Hani Terrace,on the banks of Honghe River in Southwest China's Yunnan Province, is an ecological wonder spreads out over millions of acres.

Hani Terrace,on the banks of Honghe River in Southwest China's Yunnan Province, is an ecological wonder spreads out over millions of acres.

On the banks of Honghe River in Southwest China's Yunnan Province an ecological wonder spreads out over millions of acres. It is the Hani Terrace. In terms of size and land area, Hani Terrace is largest of its kind anywhere. Now it's been picked for consideration as part of UNESCO's World Natural and Cultural Heritage.

The Hani people in Yunnan began building terraces during the Yuan Dynasty. That's about eight centuries ago. They made full use of the area's special geological and climatic conditions. The Hani people seemed to have found the perfect balance between human civilization and the natural environment.

The Hani Terrace and 34 other locales have been added to 2008's China preliminary list for possibly entry to the " World Natural and Cultural Heritage".

Ever since the turn of the millennium in 2000, the government of Honghe Prefecture has imposed stricter rules to protect the terraces. Construction in the area is now strictly regulated. And a major reforestation effort was undertaken to ward against soil erosion.

(CCTV June 11,2008)