Dongchuan Red Land

Background

The Red Land lies in Dongchuan District, more than 200 km northeast of Kunming. The soil here is rich in iron and aluminium, strongly acidic and heavy, giving it a vivid red colour; farmers sow different crops on plot after plot of hillside, so the colours shift from red to green to yellow with the seasons. Luoxiagou is a sunken-looking valley ringed by mountains, with traditional villages scattered among the coloured fields; at Damakan you can see the red fields stretching all the way to a skyline of rolling ridges.

Local customs

Wait for sunrise at Damakan at dawn, look out over the coloured fields from the various viewpoints during the day, watch the sunset at Luoxiagou in the evening, and have a simple meal at a farmhouse restaurant along the way.

Travel tips

• The area is large and the viewpoints are spread out, so a self-drive or chartered car is recommended. UV radiation is strong at this altitude, so bring sun protection, and since mornings and evenings are much cooler, pack a warm jacket. Lodging is mainly farmhouse inns around Huashitou Village, with prices set by each establishment.
• Go from Kunming by bus or car to the Dongchuan Red Land, a distance of over 200 km
• you need a vehicle to get between the viewpoints. May to June and September to December offer the richest scenery, and the colours of the fields differ from season to season.