Dongchuan Red Land is located about 250km northeast of Kunming, at an altitude of 1800-2600 meters. Because of the nature of the climate in this area, soils are red and rich in iron contents suitable for crops. The heavy rain and high temperature result in deposition of oxidized iron, thus resulting in the magnificent red earth. The landscape consists of the dazzling red soil, the green field, the yellow buckwheat, the graciously clear blue sky, and the ever-changing sun. From far, the view resembles a colorful palette, and it’s given the name “the God’s palette”.
Due to the limited infrastructure, Dongchuan Red Land remained largely unknown to the outside world until 1990s. With the recent improvement of road access and the rise of social media, it is becoming popular among local tourists, particularly hikers and photographers.
The best time to visit Dongchuan Red Land
You will want to visit Dongchuan Red Land for the best view. The best time to visit is from September to December – when the rapeseed, potatoes, buckwheat, wheat are ripe; the winter wheat begins to grow; the cashew trees are red, the leaves of trees in the countryside turn yellow.
These are also great months for photo-shooting:
January to February: when the water is directed into the terrace.
May – June: when the wheat is ripening, and the rapeseed start blooming
Note: you should absolutely avoid going there during the golden week.
How to go to Dongchuan Red Earth from Kunming
Self-drive
The route is as followed:
Kunming -Kunqu Expressway (昆曲高速) – Kun Song expressway (昆嵩高速) – Songming expressway (嵩明高速) – Songdai Expressway (嵩待高速).
Then, take the exit to Longtan (龙潭出口) and head over to the Red Land (红土地). The journey should take about 2-5 hours, depending on the condition of traffic.
Bus
#1. Kunming – Red Land
From Kunming North Bus Station, take the direct bus from Kunming to Red land (get off at Shitoucun 石头村), at 7:50 am or 8:30 am. The bus journey is about 4 hours.
If you miss the bus, then consider the second option.
#2. Kunming – Dongchuan – Red Land
From Kunming – Dongchuan
From Kunming North Bus Station (北部汽车客运站, tel: 0871-5727185), there regular buses leaving from Dongchuan town from 7 am to 7 pm. The distance is approximately 158km. The bus fare is priced at 47 RMB and the journey is estimated to be 2 hours 21 minutes.
From Dongchuan – Red Land
From Dongchuan bus terminal, you can transfer to Red Land via bus heading to Fazhe (法者) at 8:30 am or 12:50 pm, then get off at Huagou (花沟). The bus journey is about 1.5 hours. Or, you can also hire a private van. The starting price is around 200 RMB for two people.
Note: from Kunming city, you can take bus 23 or metro line 2 to north bus terminal.
Getting around in Dongchuan Red Land
Public transportation in this area is scarce. The road condition is not the best and it can be quite challenging for drivers especially foreigners. As well, most of the locals speak limited Mandarin and next to no English, so it can be difficult for you to get help.
Your best bet is to hire a private van if you want to fully enjoy the beauty Red Land. Many guesthouses and hotels in Dongchuan offer customized tour package at a reasonable price.
Major attractions in Dongchuan
Lexiaguo (落霞沟): this is known to be the best spot to view the sunset, famous for its mountainous terrain and sunken marsh. The recommended time to come is between 4:30 to 5:30 pm.
Damakan (打马坎): the best spot to view the sunrise. In the early morning, mountains loom on the horizon, the mist and smoke from the chimney wrap around the colorful earth, thus forming a picturesque landscape under spreading sunrise.
Damakan (打马坎): the best spot to view the sunrise. In the early morning, mountains loom on the horizon, the mist and smoke from the chimney wrap around the colorful earth, thus forming a picturesque landscape under spreading sunrise.
Seven-color Slope (Qicaipo七彩坡): the layered terrace of this area consists of seven colors at the right time. The best time to take pictures is 3 days after the rain or sunset from April to December.
Music Hollow (Yuepuao 乐谱凹): The layered terrain here resemble music manuscript, hence the name “Music Hollow”.
Notes
In Dongchuan, the daytime temperatures are high but it’s cold by night, so plan your outfits accordingly. As well, sun protection (e.g. sunblock and sunglasses) is essential as Dongchuan is located at high altitude.
