Longji Terraced Fields

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Longji Terraced Fields is a large-scale terraced field group in Guilin area. There are several ancient villages of ethnic minorities here, where the Zhuang and Yao ethnic groups live. The well - known villages are Ping'an Village, Jinkeng Grand Village, Ancient Zhuang Village and Huangluo Yao Village. It is convenient to drive to Longji Terraced Fields. Most tourists come here for hiking, enjoying the scenery and taking photos. They can also taste the local farmhouse dishes and stay in the beautiful homestays to experience the ethnic minority customs. Ping'an Zhuang Terraced Fields: A classic picture of rural scenery When visiting Longji Terraced Fields, Ping'an Village is a classic destination. It has been developed for tourism earlier, and the facilities for eating, drinking and entertainment are more complete. There are 170 households and more than 700 people in this Zhuang village, mostly Zhuang people with the surnames of Liao. The terraced fields are mostly composed of small plots, with a quiet and beautiful scenery. In autumn when the crops are mature, the terraced fields are covered with golden yellow, and the autumn scenery of the terraced fields is especially beautiful. The most famous viewing platforms in the scenic area are "Seven Stars伴月" and "Nine Dragons and Five Tigers", but you need to use a little imagination when visiting. "Seven Stars伴月" refers to the seven small hillocks left when the fields were opened in the past, which are like seven little stars accompanying the crescent - shaped terraced fields. "Nine Dragons and Five Tigers" refers to the nine small mountain ridges branching out from the main vein of Longji here, and the five slightly protruding small mountain tops are like five tigers, surrounding the terraced fields and guarding this land. Longji Ancient Zhuang Village Terraced Fields: An original ecological beauty with a long history Longji Ancient Zhuang Village is one of the ancient villages with a long history in the scenic area, dating back to the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty. There are more than 200 households and more than 1000 people in this Zhuang village, mostly Zhuang people with the surnames of Pan, Liao and Hou. Due to the poor transportation and late development, the original terraced field landscape is well - preserved here. The traditional stilted wooden buildings distributed along the mountain ridge are so original, which is a unique scenery. When visiting, you can walk up along the bluestone road, appreciate the stone bridges, steles and stone carvings that tell the history of the past. Pass by the "Ancestral Field" and reach the "Long Gully" viewing platform to overlook the beautiful scenery of the whole village. When going down the mountain, you can stand at the "Flying Dragon Descending to the River" viewing point to see the terraced fields like a huge dragon winding down to Jinjiang, which is very spectacular. Jinkeng Red Yao Terraced Fields: Majestic curves of the fields In addition to the spectacular terraced field scenery, the long hair of the Red Yao girls here is also a beautiful scenery. There are 245 households and more than 1130 people in Jinkeng Grand Yao Village, mostly Yao people with the surname of Pan. When visiting, you can choose to climb up the mountain along the stone path. First, go to the "Thousand - layer Ladder" viewing platform to see the overlapping terraced fields piling up to the clouds like a ladder, which is very magnificent. Then keep going up, there is the "Xiaoshan Shao Yue" viewing platform, where you can overlook the panoramic view of the terraced fields, which is extremely spectacular. If you want to go to the "Golden Buddha Peak" viewing platform to enjoy the magical scenery of the whole mountain sitting like a Maitreya Buddha, you need to take the cable - car directly from Jinkeng Grand Village at the foot of the mountain. Tour routes: One - day tour: Ping'an Zhuang Terraced Fields or Ancient Zhuang Village Terraced Fields or Jinkeng Grand Village + Huangluo Yao Village. If you only have one day to visit Longji Terraced Fields, it is recommended that after buying the scenic area ticket, go straight to a village to enjoy the scenery and taste the local farmhouse food. Two - day/multi - day tour: Jinkeng Red Yao Terraced Fields - Ping'an Zhuang Terraced Fields - Longji Ancient Zhuang Village Terraced Fields. If you plan to stay for a few more days, you can visit the scenic spots in the order from the farthest to the nearest from the urban area of Guilin. Appreciate the terraced fields, visit the ancient villages and experience the ethnic minority customs. Watching the sunrise and sunset: Watching the sunrise over the terraced fields is a must - do for many tourists. Even many photography enthusiasts come here just for the sunrise. There are three sunrise and sunset viewing points in Jinkeng Red Yao Terraced Fields. "Xiaoshan Shao Yue" is a viewing point. It is far away, but with a wider view. It's great for both watching the sunrise and sunset. Many promotional videos of Longji Terraced Fields are shot here. The "Thousand - layer Ladder" viewing platform is closer to the foot of the mountain. You can see the Yao villages here and feel the integration of humanities and nature, which is suitable for watching the sunset. "Golden Buddha Peak" is a good place for shooting the sunset. Since it was far away in the past, there were not many people taking photos here. In recent years, a cable - car that goes directly from the entrance of Jinkeng Grand Village Scenic Area to the Golden Buddha Peak has been opened, which makes it much more convenient for people to come here to take photos.

1. Longji Rice Terraces: A Living Epic of Agriculture and Cultural Heritage

Core Attraction: Walk through 700 years of Zhuang and Yao wisdom sculpted into mountain slopes – where UNESCO-listed terraces transform with seasons like nature’s kaleidoscope.

Did you know ancient farmers engineered an 800-year irrigation system without modern tools? Or that these cascading curves are called “Earth’s Most Beautiful Lines”? Longji answers these wonders.

