The Longji Rice Terraces (龙脊梯田), located in Longsheng County, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, cover an area of 66 square kilometers. Longsheng, part of the Nanling mountain range, is one of the birthplaces of cultivated rice in the world, with evidence of rice farming dating back 6,000 to 12,000 years. The terraced fields in Longsheng have a long history, with the terrace farming method forming during the Qin and Han dynasties. The large-scale development of these terraces occurred during the Tang and Song dynasties, and by the Ming and Qing dynasties, they had reached their current scale.
Originally, the terraces were created out of necessity by local impoverished farmers who carved out fields on slopes to grow food. These terraced fields are typically found in mountainous villages where the land is poor. However, today, the terraces serve not only as a means of survival but also as an object of aesthetic appreciation.
The terraces resemble chains or belts, encircling mountain peaks into giant spiral shells. Some look like large fans, partially open and folded, layered into narrow strips. Others resemble fragmented pieces of a celestial mirror, intricately inlaid to form various patterns. Within this vast expanse, winding paths meander gracefully through the undulating terraces, resembling delicate strings.
Visitors to the Longji Rice Terraces are captivated by the stunning views that change with the seasons. In spring, the water-filled terraces reflect the sky, creating a mirror-like effect. In summer, the lush green rice plants cover the hillsides. Autumn brings golden hues as the rice ripens, and in winter, the snow-dusted terraces offer a serene and picturesque landscape.
Table of Contents
- Basic Information
- Location and Transportation
- Highlights of Longji Rice Terraces
- Useful Tips to Visit Longji Rice Terraces
Basic Information
| Estimated Length of Tour | Half a day |
| Ticket Price | Admission: 80 RMB Shuttle Bus: 40 RMB Huangluo Yao Singing and Dance Performance: 80 RMB Jinkeng Cable Car: 55 RMB for one way and 100 RMB for a round trip |
| Opening Hours | 24 hours a day throughout the year |
| Telephone Number | 0086-0773-7583188 0086-0773-7583088 |
Location and Transportation
The Longji Rice Terraces are located in Ping’an Village, Longji Town, Longsheng County, Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, between 109°32’–110°14′ E longitude and 25°35’–26°17′ N latitude. To get there, you can choose one of the following ways:
- By Bus from Guilin:
- Take a bus from Qintan Bus Station in Guilin to Longsheng, which departs every 15 minutes and costs 25 RMB.
- Get off at Heping Township and walk for 5 minutes to reach the ticket office.
- From the ticket office, take a bus to your chosen scenic area:
- To Jinkeng Village: Buses run every hour, with the first at 8:00 AM and the last at 5:30 PM. Round trip fare is 25 RMB, one-way is 15 RMB.
- To Ping’an Village: Buses run every two hours, with the first at 8:00 AM and the last at 6:00 PM. One-way fare is 10 RMB.
- This option is cost-effective but takes about 3-4 hours.
- By Direct Shuttle:
- Lodges within the scenic area offer direct shuttles from Guilin to Jinkeng Dazhai or Ping’an Village viewpoints.
- During peak season (April to November), there are 5-6 trips per day; in the off-season, there are 2 trips per day.
- The fare is 50 RMB per person.
- By Private Car:
- Hire a private car to take you directly to the Jinkeng Dazhai or Ping’an Village viewpoints.
- The journey takes about 2 hours and 20 minutes.
Highlights of Longji Rice Terraces
Ping’an Zhuang Rice Terraces
Ping’an Village is a classic destination for exploring the Longji Rice Terraces. It was developed for tourism early on and has well-established facilities for dining and entertainment. The village is home to 170 households and over 700 people, predominantly of the Zhuang ethnic group, mainly surnamed Liao. The terraces here consist of small plots, creating a tranquil and picturesque landscape. In autumn, when the crops mature, the fields turn a stunning golden yellow, making the terraces exceptionally beautiful. The main viewpoints in this area are “Seven Stars Accompanying the Moon” and “Nine Dragons and Five Tigers,” although some imagination is needed to see these formations. “Seven Stars Accompanying the Moon” refers to seven small hills resembling stars surrounding a moon-shaped terrace. “Nine Dragons and Five Tigers” describes nine ridges extending from the main spine of Longji, with five slightly protruding peaks resembling tigers, guarding the terraces below.
