Yao & Zhuang Terraces Tour | Guilin Longji Rice Terraces Classic Hiking 2-Day Tour (Huangluo Yao Village + Ping'an Zhuang Rice Terraces + Jinkeng Dazhai Red Yao Rice Terraces)

Welcome to Guilin. This morning, you will drive about 77 km (2 hours) from Guilin to the [Longji Rice Terraces Scenic Area]. The Longji Rice Terraces (Longsheng Rice Terraces) are one of the ten most beautiful rice terraces in the world, with a long history of about two thousand years, and are known as the "birthplace of the world's rice terraces." They consist of three parts: the Jinkeng•Dazhai Red Yao Rice Terraces, the Ping'an Zhuang Rice Terraces, and the Longji Ancient Zhuang Village Rice Terraces. After arriving at the scenic area, first visit Huangluo Yao Village, known as "the world's No. 1 long-hair village." Huangluo Yao Village is the only Yao village among the thirteen villages of Longji, inhabited entirely by Red Yao people. The women here have a traditional custom of growing long hair, which can reach up to 2.72 meters and once broke the Guinness World Record. Here, you can watch local folk performances (45 minutes, optional), such as folk songs, long-hair performances, long-stick dances, and umbrella dances, and also learn about the history and traditional way of life of the Red Yao people, such as spinning and weaving. If you are interested, you can also talk with locals about how to care for long hair and how to make rice-water shampoo. Afterward, head to Ping'an Village for lunch, where you can taste local specialties such as rice wine, bamboo tube rice, bamboo tube chicken, and cured meat. If you are interested, you can also learn to cook these popular specialty dishes. In the afternoon, you will head to the Ping'an Zhuang Rice Terraces near Ping'an Village to begin a classic hike (about 2–3 hours). This is the earliest-opened area of the Longji Rice Terraces and is famous for its beautiful scenery and unique Zhuang customs. You can hike through the terraces and immerse yourself in the magnificent beauty of the rice terraces, and you can also climb to the Nine Dragons and Five Tigers (980 m, sunset viewing point) and Seven Stars Accompanying the Moon (880 m, sunrise viewing point) viewing platforms to admire the most magical natural landscapes. If you are lucky, you can also capture a stunning sunset at the Nine Dragons and Five Tigers viewing platform. It is worth mentioning that the film "Outcast," starring Jackie Chan, was shot on location at the Ping'an Zhuang Rice Terraces. In addition, you can also stroll through Ping'an Village, where people wear traditional Zhuang clothing: men in short robes of handwoven cloth, and women in white tops and black trousers with brightly colored floral headscarves. Here, you can immerse yourself in the unique folk customs of the Zhuang people, observe Zhuang-style stilt houses up close, gain an in-depth understanding of the splendid Zhuang culture, and taste the most authentic Zhuang cuisine. Traditional festival experiences 1. Huangluo Yao Village•Long Hair Festival: Every year on the third day of the third lunar month, a grand traditional festival—the Long Hair Festival—is held at Longji to celebrate the traditional customs and long-hair culture of the Red Yao people. There are many wonderful song and dance performances to watch, allowing you to immerse yourself in the unique Yao culture. The custom of Red Yao women in Huangluo Yao Village growing long hair dates back more than a thousand years. In Red Yao culture, long hair symbolizes longevity and prosperity, so Red Yao women cut their hair only once in their lives, at their coming-of-age ceremony at age 18. 2. Ping'an Village•Combing Seedling Festival: Every year from June 8 to June 9, you can experience the lively and rich Combing Seedling Festival activities at the Longji Rice Terraces, such as terraced-field torch night scenes, original ecological song and dance evenings, welcome antiphonal mountain songs, the "seedling mother" sacrificial ceremony, and transplanting competitions, to gain an in-depth understanding of the unique culture and customs of the Zhuang people in Ping'an Village. Ping'an Zhuang Rice Terraces hiking tips 1. From Ping'an Village parking lot to the Nine Dragons and Five Tigers viewing platform, about 2 km, about half an hour 2. From Ping'an Village parking lot to the Seven Stars Accompanying the Moon viewing platform, about 2 km, about half an hour 3. From the Nine Dragons and Five Tigers viewing platform to the Seven Stars Accompanying the Moon viewing platform, about 2 km, about half an hour 4. The Longji Rice Terraces are located in a mountainous area, and the weather is changeable. It is recommended to always bring a raincoat and dress in layers so you can easily cope with both cold and heat. 5. From the parking lot to some hostels, there is no vehicle road, and about 1 hour of walking is required. If you need help carrying luggage, you can pay local villagers to help. 6. Staying in a local traditional wooden house is a unique experience. However, please note that accommodation conditions and services may not be as good as city star-rated hotels. In addition, because the area is rainy, some rooms may have a musty smell, so it is recommended to prepare yourself mentally in advance.

