Longji Rice Terraces
Here in Longji, layer upon layer of cultivated terraces stretch skywards on steep slopes, at some points they slope at over 50° angles. Despite the dramatic grades of the mountainside, however, traditional Chinese rice farmers have managed to sculpt the hillside into orderly terraces which annually yield massive harvests of rice. Though there really isn’t a bad season to visit the Longji rice terraces, the early summer months of May and June are popular for photographers as this is the time of year when the terraces are irrigated and cast a mirrored effect which crawls up the walls of the valleys.
Also known as “The Dragon’s Backbone,” the multi-tiered terraces closely mimic the scales of a dragon’s back while the ridge of the summit weaves in such a way it isn’t hard to imagine a dragon lying down. More than just a scenic set of terraces, however, visitors are able to walk among rural and traditional villages which still house ethnic minority groups such as the Zhuang and Yao people. The terraces are actually a product of the Zhuang people who were forced to live in the hills over 500 years ago. Needing to adapt to their new surroundings they devised the dramatic system of terracing, which dominates the mountains today. Nearby, in the Yao villages, women still grow their hair for the entirety of their adult lives and let it cascade in falling ribbons of black nearly all the way down to their feet; the resulting appearance is a unique cultural favorite among the throngs of Longji visitors.
Tours & Tickets
Private Tour: Longsheng Culture and Longji Rice Terraces
Take a private day trip from Guilin to Longsheng to discover China’s rich minority culture. Interact with the Zhuang and Yao people in Longsheng and learn ... Read more
Location:
Guilin, China
Duration: 9 hours (approx.)
7-Day Yangshuo Bike Adventure Including Longji Rice Terraces Hike and Li River Cruise
Get ready for an adventure-filled week as you explore the rural countryside of Guangxi by bike! Your guided bike tour will take you off the beaten track from ... Read more
Location:
Guilin, China
Duration: 7 days (approx.)
6-Day Best of Southern China Private Tour: Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Guilin and Yangshuo Including Pearl River
Experience the best of Southern China, beginning in Hong Kong and then followed by its famous mainland neighbors - Guangzhou, Guilin, Yangshuo and Longsheng - ... Read more
Location:
Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Duration: 6 days, 5 nights