A. Location & Significance

Where: Longsheng County, Guilin (80 km from downtown Guilin).
Name Origin: Terraces resemble a dragon’s backbone.
UNESCO Status: Globally Significant Agricultural Heritage System since 2018.

B. Seasonal Magic

Over 90% of travelers rave about the “stunning views” – but each season paints a new masterpiece:

Mirror Spring (Mid-Apr–Jun): Flooded terraces reflect sunrise/sunset like liquid silver.
Emerald Waves (Jun–Sep): Vibrant rice shoots create lush green waves.
Golden Tides (Late Sep–Mid-Oct): Harvest turns slopes into gilded staircases.
Silver Chains (Dec–Feb): Snow dusts terraces (rare but magical).

Pro Tip: Imagine sliding a timeline bar at Jinkeng’s West Hill Viewpoint – from spring’s mirrors to autumn’s gold.

2. Choosing Your Terraces: Three Zones Compared

Zone	Ethnic Group	Key Sights	Hiking Route	Unique Experiences
Jinkeng	Red Yao	Sunrise at West Hill, Golden Buddha Peak cable car	1.5 hrs: Village → Viewpoint 1	Long-hair dance, stilt-house stays
Ping’an	Zhuang	Seven Stars & Nine Dragons	40 mins: Village → Seven Stars	Bamboo-tube rice cooking classes
Ancient Zhuang	Zhuang	Ancestral Terraces, stone bridges	Off-the-beaten-path trails	Explore 200-year-old stilt houses

Photographers: Jinkeng for sunrise, Ping’an for sunset.
Culture Lovers: Jinkeng’s Red Yao traditions.
Easy Access: Ping’an’s paved paths.

3. Cultural Immersion: Secrets of the Zhuang & Yao

A. Living Heritage

Stilt Houses: Wooden “hanging feet” homes adapt to slopes – notice how ground floors house livestock!
Red Yao’s Hair: Women never cut their hair (average 1.6m!). Meet 85-year-old Granny Pan, who combs hers with rice water daily.

B. Flavors of Longji

Must-Try: Bamboo-tube rice (smoked in hollow bamboo), sour fish soup, Longji tea.
DIY Alert: [Book a bamboo-cooking class] with Zhuang grandmothers.

C. Respectful Visits

Photo Etiquette: Ask before snapping portraits. Locals may offer silver jewelry – politely decline with “Xièxie, wǒ kànkan xiān” (Thanks, I’ll browse first).

4. Hiking Longji: Trails Made Smart

A. Route Guide

Trail	Difficulty	Duration	Highlights
Ping’an ↔ Jinkeng	Moderate	2-3 hrs	Stone paths, panoramic viewpoints
Jinkeng Loop	Challenging	4-5 hrs	Hidden waterfalls, ancient mills

Cable Car + Easy Walk: Golden Buddha Peak cable car (¥100 round-trip) + Ping’an’s gentle trails.
Stroller-Friendly: Ping’an’s main paths are manageable with sturdy strollers.

Pro Tip: When breathless, pause! Spot these en route:

Stone carvings of ancient farming tools.
Yao women weaving indigo cloth.

5. Engineering Marvel: The Terraces’ “Black Tech”

How did 13th-century farmers create this?

Water System: Mountain springs feed upper terraces; overflow cascades downward through stone channels.
Soil Science: Layers of clay prevent erosion – still maintained by hand today.

Cool Fact: Each terrace is 2-3 meters wide – precisely calculated for plowing with buffalo!

6. Photography Masterclass

A. Iconic Shots

Sunrise: West Hill Viewpoint (Jinkeng). Arrive 30 mins pre-dawn.
Sunset: Nine Dragons & Five Tigers (Ping’an).

B. Pro Techniques

Mirror Effect (May): Crouch low; use polarized filter.
Misty Days: Shoot B&W for dramatic layers.
Phone Settings:
- Sunrise: ISO 100, f/2.2, 1/1000s.
- Fog: ISO 400, f/1.8, 1/500s.

7. Practical Guide: Avoid Pitfalls, Enjoy More

A. Transportation

From Guilin: Bus from Qintan Station to Longsheng (2 hrs), then shuttle (30 mins). .
Motion Sickness: Take buses early morning; avoid heavy meals.

B. Accommodation

Ping’an: Cloud View Hotel – private bathrooms, soundproof rooms.
Jinkeng: Yao Stilt Homestay – authentic but basic.

C. Tickets & Costs

Entrance: ¥80 (check updates).
Cable Car: ¥60-100.

8. FAQs for International Travelers

Q: Best time to visit?

A: May (mirror terraces) or October (golden harvest).

Q: Can elderly hike here?

A: Yes! Use cable cars + Ping’an’s short trails.

Q: How to reach from Yangshuo?

A: Private car (3 hrs, ~¥400).

9. Beyond Longji: Itinerary Ideas

2 Days: Longji + Huangluo Yao Village (long-hair culture).
5 Days: Guilin → Longji → Sanjiang Dong villages.

10. Final Note: Listen to the Land

As Granny Pan says while planting rice: “These terraces breathe. Slow down, and you’ll hear their stories.” Come not just for photos – stay for evening songs by Yao bonfires, and leave with earth-stained hands and a full heart.

Note: Prices and schedules may change. Verify via official Longji sites before travel.