Lishui Yunhe Terraces｜Thousand-Layer Heavenly Ladder Winding Above the Clouds, Sunrise Sea of Clouds Spreading Over Mirror-Like Fields

If the curves of the earth have ultimate beauty, it must be in the Lishui Yunhe Terraces. 🌄 Standing on the Jiǔqū Yúnhuán Viewing Platform, before your eyes are layers upon layers of dry mu terraces winding from the foot of the mountain to the summit, faintly visible in the morning mist, truly like a "thousand-layer heavenly ladder winding above the clouds." When the morning sun breaks through the clouds, golden light spills over the flooded terraces, and the sea of clouds surges beneath your feet. That moment of awe made me understand what "sunrise sea of clouds spreading over mirror-like fields" really means.

· Waiting at dawn, encountering a fairyland sunrise: To capture this breathtaking moment, we set off from a mountainside guesthouse at 4 a.m. 🌫️ The mountain air is chilling, but photographers with cameras have already secured their spots. As dawn breaks, milky white clouds slowly rise from the valleys, wrapping around the terraces like a fairyland. When the first ray of sunlight pierces the clouds, the whole world lights up instantly! The water-filled terraces reflect countless mirrors, mirroring the rosy clouds, the sky, and the mountains, shimmering with radiant colors, stunning beyond words! All the early rising and cold were 100% worth it at that moment.
· Strolling the heavenly ladder, touching agricultural wisdom: After sunrise, we walked along the ridges deep into the terraces. 🌾 Walking on the "heavenly ladder," you deeply feel the grandeur of these terraces and the wisdom of the ancestors. Each terrace wall is built by hand with stones, with the highest point having a drop of over a thousand meters—what a magnificent feat of engineering! In spring, this place is a green water mirror; in summer, rolling waves of rice; in autumn, brilliant gold; in winter, it may be covered in pure white snow. The beauty changes with the seasons.
· Kenggen Stone Village, visiting an old She ethnic village: After seeing the terraces, we visited Kenggen Stone Village at the foot of the mountain. 🛖 This ancient She ethnic village has houses built from mountain stones, winding stone slab roads, and babbling streams. Time seems to move slowly here. At the village’s old teahouse, we drank a bowl of local big bowl tea, listened to the spring water, and felt a rustic tranquility completely different from the terraces.

📌 Yunhe Terraces Cloud-Chasing Complete Guide:

1. Core Information:
· Address: Chongtou Town, Yunhe County, Lishui City.
· Ticket Price: ¥80 (includes Jiǔqū Yúnhuán and Baiyin Valley scenic areas).
· Keywords: sunrise sea of clouds, photography paradise, four-season beauty, high mountain terraces.
2. Perfect Itinerary & Accommodation Suggestions:
· Must stay one night! Strongly recommend staying near the Jiǔqū Yúnhuán scenic area or a guesthouse on the mountaintop (such as "Yunyi Courtyard" or "In the Fields"), where the terraces are right outside your window for seamless sunrise viewing.
· Classic route: Day 1 afternoon arrival, check into guesthouse → visit Kenggen Stone Village → Day 2 early rise to watch sunrise sea of clouds → morning stroll through terraces and visit Baiyin Valley → return at noon.
3. Must-Experience & Pitfall Tips:
· Sunrise is the soul: Check sunrise time in advance and arrive at the viewing platform at least half an hour early. Weather is crucial; always check the forecast before traveling and choose sunny or partly cloudy days.
· Best seasons:
· May-June: flooding period, best time to photograph "mirror fields" reflections.
· September-October: rice ripens, golden fields, crisp autumn air.
· Winter: if lucky, see snow-covered terraces like an ink painting.
· Clothing advice: It’s very cold on the mountaintop early morning! Be sure to bring a thick jacket or light down coat. Wear comfortable, non-slip shoes as the ridge paths are rough.
· Transportation: Driving is the best choice! The mountain road has many bends but is in good condition. Navigate to "Yunhe Terraces Visitor Center."
4. Food: Try local terrace rice fish, terrace rice, and high mountain bamboo shoots, all very fresh and delicious.

🌾 Travel Reflection: Yunhe Terraces gave me not only a visual shock but also a spiritual cleansing. It showed me the great miracle of human and nature coexistence and the joy of witnessing brilliance after waiting. If you want to escape the city and find the purest natural sanctuary, then this "sunrise above the clouds" at Yunhe Terraces is definitely a must-see scenery in your life.