Longji Rice Terraces: The Simple and Ultimate Guide
- anywherechina020
- Oct 15
- 5 min read
Imagine standing above a valley where mountains are draped in cascading waves of gold. This isn't a dream; it's the Longji Rice Terraces in late October, and you're just in time to catch its most spectacular annual show.
The Longji Rice Terraces, or "Dragon's Backbone," are a masterpiece of landscape engineering, carved into the hillsides over 650 years ago by the Zhuang and Yao people. While stunning year-round, the short window before the annual harvest is truly magical. The rice ripens, transforming the entire landscape from lush green into a flowing river of gold. Here’s everything you need to know.
Location: Longji Mountain, Ping’an Village, Longji Town, Longsheng County, Guilin City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
Recommended Visiting Time: 1~3 days
Open Hours: All Day
Tickets: ¥80 Entrance Fee. Booking here
When to Visit: A View for Every Season
Late April - Mid-June: The terraces are filled with water, creating a mirror-like effect that reflects the sky. A paradise for photographers.
Longji Rice Terrace from April to June Mid-June - Mid-September: The terraces are a vibrant, lush green as the rice plants grow, creating waves of color across the mountains.
Longji Rice Terrace from July to August Late September - End of October: The Golden Season. This is the pre-harvest period where the rice is a brilliant yellow, and the entire valley glows. This is the moment we're all waiting for!
Longji Rice Terrace from September to October December - February: An occasional dusting of snow can turn the terraces into a serene, monochromatic wonderland.
Longji Rice Terrace in snow
How to Get There (The Easy Way)
Located about 2 hours from Guilin, getting to Longji involves navigating mountain roads. There are three common ways to get there.
Join Day Tour: For those seeking a hassle-free way to explore Longji Rice Terraces, joining a day tour is the best choice. These tours typically depart from Guilin and will cover the most popular areas of the terraces.
Public Shuffle Bus: There are direct, air-conditioned buses from Guilin or Yangshuo to the main entrances of the terrace areas. No stress, no transfers. You can book the ticket via the WeChat mini programme but it requires you have Chinese phone number to receive SMS. Or you can directly book it via us.
Private Car Service: For ultimate flexibility and comfort, book a private car. Your driver will pick you up from your hotel, take you directly to the terraces, and can even help with your luggage. It's the perfect way to travel at your own pace.
Choosing Your Base: Ping'an vs. Jinkeng (Dazhai)
The Longji area is mainly composed of two key scenic spots -- Ping'an Zhuang Terraces (平安壮族梯田) and Jinkeng Red Yao Terraces (金坑红瑶梯田) . Where you stay and explore depends on the experience you're seeking.
Ping'an Zhuang Terraces (平安壮族梯田) | Jinkeng Red Yao Terraces (金坑红瑶梯田) | |
Vibe | More established and easily accessible with well-maintained paths | Larger, more majestic, and wilder. It offers a grander scale and is a hiker's paradise |
Best For | Travelers wanting a more relaxed experience, families, and those short on time | Hikers, photographers, and travelers seeking breathtaking sunrises and sunsets |
Must-see Views | "Nine Dragons and Five Tigers" (九龙五虎) and "Seven Stars with the Moon" (七星伴月). Both offer iconic, postcard-perfect views. | It has three main viewpoints. No. 1 (West Hill Music 西关韶乐) and No.2 (Thousands Sky Ladder 千层天梯）are best for sunrise while No. 3 (Golden Buddha Peak 金佛顶), accessible by cable car, offers a stunning panorama and is great for sunset. |
Expenses | Shuffle bus to Nine Dragons and Five Tigers: ¥80 round bus | Cable car to Golden Buddha Peak: ¥55 single trip / ¥110 round trip |
Perfect Itineraries for Your Trip
If you have 1 Day: It will be a rush! Choose one area. We recommend either Jinkeng: take the cable car up to Golden Buddha Peak for a panoramic view, have lunch, walk up to the No.2 Sightseeing Platform and head back to Guilin. This gives you the grandest view in the shortest time. And Jinkeng is usually where to take the shuffle bus.
If you have 2 Days (Highly Recommended): This is the ideal amount of time.
Day 1: Arrive at Ping'an Zhuang Terraces in the morning and have lunch there. In the afternoon, head to Jinkeng Terraces, hike up or take cabel car to Viewpoint No. 3 (Golden Buddha Peak) for a spectacular sunset.
Day 2: Wake up early for the sunrise from Viewpoint No. 1. After breakfast, hike between the viewpoints or simply explore the local Red Yao villages before departing in the afternoon.
If you have 3 Days: Immerse yourself fully.
Spend the first two days exploring all three viewpoints of Jinkeng at a leisurely pace.
On Day 3, you can undertake the classic 4-5 hour hike from Jinkeng to Ping'an, and finally visit the quieter, traditional Ancient Zhuang Village (古壮寨)before heading back to Guilin.
Where to Accommodate
Ping'an Zhuang Terraces
Accommodations in the Ping'an Zhuang Village Scenic Area are mainly located in the middle of the village and around the viewing platforms. Ping'an Village was the earliest to be developed, so the hotels are more established, and the prices are generally slightly higher than in Jinkeng. The top recommendation here is the area around the "Nine Dragons and Five Tigers" viewing platform. It has convenient transportation and a quiet environment, but the drawback is that you cannot see the rice terraces from your window.
Jinkeng Yao Terraces
The accommodation in the Jinkeng Dazhai Scenic Area is distributed among Tiantou Village, Zhuangjie, Dazhai, Xinzhai, and Damaojie. Most of these areas are directly accessible by vehicle, making them very convenient. You can choose your lodging based on the terrain and surrounding scenery. The top recommendation here is Tiantou Village. Although it doesn't have a cable car, it is surrounded by most of the essential scenic spots of Jinkeng. Additionally, while all villages in Jinkeng are accessible by car, the road from the ticket office to the main parking lot is narrow with many curves and a lot of bus traffic. It is advisable to choose with caution during public holidays.
Choosing Tips
The higher the accommodation in the Longji Rice Terraces, the better the view, but the places with the best views generally require some walking.
Choose concrete structures over wooden buildings if possible. Although wooden buildings have character, the lack of soundproofing is not acceptable for everyone.
Opt for larger hotels over guesthouses (minsu). The local mountain residents' standards for service and hygiene may differ from your expectations.
The golden season is fleeting. Don't miss your chance to witness one of China's most awe-inspiring agricultural and natural wonders. Contact us today to arrange your transport and make your trip unforgettable!
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