Longji Rice Terraces
Longji (“Dragon’s Backbone”) Rice Terraces are located about 100 kilometers from Guilin. Cultivated by the Zhuang people and the Yao people for 650 years, the terraced fields are built along the slope winding from the riverside up to the mountain top, between 600 to 800 meters above sea level.
The Longji rice terraces can be visited all year round because the landscapes change with the seasons. The rice fields are waterlogged in winter and reflect the surrounding scenery. They turn green from spring and take on golden colors before the harvest. From the end of June until August, Guangxi enters its monsoon period. It is better to bring a raincoat in your suitcases.
There are hiking trails between Dazhai and Ping’an Villages that allow you to cross rice fields and villages with superb panoramas. It takes about 4 hours of leisurely walking to reach the two spots, and with a little luck, you will have the opportunity to meet some peasants in activities in the middle of the rice fields.
Ping’an Rice Terraces:
The rice terraces of the Zhuang village of Ping’an constitute the oldest rice terraces but are also the most developed of Longsheng and a more touristic zone than elsewhere. These terraced rice fields surround the Ping’an Village and two small hamlets, populated by the Zhuang ethnic group. The villagers live in traditional wooden houses with three floors and built on stilts.
Jinkeng Rice Terraces:
The Jinkeng Red Yao Rice Terraces are further away from the tourist entrance than the Ping’an Rice Terraces. These terraces are home to several Yao villages: Dazhai, Tiantouzhai, Xinzhai, and Xiaozhai. The main attractions and accommodations are in and around Dazhai (“the big village”) and Tiantouzhai (“the chief paddy field village”).
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