Rice Terrace Hiking | 5-Day In-Depth Guilin + Longji Rice Terraces + Yangshuo Tour (Li River Cruise + Yulong River Bamboo Raft)

Welcome to Guilin. Our guide will meet you at the airport/train station exit and escort you to your downtown hotel for check-in. You are free to arrange the rest of the day as you wish. If you are tired, you can rest at the hotel to recharge; if it is still early, you can explore the surrounding area. You may refer to the free-time suggestions below, or ask your guide for travel advice. Free-time Suggestions 1. Prince Jingjiang's Mansion: Prince Jingjiang's Mansion is the longest-standing and best-preserved princely mansion site of the Ming Dynasty in China. Here you can admire exquisite ancient architecture and picturesque garden design, visit precious historical relics, and learn about Guilin's history and culture. You can also climb Solitary Beauty Peak to enjoy a magnificent panoramic view of Guilin. 2. East-West Lane: East-West Lane is the only remaining historic street area from the Ming and Qing dynasties, witnessing nearly 1,400 years of Guilin's rise and fall since the city was founded during the Wude era of the Tang Dynasty. Strolling leisurely through it, you can admire quaint historic buildings and cultural relics, taste the most authentic local snacks, browse distinctive handicraft shops, and experience Guilin's intangible cultural heritage, such as round fans and sandstone paintings. 3. Two Rivers and Four Lakes Cruise: The Two Rivers and Four Lakes are an important part of Guilin's landscape beauty, and a cruise on the Two Rivers and Four Lakes is the best way to enjoy Guilin's landscape and city night views. You can tour the core scenic belt of Guilin and experience a waterway around the city that rivals Venice, lasting about 1 to 1.5 hours. Suggested Ways to Arrive 1. By plane: Guilin Liangjiang International Airport (KWL) has many direct domestic routes, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an, Chengdu, Chongqing, Hangzhou, etc., making transportation extremely convenient. 2. By train: Guilin has 3 railway stations in total. You can take a high-speed train to Guilin from cities such as Changsha (2.5-3h), Hong Kong (4h), Chengdu (5.5-6h), Chongqing (4.5-5h), Guangzhou (3h), and Zhangjiajie (7h).

This morning, you will travel by car 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, you will first visit Huangluo Yao Village, known as "the world's number one long-hair village." Huangluo Yao Village is the only Yao village among the thirteen villages of Longji, inhabited entirely by the Red Yao people. The women here have a traditional custom of growing their hair long, with the longest reaching 2.72 meters, once breaking 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 interested, you can also talk with the locals about how to care for long hair and how to make rice-water shampoo. Afterwards, 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 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 rice terrace area in Longji, 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 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 the 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 hand-woven short robes, and women in white tops and black trousers with colorful floral headscarves. Here, you can immerse yourself in the unique folk customs of the Zhuang people, closely admire the distinctive Zhuang stilt houses, 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 their hair long dates back over a thousand years. In Red Yao culture, long hair symbolizes longevity and wealth, 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 Seedlings Festival: Every year from June 8 to June 9, you can experience the lively and rich Combing Seedlings Festival activities at the Longji Rice Terraces, such as the terraced-field torch night scene, original ecological song and dance evening, welcome antiphonal folk songs, the "Seedling Mother" sacrifice ceremony, and transplanting competitions, gaining 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 with changeable weather. 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, but please note: accommodation conditions and services may not be as good as city star-rated hotels, and due to the rainy region, some rooms may have a musty smell. It is recommended to be mentally prepared in advance.

