Yunnan rice fields evoke pastoral beauty

Terraced rice fields at Honghe Hani and Yi autonomous prefecture, Yunnan province, form a poetic scene in August. [Photo by Hu Yanhui/for chinadaily.com.cn]

Terraced rice fields in Honghe Hani and Yi autonomous prefecture, Yunnan province, form a poetic scene in August.

The fields, with an area of 66,700 hectares, have a history of about 1,300 years. They are host to a traditional agricultural system that makes use of forests, villages, terraced fields and waters. Farmyard manure in villages provides nutrition for rice. The water flows from forests to water the fields.

In 2010, the fields were named a globally important agricultural and cultural heritage by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. In 2013, it became China's 45th world heritage at the 37th Session of the World Heritage Committee.