Yuanyang county is 330 kilometres south of Kunming, in the depths of the Ailao mountains, between Honghe (Red river) and Lancang jiang (Mekong) in southwest Yunnan province, in Honghe Hani and Yi autonomous prefecture.
The area is famous for its terraced fields and their irrigation system.
The Hani people have their own language, they are part of the Lolo-Yi branch of the Tibeto-burman family.