If the weather is good, you can get up early this morning and hike to the Seven Stars with the Moon viewpoint to enjoy the stunning sunrise. "Seven Stars with the Moon" refers to the scenery formed by seven small hills surrounded by terraced fields encircling a moon-shaped paddy field. Afterward, you will set off from the Ping'an Zhuang Terraces, passing through the magnificent terraced fields, and hike 14 kilometers (about 4-5 hours) to the 【Jinkeng • Dazhai Red Yao Terraces】. This is the largest, highest-altitude, and most spectacular of the Longji Terraces, and the only terraced area with a cable car. The terraced scenery along the way is breathtaking, and you may also encounter Red Yao people working in traditional ethnic clothing. The 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 place to photograph sunrise and sunset, while the Thousand-Layer Terraces is the best spot to view the magnificent terraces and the first choice for photographers. Jinfo Ding is the place to overlook and photograph the panoramic view of the Jinkeng Terraces and enjoy the splendid sights of "Eagle Spreading Its Wings" and "Golden Thread Hanging a Gourd." The excellent visual experience allows you to appreciate the amazing scenery of the Longji Terraces more deeply. If interested, you can also rent a set of beautiful traditional Yao clothing (at your own expense) and take photos with the magnificent terraces as a backdrop. After the hike, you will return to Guilin. Traditional Festival Experience 1. Dazhai • Clothes-Drying Festival: Every year on the sixth day of the sixth lunar month, a grand Clothes-Drying Festival is held in Jinkeng Dazhai. The Red Yao people bring out their colorful flowered clothes and skirts to dry, and strings of red and green garments on each family's drying racks and corridors look especially vivid in the sunlight. Yao clothing, with its exquisite embroidery skills and gorgeous patterns, has been listed as a national-level intangible cultural heritage, and a complete set of Yao clothing takes 3 years to make. During the Clothes-Drying Festival, there are also traditional Yao wedding ceremonies, Red Yao clothing-making, traditional food preparation, and golden dog-carrying activities that you can participate in, allowing you to gain a deeper understanding of the Yao people and Yao culture. Tips for Visiting the Jinkeng Terraces 1. From the Dazhai parking lot to Jinfo Ding, you can choose to hike (1.5 hours) or take the cable car (20 minutes). 2. Hiking from the Dazhai parking lot to Xishan Shaoyue takes about 2 hours. 3. Classic hiking route: Ping'an Village → Seven Stars with the Moon → Nine Dragons and Five Tigers → Zhongliu → Thousand-Layer Terraces → Xishan Shaoyue → Tiantou Village → Jinfo Ding 4. Hiking difficulty at Jinkeng Terraces: moderate, more suitable for hiking enthusiasts with plenty of energy. If you want to save effort, you can choose a round-trip cable car. 5. There are many small paths in the Jinkeng Terraces, and it is easy to get lost, so be sure to tour with a 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, hiking through the terraces is not recommended. You can take a car from Ping'an Village to Dazhai and then take the round-trip cable car (20 minutes one way) to visit the Jinkeng Terraces. Tips for Photographing the Longji Terraces 1. From mid-April to early June is the irrigation period for the terraces, when you can photograph the beautiful scenery of the terraces like mirrors reflecting the blue sky, white clouds, and mountains. 2. May and June are the rice-transplanting season. Visiting at this time allows you to see the busy farming activities and even experience the fun of transplanting rice. If your timing is right and you happen to encounter the Combing Seedlings Festival, you can also experience the festive atmosphere of an ethnic minority folk festival. 3. In July and August, the rice seedlings in the terraces are lush and green, presenting a vibrant scene. 4. From mid-September to mid-October is the rice harvest period, when the fields present a golden scene. 5. From November to March of the following year is the terrace maintenance period. Although the terraces do not have oil-painting-like colors at this time, they show a purer and more tranquil beauty. If it snows, you can also enjoy the beautiful scenery of snow covering the terraces. 6. March to April is rapeseed flower season. Some areas of the terraces are planted with rapeseed flowers, and you can enjoy the beautiful rapeseed flower scenery.

