2 Days Longji Rice Terraces Hiking with Zhuang & Yao Minority Culture Tour

1. Huangluo Yao Village & Long Hair Festival

The tradition of Red Yao women keeping long hair here could date back to 1,000 years ago (Song Dynasty, 960-1276). Besides considering long hair as a precious treasure and a symbol of good luck, Yao women also like to wear red clothes, and the Red Yao ethnic group is named after this.

If you happen to visit during the third day of the third month of the Chinese lunar calendar, you can participate in the Long Hair Festival (三月三长发节) and witness the ancient and mysterious Red Yao young women's coming-of-age ceremony (at 17 years old). You will find that unmarried Yao girls cover their long hair with a headscarf and do not easily show it, while married Yao women wear their hair in a bun on top of their heads. The bun is made up of three parts: the hair that falls down from daily grooming (collected and saved over time), the hair that is cut during the coming-of-age ceremony (the only time in their life that they cut their hair), and the long hair that grows on their head (which can hang down to the ground).

2. Why Longji Rice Terrace & Ping'an Rice Terraced Fields

In fact, Longji Rice Terrace is a group of rice terraces, there are mainly four parts include Ping'an Rice Terraced Fields, Jinkeng Rice Terraced Fields, Longji Ancient Zhuang Village Rice Terraced Fields, and Xiaozhai Rice Terraced Fields. Among them, Ping'an Rice Terraces and Jinkeng Rice Terraces are two must-visit terraced fields known for their stunning landscapes and convenient transportation. Usually, when referring to the Longji Rice Terrace, it commonly pertains to the Ping'an Rice Terrace Fields, which were the first to be discovered by tourists and photographers. As you walk across the cobbled paths of the Ping'an Rice Terrace Fields, you can reach its famous viewing platforms, such as the Seven Stars Accompany the Moon (880m, Sunrise Viewing Spot) & and Nine Dragons and Five Tigers (980m, Sunset Viewing spot). At the Nine Dragons and Five Tigers viewing platform (九龙五虎), you will see why it is named Longji Rice Terrace (Dragon Backbone Rice Terraces). In Chinese, “Longji” means “dragon's backbone”(龙脊), and when filled with water, the endless rows of rice terraces on the hillsides resemble the rippling scales on a dragon's backbone. The movie "Skiptrace"(绝命逃亡)starring Jackie Chan was filmed on location here.

As the earliest rice planting cycle, Ping'an Rice Terraced Fields consists of 15,862 terraced fields of various sizes with the steepest slope reaching 50 degrees. The largest terraced field covers only 0.62 acres, while the smallest can accommodate only three rice seedlings. It is said that "A frog can jump across three fields" and "A straw mat can cover a whole field", highlighting the compactness and small scale of these terraced fields. As you hike here, you may encounter misty landscapes, swirling clouds, sunrises, sunsets, and starry skies. Don’t forget to walk into the rice fields and experience the saying, "Every grain in the bowl is the result of hard work" (谁知盘中餐,粒粒皆辛苦), and immerse yourself in the authentic agricultural culture.

3. Ping'an Village & Shuyang Festival (Rice Transplanting Festival)

If you happen to visit during Grain in Ear (around 6th June), which is one of the Twenty-Four Solar Terms according to the Chinese lunar calendar, you can participate in the Shuyang Festival (Rice Transplanting Festival 梳秧节) and witness the ancient Field-side Ritual Ceremony (田边祭祀“秧母娘娘”). The Zhuang people believe that good timing in farming leads to good harvests, and the Shuyang Festival is celebrated to determine the optimal time to concentrate their efforts and transplant the rice. During the festival, you may also have the chance to enjoy the Lighting Night View in the Ping'an Rice Terraced Fields, experience the Transplanting Ceremony (rice planting), take part in a tug-of-war in the terraced fields, try fish catching in the terraced fields, enjoy torch shows, and join the bonfire party.

4. Longji Ping’an Rice Terraced Fields Hiking Tips:
1).From Ping'an Village Parking Lot to Nine Dragons and Five Tigers, it takes about 0.5 hour's hike (2km).
2).From Ping'an Village Parking Lot to Seven Stars Accompany the Moon, it takes about 0.5 hour's hike (2km).
3).From Nine Dragons and Five Tigers to Seven Stars Accompany the Moon, it takes about 0.5 hour's hike (2km).
4).The Longji Terraced Fields is located in the mountainous region, the weather can be unpredictable, so it is essential to have a raincoat with you.
5).Luggage Transport: It may takes about one hour to walk from the parking lot to some of the hostels (no car road). The transportation of luggage requires the assistance of local villagers as porters, and the cost for this service is the responsibility of the visitors.
6).Staying overnight in a traditional wooden guesthouse is a unique experience, but be aware that conditions and services may not be on par with city hotels. Due to the rainy weather in the area, some guest rooms may have a musty odor.

