Longsheng Rice TerraceAbout Longsheng Rice Terrace
The Longsheng Rice Terrace complex, commonly called the Longji or Dragon’s Backbone terraces, is a series of carved rice terraces in Longsheng County, Guangxi, China. The terraces occupy steep hillsides and have become a widely photographed agricultural landscape.
Terraced fields and ethnic minority villages form the main attractions; popular vantage points are the village lookouts above the terraces where layered patterns are clearly visible. Walks between villages such as Ping’an and Dazhai let visitors experience the terraces at close range.
Local Zhuang and Yao communities constructed and maintained the terraces over many generations for upland rice cultivation. The landscape evolved through continuous agricultural use rather than a single construction event.
The terraces lie in Longsheng County in northeastern Guangxi, northeast of the city of Guilin, and are accessed by road from regional transport hubs.
- Best viewpoints: Best viewed from village viewpoints at dawn or dusk when light emphasizes the contours of the terraced slopes.
What to See#
- Ping’an Village: Ping’an Village - a hilltop ethnic village offering close-up views of terraced paddies and a common access point for tourist trails.
- Dazhai terraces: Dazhai terraces - a cluster of terraced fields accessible from a separate village trail known for layered rice-field panoramas.
Nearby Attractions to Longsheng Rice Terrace
Best Time to Visit Longsheng Rice Terrace
Spring and autumn are the most visually rewarding months - spring for newly planted, vivid green terraces, autumn for harvest colors and clearer skies.
Weather & Climate near Longsheng Rice Terrace
Longsheng Rice Terrace's climate is classified as Humid Subtropical - Humid Subtropical climate with hot summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 2°C to 30°C. Abundant rainfall (1639 mm/year), wettest in May.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Poor | 2° - 9° | 4° | 56 mm | overcast | 81% | 1.9 m/s | 0.5 moderate | 10.6h |
| February | Poor | 4° - 10° | 6° | 82 mm | overcast | 82% | 2.1 m/s | 0.7 moderate | 11.2h |
| March | Poor | 7° - 14° | 10° | 116 mm | overcast | 82% | 2.2 m/s | 0.8 moderate | 11.9h |
| April | Acceptable | 13° - 20° | 17° | 208 mm | overcast | 82% | 1.9 m/s | 1.0 high | 12.6h |
| May | Good | 17° - 24° | 21° | 293 mm | overcast | 84% | 1.9 m/s | 1.3 high | 13.3h |
| June | Good | 20° - 27° | 24° | 274 mm | overcast | 87% | 1.8 m/s | 1.4 high | 13.6h |
| July | Good | 22° - 29° | 26° | 165 mm | overcast | 87% | 1.9 m/s | 1.8 very high | 13.4h |
| August | Good | 21° - 30° | 25° | 154 mm | overcast | 85% | 1.7 m/s | 1.7 very high | 12.9h |
| September | Very Good | 18° - 27° | 23° | 81 mm | partly cloudy | 83% | 1.8 m/s | 1.4 high | 12.2h |
| October | Very Good | 14° - 22° | 18° | 91 mm | partly cloudy | 80% | 1.9 m/s | 1.0 high | 11.4h |
| November | Good | 9° - 17° | 13° | 72 mm | partly cloudy | 79% | 1.8 m/s | 0.7 moderate | 10.8h |
| December | Acceptable | 4° - 12° | 7° | 47 mm | partly cloudy | 77% | 1.8 m/s | 0.5 moderate | 10.4h |
How to Get to Longsheng Rice Terrace
Longsheng (Longji Rice Terraces) is reached by bus from Guilin (2-3 hours) or by private transfer from Guilin or Yangshuo. Buses arrive at Longsheng/Longji town; from there visitors walk or take local shuttle vans uphill to the terrace villages (Ping’an, Dazhai, Jinkeng). Expect 30-60 minutes of uphill walking from the town.
Tips for Visiting Longsheng Rice Terrace
- Take the bus from Guilin or Yangshuo to Longsheng (Longji) and expect a 2-3 hour journey; from Longsheng town it's a 30-60 minute walk up to the terraces.
- Visit the Ping'an and Jinkeng villages for different perspectives - Jinkeng is wilder and less developed, Ping'an has more guesthouses and photo viewpoints.
- Arrive at sunrise for the best light across the terraces and fewer tour groups; cloud cover can change the mood quickly.