Hani People
Overview
The Hani people, with a population of approximately 1.6 million in Yunnan Province, are primarily concentrated in Honghe Prefecture and Yuanyang County. They are world-renowned as the creators and maintainers of the spectacular Yuanyang Rice Terraces, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Yuanyang Rice Terraces were sculpted into the Ailao Mountains over 1,300 years ago, transforming steep mountainsides into cascading agricultural landscapes.
Cultural Traditions
Yuanyang Rice Terraces
Over 1,300 years of terraced agriculture creating a UNESCO World Heritage landscape.
Long Table Feast (Changzhe)
During Hani New Year, villages create banquet tables stretching hundreds of meters. Each family contributes dishes.
Four-Element Ecosystem
Traditional land management system: forests at peaks, villages in middle, terraces on slopes, rivers in valleys.
Mushroom Houses
Distinctive architecture with thick thatched roofs resembling mushrooms. Built on slopes with stone foundations.
Major Festivals
Kuzhazha Festival (Hani New Year)
10th month of Hani calendar (around October)
The most important Hani celebration featuring the famous Long Table Feast, ancestor worship, and traditional music.
Yekuza Festival (June Festival)
6th month of Hani calendar
Agricultural celebration marking the rice transplanting season.
Zalet Festival
1st month of Hani calendar (around February)
Spring festival with swinging activities, singing, and courtship games.
Cultural Practices
- •Rice terrace agriculture and maintenance
- •Traditional textile weaving and dyeing
- •Hani polyphonic singing
- •Ecological forest conservation practices
Visiting Tips
- ✓Visit Yuanyang terraces between November-March for best reflections
- ✓Attend the Long Table Feast during Hani New Year in October
- ✓Sunrise and sunset at Duoyishu and Bada terraces are spectacular
- ✓Stay in Hani villages to experience mushroom house architecture
Experience Hani Culture
Discover authentic cultural experiences and connect with local communities