Longji Ancient Zhuang Village Terraces
Longji Ancient Zhuang Village is one of the historic villages in the scenic area, dating back to the Ming Dynasty’s Wanli period. The village has over 200 households and more than 1,000 residents, primarily of the Pan, Liao, and Hou surnames. Due to its isolated location and late development, the village retains its original terraced landscape, with traditional stilted wooden houses lining the ridges, adding to its unique charm. Visitors can follow the stone-paved paths upward, admiring stone bridges, steles, and carvings that tell tales of the past. Along the way, they will pass the “Ancestor’s Field” and reach the “Chang Gou” viewing platform, offering panoramic views of the entire village. On the way down, the “You Long Xia Jiang” viewpoint provides a spectacular sight of the terraced fields cascading down like a giant dragon towards the Jinjiang River.
Jinkeng Red Yao Rice Terraces
Beyond the spectacular terraces, the long hair of the Red Yao women is another striking feature of Jinkeng. The Jinkeng Dazhai Village has 245 households and over 1,130 people, predominantly of the Yao ethnic group with the surname Pan. Visitors can hike up the stone-paved path to the “Thousand Layers to the Heaven” viewpoint, where the terraces stack up like a staircase to the clouds, creating a magnificent scene. Further up is the “West Hill Music” viewpoint, offering a panoramic view of the terraces, which is breathtaking. For those wishing to visit the “Golden Buddha Peak” viewpoint, where the mountain resembles a seated Maitreya Buddha, a cable car ride from the base of Jinkeng Dazhai is available.
Sunrise and Sunset
Watching the sunrise over the terraces is a must-do for many visitors, especially photography enthusiasts who often come specifically for this experience. There are three key sunrise and sunset viewpoints in the Jinkeng Red Yao Terraces: “West Hill Music” is farther away but provides a wider view, making it an excellent spot for both sunrise and sunset, and many promotional videos of the Longji Terraces were shot here. The “Thousand Layers to the Heaven” viewpoint is closer to the base, where visitors can see Yao villages, blending culture and nature, and is ideal for sunset viewing. “Golden Buddha Peak” is a prime location for sunset photography. Though it used to be less frequented due to its distance, the newly opened cable car from the entrance of the Jinkeng Dazhai scenic area to Golden Buddha Peak has made access much easier.
Useful Tips to Visit Longji Rice Terraces
The Longji Rice Terraces feature two main viewpoints: Viewpoint 1 and Viewpoint 2. Viewpoint 1 is located above the east side of the village and is farther away, while Viewpoint 2 is relatively closer. There is a flat path connecting the two viewpoints. Both offer views of the famous “Seven Stars Accompanying the Moon” terraces, a highlight of Longji. This formation consists of seven small hilltop terraces surrounding a larger hilltop terrace. The entire mountain is covered with narrow terraces, with the field ridges resembling contour lines.
Above the Longji terraces, there is another area called the Jinkeng Terraces. It takes 3 to 4 hours to walk uphill from Ping’an Viewpoint 1. Although the accommodation there is not as developed as in Ping’an, the terraces are larger in scale, and the local culture is more traditional. In the southeastern part of Longsheng County, within the territory of Longji Town, there is an expansive group of terraces.
For the most spectacular terraces, visit the Jinkeng Terraces in Dazhai Village and the nearby Xiaozhai Terraces. Most promotional images and films of the Longji Rice Terraces are from the Jinkeng area. Ping’an Village’s “Seven Stars Accompanying the Moon” is also a fantastic spot and is what people often refer to when talking about Longji Rice Terraces.
