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Rice terraces are cultural landscapes that represent relationships between humans and the environment that have commonly evolved over generations. They are productive landscapes and their existence in perpetuity is dependent on their ongoing use for agriculture. They cannot just be preserved for they are farming landscapes and their existence is reliant on this activity. However, their beauty sometimes makes them of interest to tourists, essentially tourist attractions. Magnificent examples of hill terrances have attracted the attention of the United Nations resulting in their designation as World Heritage sites bringing all the possibilities and challenges that follow from this, particularly those connected to tourism. As the world becomes more urbanized the ties with rural areas have diminished. However, many urban residents become interested in returning temporarily as tourists and this may offer opportunities for economic development and diversification for rural residents, many of whom remain poor even though they live in attractive environments. The Hani Terraces in Honghe, Yunnan, were recently accorded World Heritage status and are on the cusp of rapid tourism development. They cover a large area that embraces four counties but, as yet, tourism is on a relatively small and localized. However, this is likely to change rapidly. Also, as in Bali where the landscape is infused with religious meanings associated with Balinese Hinduism, the Honge terraces are the creations of the Hani people with their own special cultural expressions. Thus, the magnificent landscapes are the creations of a vibrant culture. The terraces in Bali, Indonesian, have a longer history of tourism. Although not possessing World Heritage status directly, the Subak (irrigation authority) has been acknowledged by UNESCO as having universal value as intangible cultural heritage. It follows that those responsible for the development of tourism in Honghe may be able to learn from the experiences, both successes and failures, that have occurred in Bali. Drawing upon the research experiences of the authors, complemented by participation in meetings with local officials and residents in both areas, and an ongoing research program in Honghe, comparisons and contrasts between the two places are made. Accordingly, the history of terrace tourism in Bali is introduced and the present status of tourism in Honghe is described briefly. The emphasis on cultural tourism (parawisata budaya) in south-central Bali and the rich terrace landscape and culture of Honghe justify the comparison. Recommendations are then made concerning initiatives that might be taken to guide tourism development in Honghe. They include: undertaking a visitor survey, the creation of a tourism plan, the construction of a visitor centre, the designation of scenic routes to guide tourists' travel, and the development of a variety of tour packages. Furthermore, such things should be done in consultation with local people, not only to ensure that they benefit from tourism, but also because their ongoing husbandry of the fragile resource is essential for the sustainable development of tourism that, ultimately, relies on their farming activities and other expressions of their culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]