenggen Stone Village, located in the Silver Valley; Sunrise Sea of Clouds, the central viewpoint of Yunhe Terraces; Qixing Dun, the highest and most panoramic spot in the area; the Yunhe Cableway built in 2021; the World Terraces Museum; Yuwang Temple; Kenggen Ancient Well; Old Teahouse; and the Farming Trail, which is narrow enough for only one person to pass and was originally a path for farmers working in the fields, now serving as a convenient route for travelers to experience the terraces up close. Tiankai Yunding is the best place to overlook the entire terrace landscape. A 40-meter-high observation tower and a glass viewing platform stand on a mountain over 800 meters above sea level. Four years ago, when visiting with my granddaughter, I even swung on the electric swing on the platform. This time, the glass platform is open to visitors, but the electric swing is temporarily not in operation.