Longji Rice Terraces Travel Guide: Top Areas, Things to Do & How to Visit

For a more diverse Guilin experience, consider setting aside 1–2 days for the Longji Rice Terraces after exploring Guilin and Yangshuo.

About 2-3 hours’ drive from downtown Guilin, Longji Rice Terraces feature spectacular terraces cascading down mountain slopes, and many traditional Zhuang and Yao villages.

The scenery of the terraces changes with the seasons, from the water-filled, mirror-like terraces in spring to lush green fields in summer, golden rice fields from late September to early October, and occasional snow-covered landscapes in winter.

A light hike here will not only reward you with the panoramic views of the terraces but also authentic culture and food experiences in surrounding ethnic villages.

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• Which Area of the Longji Rice Terraces Should You Visit?
• How to Spend Your Time at the Longji Rice Terraces
• How to Plan a Guilin Tour with Longji Rice Terraces?
• When Is the Best Time to Visit Longji Rice Terraces?
• How to Get to Longji Rice Terraces?
• Is One Day Enough in Longji?
• Where to Stay in Longji?
• Is Hiking in Longji Difficult?
• Travel Tips
• Travel to Longji with China Xian Tour

Which Area of the Longji Rice Terraces Should You Visit?

The Longji Rice Terraces consist of three main terraced areas: Ping’an Zhuang Rice Terraces, Jinkeng Dazhai Rice Terraces, and Longji Ancient Zhuang Village Rice Terraces. Each offers distinct landscapes, hiking experiences, and ethnic cultural activities.

It is recommended to focus on one area per visit based on your interests and available time as these three terraced areas are located on separate mountain slopes.

Quick Comparison:

• First-time visit, one-day tour, light hike → Ping’an Zhuang Rice Terraces
• Photography, panoramic views & less walking → Jinkeng Dazhai Rice Terraces
• Interested in traditional villages & local culture → Longji Ancient Zhuang Village Rice Terraces

Ping’an Zhuang Rice Terraces: Best for First-time Visitors & Hiking

For first-time visitors, Ping’an Terraced Field is a popular and easy-to-plan choice.

The terraced fields, traditional Zhuang villages and main viewpoints in this area are close together, making it particularly suitable for a day trip from Guilin. Two of Longji’s most recognizable scenes – Seven Stars Accompany the Moon and Nine Dragons and Five Tigers are both located here.

A top highlight of Ping’an is that you can walk through the rice terraces for a more immersive experience rather than just admiring them from a distant viewpoint. You can also enjoy some time in the nearby traditional Zhuang villages for a glimpse into their everyday life and try some local food.

The slopes are generally gentle, and the hiking distances are also relatively short, so families with kids and older travelers can explore this area without too much difficulty.

Jinkeng Dazhai Red Yao Rice Terraces: Best for Panoramic Views & Cable Car Access

If you prefer a panoramic view of terraces, you can visit Jinkeng Dazhai.

As Longji’s largest terraced area, Jinkeng Dazhai Red Yao Rice Terraces offers the most expansive terrace views, with densely layered rice fields stretching across steep mountain slopes.

There are three main viewpoints for visitors to admire the sweeping views across the surrounding mountains. Don’t worry about the large area and long sections of stone steps, as this area is served by a cable car.

If you are traveling with kids or older family members, a popular and less strenuous way to explore this area is to take a cable car round trip to Golden Buddha Peak and enjoy a shorter walk around the Thousand-Layer Terraces.

Longji Ancient Zhuang Village: Experience Local Culture

Longji Ancient Zhuang Village Rice Terraces is the smallest and quietest of the three terraced areas. Rather than the expansive terrace views, this area stands out for its traditional village life and farming culture.

Since it sees fewer visitors than Ping’an and Jinkeng Dazhai, you can take your time to admire the traditional Zhuang and Yao villages, centuries-old wooden stilt houses, old stone bridges, wells, and historic stone carvings.

How to Spend Your Time at the Longji Rice Terraces

More than enjoying the terrace views and taking great photos, a well-rounded Longji Rice Terraces visit should also include light hiking, exploring ethnic villages and experiencing local culture.

Walking Through the Terraced Fields

If you visit Ping’an Zhuang Rice Terraces, you can follow the stone paths and mountain trails, walking among the rice terraces, bamboo groves, and traditional wooden houses in the Zhuang village. The slopes are generally gentle, and you can flexibly choose a route based on your fitness level.

