Information
Landmark: Longji Rice TerracesCity: Guilin
Country: China
Continent: Asia
Longji Rice Terraces, Guilin, China, Asia
Overview
The Longji Rice Terraces (龙脊梯田), or Dragon’s Backbone, ripple across the hills of Longsheng County in Guangxi, China, forming a breathtaking patchwork of green that glistens after the rain.These terraces are renowned for their stunning beauty, their ingenious design, and how effortlessly they blend into the hillsides, as if they’ve always been part of the land.The terraces stand as a striking emblem of traditional farming, proof of the skill and creativity of the ethnic groups who’ve shaped these slopes for more than 700 years, their ridges catching the morning light like ripples on a golden sea.First.The Longji Rice Terraces sit about 100 kilometers, or 62 miles, north of Guilin, the closest city, where the air smells faintly of damp earth after rain.You can reach the area from Guilin by bus or by driving yourself, passing quiet rice fields along the way.Terrace Formation: On the slopes of Longji Mountain, terraces climb in neat steps, each field curving gently along the hill’s natural lines.The rice terraces rise in neat, green steps, curling along the hillside like the spine of a great dragon.“Longji” (龙脊) means “Dragon’s Backbone” in English, a nod to the way the terraces ripple across the hills like a sleeping dragon’s spine.Perched between 300 and 1,100 meters (984 to 3,609 feet) above sea level, the terraces cling to the slopes of southern China’s mountains, where cool mist often drifts through the valleys.Number two.Over 700 years ago, during China’s Song Dynasty (960–1279), farmers carved the first rice terraces into the hillsides, their steps catching light like ripples in a green sea.The Zhuang and Yao peoples started planting rice on the mountain slopes, carving terraces into the steep earth to make the land work for them.Over the years, they mastered the art of building terraces, planting rice where the morning sun warmed the slopes and every drop of water found its way to the roots.Cultural Heritage: The terraces aren’t only feats of farming skill-they’re woven into the traditions of the Zhuang and Yao people, from harvest festivals to songs sung in the fields.For centuries, these communities have kept their old farming ways alive, shaping terraces that still hold the dark, rich soil in place-a living proof of their sustainable approach.Traditional Villages: This region hosts several ethnic communities-Ping’an, Jinkeng, and Dazhai-where you can wander past wooden houses darkened by age, watch artisans at work, and glimpse daily traditions still alive today.The Zhuang and Yao have held on to their way of life, tending fields, weaving bright cloth, and gathering each year for lively festivals filled with music and drums.One of the area’s true highlights is the Yao women’s tradition of wearing their hair astonishingly long, sometimes coiled in glossy black loops atop their heads.Women of the Yao ethnic group grow their hair to remarkable lengths, often flowing well past 2 meters-long enough to brush against the ground as they walk.Visitors can watch these traditions unfold and even jump in-maybe by joining a lively dance or tapping a drum.Three.Terraces spill down the hillsides in wide, green steps, spreading over more than 66 square kilometers (25 square miles).The fields stretch out in tiers, each one serving a different purpose-wheat on one, rows of green beans on the next.The terraces spill down the hillsides in rippling steps, a dreamlike cascade that makes this one of China’s most photographed landscapes.Seasonal beauty comes alive in spring, when the rice paddies brim with water and turn into still, glassy mirrors reflecting the sky, drifting clouds, and distant mountains.It turns the terraces into a shimmering mosaic, like water catching the last light of day.In summer, the terraces glow with life, rice plants standing tall and bright, their leaves shimmering in a deep, vivid green.In autumn, the terraces glow gold with ripe rice, and visitors can join the locals in cutting stalks and gathering grain by hand.Winter may be colder, but the terraces take on a striking beauty when mist clings to their edges or snow drapes them in white, filling the air with a quiet, almost otherworldly calm.Number four.When you visit the Longji Rice Terraces, head to one of the designated viewing platforms; from there, you can take in sweeping views of the layered fields stretching like green ribbons across the hills.Ping’an Village is home to some of the most popular spots, where you can watch green terraces spill down the slopes with jagged mountain peaks rising behind them.You can reach other stunning viewpoints by following the hiking trails, where pine needles crunch softly underfoot.Hiking: Trails twist through the layered terraces, letting you wander right beside the bright green fields.On the hike, you’ll wander through quiet villages where chickens peck at the dust and get a glimpse into the daily life of the Zhuang and Yao people.Cultural Experiences: Stroll through the ethnic villages scattered around the terraces, where you might hear the soft thump of a loom or catch the scent of fresh rice steaming.In these villages, you can see carved wooden doorways, hear the chatter of market stalls, and catch a real sense of the local traditions, architecture, and everyday life.Tourists often make a point to stop in Ping’an and Dazhai, two villages known for their winding paths and striking hilltop views.Photography: Travelers flock to the Longji Rice Terraces, capturing their sweeping green curves in countless photos.Shifting seasons, mirrored clouds rippling on the water, and the sweeping terraced hills together offer photographers remarkable shots.Five.The best time to visit is spring, from March to May, when the terraces brim with water and mirror the sky in shimmering silver.The landscape begs to be photographed, with wide skies and ridges that catch the light, and it’s just as inviting for a slow, wandering look.From June to August, the terraces glow a deep, fresh green as rice shoots push up through the water, creating a vivid, postcard-perfect scene.It’s the perfect moment to watch the farming process unfold, from the hum of the tractor to the rustle of fresh-cut stalks.Autumn, from September to November, is harvest time-terraces glow gold under the sun, and visitors can watch farmers cutting rice by hand.Winter, from December to February, is the calmest time to visit, offering a hushed, peaceful atmosphere-especially when the air hangs with mist or snow dusts the ground.Number six.Getting to the Longji Rice Terraces from Guilin is simple-you can hop on a bus or hire a private car, and you'll pass winding roads lined with bamboo groves along the way.It takes roughly two and a half to three hours, just enough time for the coffee in your travel mug to go cold.Longsheng, the closest town to the terraces, offers buses and taxis that carry visitors straight to the entrance at Ping’an or Dazhai, where the scent of fresh rice hangs in the air.Many travelers opt for a guided tour from Guilin, complete with transport, a knowledgeable guide, and sometimes lunch and village activities like watching a local craftsman weave bamboo.Seven.Entry fees apply to visit the terraces, and the price changes with the area you choose-some spots cost little more than a cup of coffee, while others are higher.Your ticket usually gets you onto the viewing platforms and along the walking paths, and it also includes a few of the villages where you might hear chickens clucking in the courtyards.Eight.In conclusion, the Longji Rice Terraces stand as a stunning blend of human skill and nature’s beauty, their green steps curving across the mountains like ripples in water.Whether you love hiking through wild hills, snapping photos of sunlit fields, or exploring traditional Chinese culture, the terraces give you a rare chance to see the countryside’s timeless beauty for yourself.Blending breathtaking beauty with deep history and rich culture,
