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To cultivate crops on barren land, to conserve water, and to suit hilly terrain, terraced fields are an ideal solution. This is also a familiar image in agriculture in many countries around the world. These fields, built by hand, require an enormous amount of human effort.
These terraced rice fields not only bring a more prosperous life to the people in the mountainous region but are also increasingly known as a stunning "man-made" scenic spot. These fields have now become a popular tourist destination, a "sacred land" that any photographer would dream of capturing breathtaking images of.
Terraced rice fields in Sa Pa, Vietnam
In this northern mountain town, the terraced rice fields are one of the reasons why tourists brave the mountain passes and endure a long, arduous journey to admire firsthand the gently undulating fields across the hillsides.
The rice fields have different beauties at different times of the year: when the fields are flooded, when the rice is lush green, when the rice ripens to a golden yellow… Depending on the time of year you visit, you will be able to admire completely different beauties.
Sa Pa is also home to many ethnic minority groups, creating a unique cultural region that is particularly attractive to tourists, allowing them to freely explore the unusual and distinctive beauty of Sa Pa.
In October 2013, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism decided to classify the Sapa terraced rice fields as a National Scenic Landscape Monument.
Rice terraces in Pisac, Peru
The terraced rice paddies at Pisac are hundreds of years old, and today, Peruvian farmers continue to use them for cultivation. This area was once a stronghold of the Inca Empire, which existed from the 15th to 16th centuries.
On the terraced fields of Pisac, one can still see many historical traces, with fortifications, temples, and ancient houses scattered throughout the village of Pisac, located in the Valley of the Gods.
Rice terraces in Douro, Portugal
Known as the land of port wine, the Douro Valley in northern Portugal features rolling hills covered with terraced vineyards. The landscape of the Douro changes throughout the year, mirroring the changing colors of the vines. Autumn is considered the most beautiful time of year, when the hillsides are covered in ripe, red grapes.
Rice terraces in Bali, Indonesia
The gently sloping rice terraces of Bali are ubiquitous, and the culture of the people living on the island is closely linked to the agricultural civilization of these 2,000-year-old terraced fields.
Rice terraces in Choquequirao, Peru
Choquequirao is an ancient ruined city that existed under the Inca Empire, located in southern Peru. Choquequirao also means "Golden Cradle". Situated at an altitude of 3,085 meters above sea level, Choquequirao has a total of 180 terraced fields.
Although often compared to a more famous historical site – Machu Picchu – Choquequirao is much larger. To explore this ancient city, visitors can walk or ride horses.
Motorized vehicles are not permitted on the roads here. The hike to Choquequirao can take up to four days.
Terraced salt fields in Maras, Peru
The salt fields in the town of Maras have existed for hundreds of years, dating back to the Inca Empire in the 15th-16th centuries. To this day, these terraced fields are still used for salt production. Locals typically channel natural streams from the mountains, which contain a very high salt content, into these terraced basins.
There are a total of 3,000 such tanks on the salt flats. When the water evaporates in the sun, it leaves salt behind in the tanks. Then, these salt blocks are peeled out of the tanks and sold in the market. The Maras salt flats are most beautiful at sunset, when the sunlight reflects off the tanks, making the salt flats look like a golden sea.
Rice terraces in Ollantaytambo, Peru
During the Inca Empire, Ollantaytambo was home to the empire's rulers. At that time, Ollantaytambo was a stronghold of the Inca Empire, consistently producing bountiful harvests.
Today, this place has become a historical tourist attraction, drawing large numbers of visitors. It is no longer a fertile agricultural land, but the terraced rice fields remain, allowing people to imagine a powerful and majestic ancient empire.
Terraced rice paddies in Machu Picchu, Peru
Machu Picchu is one of the world's most ancient, beautiful, and impressive sites. It was forgotten for centuries in the Urubamba Valley. The forgotten city of the Inca Empire was invisible from the valley floor.
This area was once a fertile agricultural region with terraced rice paddies stretching across the hillsides. Machu Picchu features narrow terraces constructed from stone blocks. While these terraces are now completely abandoned, the remaining ruins demonstrate the remarkable engineering feats of the ancient people.
Terraced rice fields in Longsheng, China
The 500-year-old terraced rice fields in Long Thang town are also called the "dragon's spine" by the locals because these fields are neatly stacked on top of each other, stretching far into the distance, giving the impression of a giant spine.
Terraced rice fields in Honghe, China
The terraced rice fields of the Hani people in Honghe County, Yunnan Province, China, are 1,000 years old. In these fields, besides growing food crops, they also raise fish.
Visiting Honghe between December of the previous year and around March of the following year, tourists will witness a magical scene when the rice fields are flooded with water. As the sun sets, the landscape becomes shimmering and brilliantly enchanting.
Rice terraces in Banaue, Philippines
Located in a mountainous region, the Philippine municipality of Banaue sits at an altitude of 1,525 meters above sea level. Due to its hilly terrain, ancient inhabitants here used human labor to create terraced rice fields more than 2,000 years ago.
These terraced rice paddies are so steep that it was once estimated that if they were laid end-to-end, they would stretch halfway around the Earth. Nowadays, people in Banaue tend to move to the city to find work, and the terraced rice paddies are gradually being abandoned and left uncultivated.
