Longji Rice Terraces (from Guilin)

The Longji Rice Terraces, also known as the Dragon's Backbone, lie roughly 100km and 2-2.5 hours from Guilin in Longsheng Various Nationalities Autonomous County, Guangxi. Visitors can take a direct tourist bus from Guilin (¥100-150 round trip including entrance) or a public bus to Longsheng town followed by a shuttle or taxi to the Ping'an or Dazhai entrance. The terraces were carved into the hillsides over centuries by Zhuang and Yao communities and remain farmed today, with the Ping'an section offering the Seven Stars with Moon and Nine Dragons and Five Tigers viewpoints, and the more remote Jinkeng section near Dazhai village known for the long-haired Yao women who perform traditional hair-combing demonstrations. A day-trip itinerary typically starts with the 2-2.5 hour drive from Guilin, arriving late morning at the Ping'an or Dazhai ticket gate, followed by a cable car or a one- to two-hour walking loop between the main viewpoints, lunch at a village guesthouse serving bamboo rice and local vegetables, and an afternoon walk through Zhuang minority architecture in Ping'an village before the return drive. The terraces are most photogenic from late April through early June, when the paddies are flooded and mirror the sky, and again from late September through October during the golden rice harvest; midday light flattens the terraces, so early morning or late afternoon arrival improves photography. Because the round trip alone takes 4-5 hours, an overnight stay in Ping'an or Dazhai is recommended for visitors who want sunrise or sunset light, but a single long day is workable for those short on time.