The first in Yunnan! Yuanyang Hani Terraces were selected for the 2025 World Irrigation Engineering Heritage List-TodayInfo

This morning (10th)

2025 World Irrigation Engineering Heritage List

Hani Terraces in Yuanyang, YunnanSuccessfully selected

This is also the first in Yunnan

Irrigation projects selected for this list

Add to previously rated

World Cultural Heritage, Global Important Agricultural Cultural Heritage

Yuanyang Hani Terraces become the world's first

The "Three Heritages" Model of Agricultural Civilization

Nime Terraces Photo by Zhang Xiangjin

The Yuanyang Hani Terraces selected this time

Located in the Ailao Mountain Area on the south bank of the Honghe River in Yunnan Province

Irrigation area is 56,100 mu

Terrari was built in the Tang Dynasty

Forest-Village-Terrails-Water systemEcological System

Make it realize

Life, ProductionEcologyEcologyOrganic Unity

Yuanyang Hani Terraces are located in the Ailao Mountain area on the south bank of the Honghe River in Yunnan Province. They include the three largest and most concentrated areas of Hani Terraces, with an irrigated terrace area of 56,100 mu. The terraced fields were built until late in the Tang Dynasty, and were at least 1,300 years ago.

Hani Terraces are built based on the mountain, adapting to local conditions, and skillfully constructing layers of terraces that match the contour lines and crisscrossing irrigation and drainage systems, condensingElevation and lower drainage, slope drainage, woodcut water distribution and other valuable experiences and scientific wisdom. Its water-centered "Four-element isomorphism" three-life three-dimensional pattern is also a great miracle in the history of world agricultural civilization.

Four element isomorphism Photo by Long Jun

Hani Terraced Field Water Conservancy System is mainly composed of ditches and does not have large-scale artificial water conservancy facilities such as dams and reservoirs. It relies more on natural rainfall and the regulation and storage of forests, soil and terraces (green reservoirs, yellow reservoirs, field reservoirs). The interannual and seasonal changes of rainfall are significant. In order to ensure that limited water resources can maintain the normal operation of life and production, the Hani people have gradually developed a set of water use methods and management systems that have been passed down from generation to generation, including the "woodcut water distribution" system, the "ditch-riding person" system, the "hydraulic fertilizer flushing" system and the "forest guard" system, etc. These systems aim to achieve conservation, efficient and fair use of water resources.

Azheke Village, Yuanyang County, Yunnan Province, Gao Youming, a "gou-ditch man", was cleaning up leaves and garbage in the canals and maintaining the water source of terraces. Source: Xinhua News Agency

Now, ditches, ridges and drainage systems are closely combined, forming a complete soil and water conservation system. When rainfall falls, the ditches will promptly drain the water flow to avoid direct impact on terraced fields; the ridges will block and buffer, further reducing the risk of soil erosion.

The irrigation project of the Yuanyang Hani terraced fields together with forests, villages and terraced fields constitutes a "four-element isomorphic" circular ecosystem, realizing the recycling of water resources, playing the role of controlling soil erosion on slopes, maintaining regional ecological balance, and ensuring a bumper harvest of rice and other crops.