1. Why take 2 days hiking in Longji Rice Terraces

It is a wise choice to spend two days hiking through different villages and terraced fields when visiting the Longji Rice Terraces, also known as Guilin Longsheng Longji Rice Terraces Wetland Park. During this trek, you will gain a deeper understanding of the marvel of agricultural art that the Longji Rice Terraces represent, including its sustainable development model known as "Upper forest, Lower field, and Dynamic Balance". Currently, the forest coverage of Dazhai Village is about 82%, which plays a role in conserving water sources while protecting the terraced landscape. This model is acclaimed as a living fossil and an engineering exemplar of soil and water conservation systems. You will see that terracing the fields like this not only reduces the chances of erosion but also helps to retain water as rice requires a lot of water to grow.

2. Dazhai Village & Clothes Drying Festival

If you come to Dazhai Village during the Clothes Drying Festival (the sixth day of the sixth lunar month,六月六), you will have the opportunity to admire the long-haired Yao women hanging their traditional hand-made red clothes on the balconies. It takes 3 years to complete a set of Yao clothes. Yao costumes have been listed as a national-level intangible cultural heritage due to their exquisite embroidery skills and gorgeous embroidery patterns. Yao women do not need to draw sketches but rely on their experience to embroider flowers, trees, birds, and animals, which represent the Yao people's understanding of nature while expressing their yearning for a good harvest, a prosperous population, and a happy life. During the festival, there are Traditional Wedding Ceremonies, Long Hair Performances, Panhu Worship Activities (Panhu is the deified dog & Yao people's benefactor), Glutinous Rice Cake Making, Torch Night Show, and Bonfire Party for you to learn more about Yao ethnic group and their culture.

3. Longji Jinkeng Rice Terraced Fields Hiking Tips:(vice versa)
1).From Ping'an to Dazhai Village, it takes 4-5 hours to finish the hike of 14 km.
2).From Dazhai Parking Lot to Golden Buddha Peak, it takes about 1.5 hour's hike.
3).From Dazhai Parking Lot to West Hill Music, it takes about 2 hour's hike.
4).Classic Hiking Route: Ping'an Village - Seven Stars Accompany the Moon - Nine Dragons and Five Tigers - Zhongliu Village - Thousand-Layer Terraces - West Hill Music - Tiantou Zhai - Golden Buddha Peak
5).Hiking difficulty: It is moderate and suitable for energetic people or hikers.
6).Avoid hiking on rainy days as the paths will be muddy. Part of the uncut stone paths even have many twists and turns, and some sections are steep.
7).Do follow your guide as there are a considerable number of small paths, which may easily lead to getting lost.
8).Late May and late September are the most popular times to go hiking and take photos.
9).For a hiking tour, it is better not to plan an itinerary that requires connecting with an airport or train station departure on the same day. If you want want to catch the flight or train then your just take a car to Dazhai Village from Ping’an Village and use the round way cable car (20min for single way) to visit the Jinkeng Rice Terraces Fields.

4.Longji Rice Terraces Photograph Tips:
1). From mid-April to early June, during the irrigation period, the mirror-like terraced fields shimmer with reflections of mountains and clouds. It is a perfect time for capturing breathtaking sunrises and sunsets. The area is also known for its enchanting misty landscapes resembling a fairyland.
2).In May and June, during the rice planting season, you can experience the joy of rice transplanting and witness the ancestral farming labor. If you're lucky, you may encounter the Shuyang Festival, where you can immerse yourself in the customs of ethnic minorities.
3).From July to early September, during the lush green period, the rice fields are filled with vibrant green colors, as if stepping into a world of oil paintings.
4).From mid-September to mid-October, during the golden harvest period, the rice fields turn golden, and the waves of rice create a sense of joyous abundance.
5).From November to March, during the field maintenance period, if it snows in January, you can witness the terraced fields covered in a silver-white blanket, symbolizing the anticipation of a bountiful year.
6).From March to April, during the rapeseed flower season, some specific areas of the terraced fields are planted with rapeseed flowers. People wearing traditional ethnic costumes can be seen welcoming spring in the flower fields.