Though hiking around the Jinkeng Dazhai Rice Terraces is more challenging, you can take the cable car to Golden Buddha Peak for panoramic views of the rice terraces and combine it with a short hike nearby.

Visiting Zhuang and Yao Ethnic Villages

Longji is home to Zhuang and Yao communities. Their ancestors created these terraces, and generations of local families have continued to farm them. Beyond the expansive views of the rice terraces, another highlight of visiting Longji is exploring the Zhuang and Yao villages.

You’ll get a closer look at their traditional wooden houses, ethnic clothing, everyday village life, and unique traditions or activities. For example, in the popular Huangluo Yao Village, you may have a chance to see the cultural performances by Red Yao women featuring traditional hair grooming, folk songs, and dances.

Note: Performances are not available every day. Please check the schedule in advance if you are interested in seeing one.

Trying Local Food

If time permits, having lunch at one of the village restaurants is a good idea. Some common local delicacies around Longji include bamboo rice, bamboo chicken, and locally grown vegetables. If you travel with China Xian Tour, we can also offer a chance for you to make bamboo rice yourself, from preparing the ingredients, and filling the bamboo tube, to cooking the rice with a traditional local method.

Watching Stunning Sunrises, Sunsets & Mountain Mist

Staying overnight at Longji helps you experience more sides of this area in the early morning or around sunset. When the weather is right, you may catch a beautiful sunrise, or sunset, or see drifting mist turn the mountains and terraces into a fairyland.

Sunrise and sunset take on a different beauty in each season as the views of the terraces change throughout the year. Whether it is the reflections of water-filled terraces in spring, lush green rice fields in summer, or golden terraces in autumn, the terraces create a distinctive backdrop for the changing light.

How to Plan a Guilin Tour with Longji Rice Terraces?

A well-rounded Guilin trip should include Guilin, Yangshuo and Longji. Each destination offers a different experience:

• Guilin & the Li River: Karst landscapes
• Longji Rice Terraces: terraces & villages
• Yangshuo: experience life in villages beside the Li River

For first-time visitors, it is convenient to pair Longji Rice Terraces with a trip to Guilin, and Yangshuo. Here is the itinerary for a 4-5 days:

• Day 1：arrive in Guilin & visit downtown Guilin                
• Day 2：Guilin → Longji Rice Terraces
• Day 3：Longji Rice Terraces → Guilin & free time
• Day 4：Guilin → the Li River Cruise → Yangshuo
• Day 5：Yangshuo’s rural villages → depart Guilin

If you have only 3 days, you can visit Longji Rice Terraces from Guilin for one day, and visit the Li River and Yangshuo for the other two days.

If you are not sure about staying at Longji overnight or just for a day, ChinaXian Tour can help you plan your itinerary based on your schedule, travel plans, and preferred pace.

When Is the Best Time to Visit Longji Rice Terraces?

Longji Rice Terraces are beautiful all year round, but if you want to see the most iconic scenery of the terraces, May to October is generally the best time. During this period, the terraces change noticeably in color and appearance with the growing of the rice.

Suggested Time to Visit:

• May – June: water-filled, mirror-like terraces
• July – August: the fields at the lushest
• Late September – Early October: golden rice fields

May to June – Best Time for Water-Filled Terraces and Reflections

This period is ideal for photography. The water-filled fields reflect the blue sky and surrounding mountains. After a rainy day, mountains are always surrounded with ethereal mist.

Rainfall is common during this period, so bring rain gear, and non‑slip shoes. The timing of irrigation and rice transplanting varies from year to year, with both generally taking place during these two months.

July – August: Best Time for Watching Green Terraces

In summer, when paddy rice thrives, the mountains are covered in lush green rice fields.

This period is generally hot and China’s summer vacation, so please get prepared for the larger crowds. We recommend avoiding long walks at noon and booking hotels in advance.

Late September – Early October: Best Time for Golden Terraces

To watch the iconic golden terraces, we strongly recommend visiting during late September to early October.

As the paddy rice ripens, the terraces gradually turn golden yellow across the mountainsides. If the golden terraces are the main draw for your trip, please check the exact harvest dates before you go, as the time varies from year to year.

Nov. – Apr.: Fewer Visitors & Quieter Villages

You can visit during this period for a quieter experience. After the rice has been harvested, the terraces are less colorful, but the villages and terraces tend to be much quieter.

The occasional snow-covered landscapes in the winter months are breathtaking, but snowfall is unpredictable, so it is not advised to plan a trip specifically around seeing snow.

