Hidden Gems of Yunnan | The Breathtaking Beauty of Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture (Off-the-Beaten-Path Guide + Travel Photography Tips)

May your dreams be your steed, and may you find a place to rest wherever you go
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Before We Begin: Why Honghe?

Every National Day holiday, I make it a habit to take my family on a road trip. This year was no exception. The last time I visited Yunnan, I ended my travel guide with this sentence: "Yunnan is incredibly beautiful. I know I have to come back." Because of my deep attachment to this land, we chose it again—only this time, we bypassed the crowded streets of Dali and Lijiang and plunged straight into the embrace of the Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture.

We set out from Chengdu at five in the morning and managed to avoid all the traffic jams. Seven days of travel, with a per-person cost of just over 2,000 RMB (including gas, accommodation, and meals), and what we got in return was far more than we had ever expected—pure surprise and heartfelt emotion.

Pre-Trip Preparations You Can't Skip

👗 What to Wear

I checked the weather forecast—rain, rain, and more rain. So I packed sweaters, a windbreaker (make sure to choose bright colors), and a few dresses (red and white photograph best). The most important thing: bring a pair of shoes that are comfortable for walking!

🍪 Snacks

Bring whatever you like, but try to avoid puffed snacks. They'll leave your mouth dry and parched on the road.

🎒 Essential Checklist

• Tripod, photo props (hairbands, tassel bags, hats, flowers...)
• Shoe covers! Shoe covers! Shoe covers! I can't stress this enough—the red soil is a nightmare to wash off
• Camera, water bottle, sunscreen, sunglasses, umbrella, shawl

📸 Photography Tips

My mom was the photographer for the entire trip. No camera—just smartphone travel photography. I used VSCO, Facetune, Snapseed, and PicsArt for simple editing, and the results were surprisingly good.

Route & Cost Overview

7-Day Self-Drive Route: Chengdu → Zhaotong → Dongchuan → Mile → Mengzi → Jianshui → Xundian → Zhaotong → Chengdu

Cost: Over 2,000 RMB per person, covering gas, tolls, accommodation (split between two people), three meals, and snacks. We booked accommodation as we went, so I don't have fixed recommendations.

Hidden Gem 1: Dongchuan Red Land — God's Spilled Palette

I thought that even without sun, I could at least see the panoramic view under an overcast sky. But on the way to the Red Land, this is what we got—thick fog, visibility near zero. Well, I guess I was thinking too much; the weather has a mind of its own.

I always believed what the textbooks said: "Yunnan has spring-like weather all year round." Turns out textbooks can lie, too. It got so cold at night that I wanted to run away to Africa to escape the chill.

The next morning, we headed straight for Luoxia Valley to see the full panorama. Even though I didn't get those jaw-dropping epic shots, just breathing in the fresh air was worth it.

What captivated me most was the Thousand-Year-Old Dragon Tree—the one that appears several times in the movie Forever Young. It stands alone on a hill of red soil, with a monument erected by locals revering it as a "sacred tree." Legend has it that the tree was once struck by lightning and died, only to sprout new branches a few years later. It is thus seen as an incarnation of the divine. Vast, remote, and deeply meaningful.

As for those muddy paths? My mom came prepared—shoe covers on, and she feared nothing. Going up was easy, but coming down was a struggle. The three of us were a mess, but getting that one perfect shot made it all worth it.

Hidden Gem 2: Mile Red Wine Manor — Tipsy Romance

Ticket: 20 RMB per person. This is where "Yunnan Red" wine is produced. A guided tour takes you through the bottling process, fermentation tanks, and cellars. The guide told us that the manor's decor is popular for wedding photos—pretty romantic, if you think about it.

At the end, there's a free wine tasting session. Sipping red wine while taking in the beautiful scenery—that's probably one of the best moments of any trip.

Hidden Gem 3: Mile Fayi Sheng'en Christian Church — Stumbling Upon a Wedding

A three-minute walk from the wine manor along a small path, and you'll find this church. We happened to arrive just as a wedding was taking place. The church was decorated in a somewhat modern style, but it was still beautiful for photos. Free entry, come and go as you please.

Hidden Gem 4: Mile Dongfengyun — Like a European Town

A twenty-minute walk from the little church brings you to the Dongfengyun Scenic Area, also known as the Lavender Manor. What blew me away was the Kaleidoscope Art Gallery—the buildings are shaped like wine bottles, with a postmodern abstract style. Inside, it's a perfect fusion of Western domes and Eastern tile kilns.

Too bad there was no blue sky, and the ground was still wet from the rain. But even so, every shot looked like a masterpiece. No entrance fee for the scenic area; the sightseeing tram costs 20 RMB per person.