After breakfast, you will take a car from the hotel for about 1 hour to Mopanshan Pier and board the [Li River Cruise] (about 83 km, 4 hours) to tour the world-renowned Guilin landscape, discover the most essential Li River scenery from Guilin to Yangshuo, and admire the magnificent karst landforms, picturesque karst landscape, colorful rural fields, and quaint ethnic villages, experiencing the wonderful feeling of "the boat travels on emerald waves, people wander within a painting." Along the way, attractions such as Immortal Pushing the Mill, Nine Horses Mural Hill, Yellow Cloth Reflection, Xingping Ancient Town, and the background image of the 20-yuan banknote are worth observing in detail. Li River Cruise tips 1. Lunch upgrade: Our agency has carefully prepared a Western lunch for you, with freshly cooked dishes that morning. 2. If you prefer a 4-star Li River cruise, please inform your travel consultant. 3. During peak tourist season, Li River cruise seats are in high demand, so it is recommended to book 1–3 days in advance. After arriving in Yangshuo, our driver will pick you up at the pier and drive you to your Yangshuo hotel for check-in. After a short rest, you can fully explore [Yangshuo countryside] and enjoy Guilin's most outstanding pastoral landscape. You can choose the following ways to tour: (1) driving plus walking, (2) cycling, (3) riding a motorcycle (additional fee may apply). Whichever way you choose, you can travel along country roads and enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way, including karst mountains, rice fields, villages, and rivers. You may also see scenes of people working in the fields, children playing by the river, and cattle grazing in the fields. Afterward, head to the Yulong River bamboo raft boarding point and begin the classic [Yulong River bamboo raft] drifting journey. Experience the fun of a man-powered bamboo raft going over dams, or sit back and relax on the raft while enjoying the beautiful pastoral scenery on both banks. Along the riverbanks, villages are scattered, fields crisscross, green grass spreads, emerald bamboo is lush, and trees provide deep shade. The river water is green and clear, with fish and shrimp swimming within. A breeze ripples the water, which is very beautiful. Along the way, you will also pass ancient bridges, where you can make a brief stop to photograph the beautiful scene formed by the old bridge and Guilin's karst mountains. In the evening, go explore Yangshuo's busiest district - [West Street]. This is a street perfectly combining Eastern and Western elements and the best place to experience Yangshuo's nightlife. Whether you want to taste some local food or find a small shop, order a drink, relax, and enjoy a rare leisurely time, it can meet your needs. Recommended evening activity (optional): If you are interested in Guangxi's ethnic minority customs, you can watch the outdoor landscape performance directed by the famous director Zhang Yimou, with the Li River landscape as the stage background - Impression Liu Sanjie. The performance lasts 1 hour.

After breakfast, you will drive back to Guilin from Yangshuo. Upon arrival in Guilin, you can spend some time visiting Elephant Trunk Hill, known as the "soul of Guilin's landscape." It is the city emblem of Guilin, Guangxi, China, and one of Guilin's landmark attractions, named for its shape resembling a giant elephant drinking water. This uniquely shaped peak and the clear river water around it form a spectacular sight. No matter from which angle you admire it, Elephant Trunk Hill is impressive, and the Water Moon Cave and Elephant Eye Rock are worth seeing. After the visit, head to Reed Flute Cave, known as the "art palace of nature." Inside the cave, stalactites, stalagmites, stone columns, stone curtains, and stone flowers are uniquely shaped and highly translucent, leaving people in awe. They form various natural wonders such as Lion Ridge Morning Glow, Red Silk Treasure Tent, Coiled Dragon Pagoda, Primeval Forest, Crystal Palace, and Flower and Fruit Mountain, evoking endless admiration. Under the colorful lighting, it feels as if you have stepped into a vivid underground fairyland, extremely dreamlike. Among them, the Crystal Palace is the most gorgeous and is one of Reed Flute Cave's most famous sights. The stalactites shine like crystal under the lights and are worth stopping to admire. After the visit, this unforgettable Guilin, Yangshuo, and Longji Rice Terraces hiking trip will come to an end. Our guide will take you back to your accommodation or to the airport/train station. If you would like 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.