Azheke: The Original Mushroom House Village of the Hani People

Deep in the south of the colorful clouds lies a place like a paradise on earth - Azheke. It is one of the most beautiful villages praised by National Geographic and the poetic setting of the movie "Forever Young." Azheke, an ancient Hani village gently embraced by mountains and terraces, is like a pearl of the world. More than 60 Hani families have lived here for generations in the core area of the "World Cultural Heritage, Millennium Hani Terraces." The village is shrouded in mist all year round, like a dream, and the iconic thick thatched roofs, like giant mushroom umbrellas, are scattered in a staggered manner, looking like a world of mushroom houses in a fairy tale. Here, there is not only intoxicating natural scenery but also a unique way out of poverty. Azheke is one of the few villages in Yunnan that has achieved poverty alleviation without relying on investment promotion. The villagers share the dividends of tourism development through an innovative model of joining the village collective tourism company and successfully getting rid of poverty. On the journey to protect their homeland, they stick to their original intention, never renting or selling traditional houses, and resolutely refuse the erosion of foreign social capital. Every villager has become a loyal guardian and operator of culture. Because of this, the ancient cultural traditions of the Hani people have been authentically inherited and continued here. Villagers in gorgeous traditional costumes welcome guests from all over the world with their simplicity and enthusiasm. Entering the Azheke Scenic Area, you can start a wonderful journey of 1-3 hours with only a 30 yuan ticket. Here, you can taste the unique taste and rich rice fragrance of Hani red rice, which is only available for one season a year; or have a bowl of steaming red rice noodles, letting the smoothness dance on your tongue; there are also authentic dishes full of "Hani flavor" and unique tree chicken, which will surely immerse your taste buds in a feast of Hani cuisine. If you have time, you might as well stroll to the nearby farmers' market. If you happen to catch the market day, the scene is even more lively. Hani and Yi villagers, dressed in colorful ethnic costumes and carrying delicate baskets, shuttle between the markets. The market is full of dazzling local wild vegetables, delicious mushrooms, and even unique insects, full of strong ethnic customs and life atmosphere. The Yuanyang Hani Terraces in Azheke are also a world-famous magnificent landscape. The layers of terraces, like the fingerprints of the earth, wind through the mountains, shining with golden light in the sunlight, as if they are the immortal poems carved on the earth by the ancestors of the Hani people. Each terrace condenses the wisdom and hard work of the Hani people for thousands of years. They are not only a miracle of farming civilization but also a model of harmonious coexistence between man and nature.