The entire town of Mile is covered in wetlands and greenery, with streets so clean they feel refreshing. The local specialties are grapes, wine, and everything grape-related. If you have time, pick a hot spring hotel and treat yourself to a mini-vacation.

Hidden Gem 5: Mengzi Bisezhai Station — Stepping Back into Youth

"Time flies, youth is fleeting." Bisezhai is one of the filming locations for the movie Youth. Day four was all about "costume change"—I put on military uniform from that era and felt like a cultural troupe soldier.

Bisezhai is one of the earliest train stations in modern Chinese history, and it still preserves French-style railway buildings. The weathered clock on the wall still bears the word "Paris" in clear letters. My parents and I rented military uniforms for photos, and my dad got really into it.

Hidden Gem 6: Southwest Associated University — A Tribute to a Glorious Era

The National Southwest Associated University was formed by three prestigious schools: Peking University, Tsinghua University, and Nankai University. During its eight years in Kunming, it created a miracle in the history of Chinese education. Walking through this place, you can almost hear the sounds of students reading and debating, and feel the spirit of "patriotism, science, and democracy."

Hidden Gem 7: Shadian Grand Mosque — An Unexpected Warmth

I never expected to receive such a warm welcome here. As we took off our shoes and stepped up the steps, a young Muslim girl came forward to offer a free guided tour. She was beautiful, with a sweet voice and gentle words. After that, there was a free costume-changing experience. Outside, under a shaded pavilion, free tea and pastries were laid out—a wide variety, and surprisingly good quality.

This visit gave me a new understanding of Islam: peace and love go hand in hand, and only when we embrace diversity can the world truly be open.

Hidden Gem 8: Jianshui Ancient Town + Zhu Family Garden — Slow Life and Local Charm

It's a little over a kilometer from Lin'an Station to the ancient town—not a long walk. The town is huge, and we just wandered through it casually. I bought a trendy balloon, and all the way, little kids kept pointing at it and babbling, wanting one.

What left the deepest impression was Banjing Tofu Workshop. Every day, there's a line of people waiting to buy tofu. We tried the soy milk and tofu pudding—5 RMB per person, and it was really good. The Zhu Family Garden is right inside the ancient town, ticket 35 RMB. The garden is beautiful, and you can explore it in half a day.

Hidden Gem 9: Jianshui Narrow-Gauge Train — My Favorite Memory of the Trip

When you come to Jianshui, you have to take the little train. Because I was careless and didn't buy a seat ticket in advance (during the holiday season, book at least two days ahead!), I went to Lin'an Station before dawn and begged for a standing ticket—yes, even a standing ticket cost 100 RMB per person.

The round trip takes four hours, covering less than 13 kilometers, with stops at Shuanglong Bridge Station, Xianghui Bridge Station, and Tuanshan Station. Teresa Teng's songs played throughout the journey, giving it a nostalgic feel. I stood in the open-air carriage at the back, leaning on the railing, enjoying a 360-degree unobstructed view of the endless fields.

These turned out to be my favorite photos from the entire trip. Thank you, Mom, my photographer.

Hidden Gem 10: Xundian Beidaying Grassland — New Zealand in the Clouds of Yunnan

This is another filming location for the movie Forever Young. The scenes where Wang Lee Hom's character, Shen Guangyao, trains with the air force and soars through the sky in his plane were shot right here on this grassland.

Endless pastures under a blue sky, 20,000 mu (about 3,300 acres) of lush grass and abundant water. You can bring friends, pitch a tent, and camp out under the stars. The props from the movie are still lying around on the grassland, the most eye-catching being a Flying Tigers fighter plane.

"The sky is vast, the fields are wide; when the wind blows, the grass bends low and reveals the cattle and sheep." You don't have to go to Inner Mongolia—you can see this magnificent landscape right here in Yunnan.

Final Thoughts: The Meaning of Travel

I love traveling with my family. Every place we go is a chance to grow and learn.

I remember on the Beidaying Grassland, my trendy balloon got popped by a tree branch. I was about to toss it away, but my mom said, "If you leave it here, it becomes trash on this land." That sentence made me think for a long time.

Taking care of every inch of land we walk on is the natural responsibility of every traveler. Travel across mountains and rivers, keep the beauty in your mind, and store the insights in your heart. Leave nothing behind but your footprints.

If you leave the beauty untouched for others to share, they will return the favor with a place that delights your eyes and soothes your soul.

📌 Key Tips Summary

May every journey you take be one where your dreams are your steed, and you find a place to rest wherever you go.