How to Get to Longji Rice Terraces?

Longji Rice Terraces are located in Longsheng County, north of Guilin. Most tourists get there from Guilin or Yangshuo.

From Guilin

It takes about 2—3 hours to drive to Longji Rice Terraces from downtown Guilin. A tourist bus is one of the options. Tickets cost about CNY 50 per person from Guilin Station and CNY 65 from Guilin North or Guilin West Station. Please check the latest information before departure as schedules and fares may vary.

From Yangshuo

It takes 3 – 4 hours or longer to get to Longji from Yangshuo, depending on your destinations and daily road conditions. So, we don’t recommend arriving and returning on the same day.

If your plan is to travel from Guilin to Longji and then to Yangshuo, you can stay in Longji for a night, and reach Yangshuo the next day.

China Xian Tour offers private transfer services between Guilin, Longji, and Yangshuo, and assistance with hotel bookings and luggage transfers.

Is One Day Enough in Longji?

Yes. If has only one day, starting early from Guilin is possible. But spending two days and one night here will make your journey less rushed and allow you to see more sides of Longji.

Below are our recommended routes for first-time visitors:

Ping’an Zhuang Rice Terraces:

Guilin → Ping’an Zhuang Village → hike through the terraces → Seven Stars Accompany the Moon/Nine Dragons and Five Tigers → lunch in the village → Guilin

Jinkeng Dazhai Rice Terraces:

Guilin → Jinkeng Dazhai Village → Take the cable car → Golden Buddha Peak Viewpoint → Return by cable car → Guilin

If time permits, we recommend spending two days here. Then you can visit terraces in the afternoon, and watch stunning sunrise over the village and terraces early in the next morning before you get back to Guilin. The entire trip will be more relaxed than a one-day trip.

Where to Stay in Longji?

If you plan to stay one night in Longji, you can book a hotel in the Ping’an Zhuang Village or Jinkeng Dazhai Village scenic area. That way, you can explore the terraces and villages on foot the next day.

Stay in Ping’an Zhuang Village: best for first-time visitors and visitors who like hiking. Villages, restaurants and mountain paths are close together here, so it is more convenient for hiking around.
Stay near the Jinkeng Dazhai Village: best for visitors planning to visit Jinkeng Dazhai Village and admire the rice terraces from a cable car. It is more convenient to take the cable cars to Golden Buddha Peak from here, and combine it with a short walk in the mountains.

Accommodations in Longji are mainly inns and boutique hotels. Some of the rooms offer views of terraces and surrounding mountains. Different from hotels in downtown Guilin, some inns do not have elevators, and parking may not be available directly outside the property.

When choosing where to stay in Longji, the location of the hotel is often more important than the room type. If you travel with elderly people, children or large luggage. Check the location of the parking lot, and how far you will need to walk to the hotel. Also check whether there are steps, and whether the hotel can help with luggage.

If you travel with China Xian Tour, we will confirm the information for you in advance, and arrange accommodation based on your requirements.

Is Hiking in Longji Difficult?

But given the many stone steps and uphill and downhill sections, you’d better wear comfortable shoes with good grip, and take extra care on slippery paths when it rains.

Consider visiting Jinkeng Dazhai and taking the round-trip cable car if you don’t want too much walking.

Travel Tips

• Avoid China’s Public Holidays: Mountain roads and popular viewpoints can get crowded during China’s public holidays, and hotels may fill up quickly. So, try to avoid these dates if possible.
• Bring Less Luggage If You Take a One-Day Trip: If your hotel in Guilin offers luggage storage, you can leave your larger bags there and bring only what you need for your overnight stay in Longji.
• Bring Rain Gear: Mountain weather in Longji can change quickly, so remember to bring rain gear. On clear days, you can have a broader view of terraces. After rainfall, you may see the mist drifting around the mountains.

Travel to Longji with China Xian Tour

If you are traveling to Longji for the first time, the key decisions you should make include which area to visit, whether to take a one-day or two-day trip, and how to arrange transportation from Guilin or Yangshuo to Longji.

China Xian Tour can help you plan these details based on your travel time and interests. Just tell us your travel dates, time schedule, and group size, and we can create a private itinerary combining Guilin, the Longji Rice Terraces, the Li River, and Yangshuo. Also, we can arrange private transfers, a local English-speaking guide, attraction tickets, and accommodation and all other logistics to ensure you a smooth trip.