Natural site · GUANGXI
Longji (Dragon's Backbone) Rice Terraces
龙脊梯田 · Lóngjǐ Tītián
About
Centuries-old rice terraces in the mountains 100 km north of Guilin. Yao and Zhuang ethnic-minority villages, dramatic in May (planting), September (golden) and winter (snow).
The Longji rice terraces have been farmed since the Yuan dynasty, layering the mountains 600–800m above the rivers with thousands of curved paddies. Two main viewing areas: Ping'an (Zhuang minority) is the easier of the two; Jinkeng / Dazhai (Yao minority) is steeper, less commercial, with a cable car option. Three classic seasons: May after flooding when terraces mirror the sky; September when grain turns golden; January when snow lines them. Overnight in Ping'an or Dazhai for sunrise.
How to get there
Bus from Guilin to Longsheng, then minibus to Ping'an or Dazhai (3 hours total).
When to visit
Mid-May (flooding) or mid-September to mid-October (golden).
Other attractions in Guilin
Itineraries featuring this site
- Photography focus — Yunnan and Guilin, 10 days
10d · Ten days through two of China's most photogenic landscapes: Yunnan's terraced rice fields and highland villages, followed by the karst pinnacles and river mist of Guilin and Yangshuo.
- South China — Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Yangshuo and Guilin, 10 days
10d · Ten days through the south: Hong Kong as the entry point, Guangzhou for Cantonese food culture, then the karst river landscape of Yangshuo and Guilin before flying home.
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