If the weather is good, you can get up early this morning and hike to the Seven Stars with Moon viewpoint to enjoy the stunning sunrise. "Seven Stars with Moon" refers to the scenery formed by seven small hills surrounded by terraced fields encircling a moon-shaped paddy field. After that, you will depart from Ping'an Zhuang Terraces, traverse the magnificent terraced fields, and hike 14 kilometers (about 4-5 hours) to [Jinkeng Dazhai Red Yao Terraces]. This is the largest, highest, and most magnificent terraced field in Longji Terraces, and the only one with a cable car. The terraced scenery along the way is breathtaking, and you may encounter Red Yao people working in ethnic costumes. Jinkeng Dazhai Red Yao Terraces are surrounded by mountains on all sides, shaped like a natural sinkhole, with extremely unique scenery. Among them, Xishan Shaoyue is the best spot for shooting sunrise and sunset, while Qianceng Tianti is the best position to view the magnificent terraced fields and the first choice for photographers. Jinfo Ding is the place to overlook and photograph the panoramic view of Jinkeng Terraces and enjoy the beautiful landscapes of "Eagle Spreading Wings" and "Golden Thread Hanging Gourd." The excellent visual experience allows you to appreciate the amazing scenery of Longji Terraces more deeply. If interested, you can also rent a set of traditional beautiful Yao clothing (at your own expense) and take photos with the magnificent terraced fields. After the hike, you will return to Guilin. Traditional Festival Experience 1. Dazhai Sun-Drying Clothes Festival: Every year on the sixth day of the sixth lunar month, a grand Sun-Drying Clothes Festival is held in Jinkeng Dazhai. The Red Yao people will take out their colorful flowered clothes and skirts to dry. Strings of red and green clothes on the drying racks and corridors of each household are particularly vibrant in the sunlight. Yao clothing, with its exquisite embroidery skills and gorgeous patterns, is listed as a national intangible cultural heritage, and a complete set of Yao clothing takes 3 years to complete. During the Sun-Drying Clothes Festival, there are also traditional Yao wedding ceremonies, Red Yao clothing processing, traditional food making, and golden dog lifting activities to participate in, allowing you to learn more about the Yao people and Yao culture. Tips for Visiting Jinkeng Terraces 1. From Dazhai parking lot to Jinfo Ding, you can choose to hike (1.5 hours) or take the cable car (20 minutes). 2. From Dazhai parking lot to Xishan Shaoyue on foot takes about 2 hours. 3. Classic hiking route: Ping'an Village → Seven Stars with Moon → Nine Dragons and Five Tigers → Zhongliu → Qianceng Tianti → Xishan Shaoyue → Tiantou Village → Jinfo Ding 4. Hiking difficulty of Jinkeng Terraces: Moderate, suitable for energetic hiking enthusiasts. If you want to save energy, you can choose the round-trip cable car. 5. There are many small paths in Jinkeng Terraces, and it is easy to get lost. Therefore, be sure to follow your guide. 6. Late May and late September are the best times for hiking and photography. 7. If you need to catch a flight or train that day, it is not recommended to hike the terraces. You can take a car from Ping'an Village to Dazhai, then take the round-trip cable car (20 minutes one way) to visit Jinkeng Terraces. Tips for Photographing Longji Terraces 1. From mid-April to early June is the irrigation period for the terraces. You can capture the beautiful scenery of terraces like mirrors, reflecting the blue sky, white clouds, and mountains. 2. May and June are the rice planting seasons. Visiting at this time, you can see busy farming activities and experience the fun of planting rice. If the timing is right, you can also experience the folk festival atmosphere of ethnic minorities during the Combing Seedlings Festival. 3. In July and August, the rice seedlings in the terraces are lush and green, presenting a vibrant and lively scene. 4. From mid-September to mid-October is the rice harvest period, when the rice fields present a golden scene. 5. From November to March of the following year is the maintenance period for the terraces. Although the terraces lack the oil-painting-like colors, they show a purer and more tranquil beauty. If it snows, you can also enjoy the beautiful scenery of snow-covered terraces. 6. From March to April is the rapeseed flower season. Some areas of the terraces are planted with rapeseed flowers, and you can enjoy the beautiful rapeseed flower scenery. After the hike, this unforgettable Guilin Longji Terraces hiking tour will come to an end. Our guide will take you to the airport/train station. If you wish to extend this trip and explore more destinations in China, such as Beijing, Harbin, Shanghai, Yunnan, Xi'an, Zhangjiajie, Chengdu, Tibet, Xinjiang, etc., you can also contact our customer service to arrange it for you.