Explore China’s Enchanting Mushroom Houses in the Rice Terraces!

Have you ever heard of houses that look like mushrooms? 🍄 Well, in a magical place called Azheke Village in China, you can see over 60 of these amazing “mushroom cottages”!

Azheke Village is nestled among beautiful cascading rice terraces in Yuanyang County, Yunnan Province. The rice terraces are like giant steps carved into the mountains, and they are so stunning that they’ve become a UNESCO World Heritage site!

The people who live here are part of the Hani ethnic group. They have a special way of building their homes with thatched roofs and brick walls, making them look like giant mushrooms popping out of the ground! Isn’t that cool? 🏠🍄

A few years ago, the village faced some problems. Many young people were leaving to work in big cities, and the old houses were falling apart. The Hani traditions and culture were at risk of being lost.

Then, a team led by Professor Bao Jigang came up with a fantastic idea called the “Azheke Plan“! They helped the villagers turn their entire village into a place where visitors could learn about Hani culture. They opened cafes, homestays, and restaurants.

Now, people from all over the world come to Azheke to experience the Hani way of life, taste delicious red rice and fish from the terraces, and stay in cozy mushroom cottages.

Since 2019, the village has welcomed 188,000 visitors! This has helped the villagers earn money and keep their traditions alive. More young people are choosing to stay and work in the village, and everyone is excited about the future.

In fact, Azheke Village was named one of the “Best Tourism Villages” by the United Nations World Tourism Organization in 2024! 🏆

Doesn’t this sound like an amazing place to visit? Maybe one day, you can explore the mushroom cottages and rice terraces of Azheke Village yourself!

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Next Stop: 'Mushroom cottages' surrounded by cascading rice terraces

cgtn.com