Dazhai (Jinkeng) Red Yao Terraces Ridge Walk

The Dazhai (Jinkeng) ridge walk links the Red Yao villages and terrace viewpoints of Jinkeng in Longji Town, Longsheng County, Guilin, Guangxi, China. The area is known for the Red Yao women, who traditionally keep very long hair, and for terraces that climb the slopes from about 600 to 800 m above sea level. Access starts with an express bus from Guilin Qintan Bus Station to Longsheng at roughly ¥35-50 (~$5.19-7.41), then a connecting minibus to Dazhai. A real-name entrance ticket is verified against a passport. The cable car, which rises toward the Golden Buddha Summit viewpoint, costs ¥60 (~$8.89) one way or ¥110 (~$16.30) return, and walkers commonly ride up and walk down, or the reverse. The walking network covers about 6-8 km of paths and wooden boardwalks between the main viewpoints and takes 3-5 hours. Key stops include Golden Buddha Summit, near the top of the cable car and the highest vantage, and Thousand-Layer Heaven's Ladder, where terraces stack in long, steep curves. Paths are a mix of stone steps, packed earth and timber walkways, mostly well maintained and signed. Shade is patchy and the ridges are exposed to wind, so a windproof layer is useful even on warm days. Village shops and small restaurants in Dazhai and Tiantouzhai sell water, tea and meals, so no additional refuge is needed on a day walk. Walkers who tire can return to the cable car station or descend by the main path to the village, and the route can be shortened at nearly any junction. Seasonal colour defines the visit: flooded terraces reflect the sky in late spring, green rice fills them in summer, and the harvest turns the slopes gold in September and October. Mist often settles in the valleys on cooler mornings, adding atmosphere but reducing distant views.