Laohuzui (Tiger's Mouth) scenic rice terraces, Yunnan Province, China


The sheer scale of the 1300 year old rice terraces around Yuanyang in Yunnan Province, China, has to be seen to be believed. Amazing that they were all carved out of the hillside centuries ago by farmers and their water buffalo so that each holds water at a level that doesn't vary by more than 2 inches to correspond with the exacting growth standards of rice. In the winter the rice terraces are filled with water and reflect the color of the sky. They were recently given UNESCO World Heritage status.


Size: 5400px × 3038px
Location: Laohuzui Rice Terraces, Yuanyang County, Yunnan Province, China
Photo credit: © Terry Allen / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No

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