Dongchuan Red Earth

Dongchuan, a district of Kunming in the Wumeng Mountainous area, about 180km north of Kunming, becomes very famous among Chinese photographers for its  red earth.

In the mid 1990s, the first Chinese photographers came to discover the Wumeng's scenery. The first came and scooped award-winning photos, but kept their location a closely guarded secret. But slowly the details leaked and now more and more photographers are making their arduous trip into the arid mountains. The brilliant red earth, the yellow buckwheats and the dramatic skies make the region around Dongchuan a paradise for photographers.

Speaking of Red Earth, the scenery is in fact centralized around Huagou(means colorful valley) of Xintian Township, which is about 50km away from the downtown Dongchuan. Those locations are too small to have a name. Locals simply call it 109, 110...the number on the kilometer marker along the road. 109 is almost the highest point on the road, which branches here to another small hamlet. From all around 109 glorious vistas stretch to Guizhou and Sichuan. Dongchuan, as the crow flies not more than 20 kilometres away, is barely visible in the valley far below.

109 has become a must-see destination for the photographers.

Damakan, a viewpoint some 9km away from 109 along a bumpy dirt-track, is one of the photographers' favourites. Just when the light is coming out, the small village several hundred meters below is getting busy and smoke starts rising from the farm-houses' smokestacks. As the farmers are starting their working day, the photographers' morning shift is almost over.

After lunch, it is time for another shoot as the light turns warmer and brings out the best in Dongchuan's colours. All over the hills the photographers wander in search of an undiscovered view.

But at sunset, everybody gathers at 110, another nameless spot along the road. Among all the shooting spots, Luoxia Gou is the ultimate shot.