Just three hours drive from Yangshuo Mountain Retreat
While Yangshuo has endless acres of emerald green rice fields, Longsheng and Ping'An, just 90 minutes north of Guilin feature spectacular terraced fields on steep hills, known as the Dragon Back rice terraces. From the Yangshuo Mountain Retreat, the best way to visit is to get up early and take a taxi through Guilin, visit the terraces then fly out from Guilin airport in the evening. You can also spend the night in Ping'An village. Yangshuo Mountain Retreat reception can help you plan this trip to make the most of your Yangshuo Guilin tour. Many of our guests have raved about the Li An Lodge in Long Sheng. It's more expensive than the nearby accommodation but our guests say it's a good value. If you require more information on Li An Lodge, you can read their reviews on TripAdvisor. Yangshuo Mountain Retreat can also help you book accommodation with them.
Longsheng is situated about 200 km northwest of Yangshuo. Longsheng itself is not a particularly interesting town but the area that surrounds it has some of the most beautiful mountain scenery in Guangxi Province. About 25 km from Longsheng, in the lower slopes of the mountains, you can find minority cultures living in villages nestled in between the ancient rice terraces. The major minority groups here are the Miao and the Dong. Once you are in the national park (100 RMB entry/person at time of writing) it is a 5km steep climb by bus from the riverside to the main village called Ping'An. This minority village is over 300 years old and in the wooden lodges 200 families are still living in harmony with nature.
The bus drops you off slightly below the village so you will have to walk about 15-20 min to reach Ping'An and another hour to get to the first of many view points from which you can see the breathtaking Dragon's Backbone Rice Terraces. The scenery of large wooden lodges on stilts, cascading rice terraces that disappear into the valley below and the magnificent backdrop of 2000 meter mountains is always an unforgettable holiday experience.
The rice terraces are beautiful in every season. In summer the paddies are a lush green and the rice sways in the gentle breeze, in autumn they turn a golden yellow, in winter they are often blanketed in a light covering of snow and in spring the waterlogged rice fields sparkle in the sunlight. Go and explore it in your own time with the Yangshuo Mountain Retreat's individual day trip
Longsheng Rice Terraces Day Trip:
- Depart YSMR at 7 am with your private vehicle and driver ( Taxi Sedan)
- Arrive in Ping'An at approx. 10 am
- Transport to a local farmhouse
- Spend the rest of the day exploring Ping' An and the terraces at your own leisure. Walk to one of the many terraces that look out across this amazing vista and soak up the breathtaking views.
- Return to Yangshuo or Guilin (Airport) on your request
