Mini Group: Longji Rice Terraced Fields and Minority Villages Tour

8:00 am - 10:30 am, Hotel Pickup and Drive to Longji Ancient Zhuang Village.

Your guide will be waiting for you in your hotel's lobby or other appointed location at the agreed time, which is usually 8am.

You'll join a small group with no more than 10 participants, which is a great size to ensure you enjoy a better travel experience.

After collecting all participants, your tour group will head to the first destination - Longji Ancient Zhuang Village. It takes about 2 hours (108 kilometers) to get there from Guilin while it takes about 2½ hours (152 kilometers) to get there from Yangshuo County.

10:30 am - 12:00 pm, Visit the Ancient Zhuang Village.

The Longji Rice Terraced Fields are located in Longsheng County, Guilin. They span across six villages and have a long history of more than 2,000 years.

The local Zhuang and Yao people have farmed these mountainous fields day after day and year after year their entire lives.

Their ancestors would never have dreamed that this tough terraced land, farmed with their tears and sweat, could be transformed in such a way over time and now reward the locals with amazing scenery that attracts the rest of the world.

Longji (Dragon's Backbone) Terraced Rice Fields

The ancient Zhuang village you are going to visit is a small and quiet village where more than 300 Zhuang families live. Many of the local residences have a history of over 100 years. This village has now become a window into the Zhuang culture for the rest of the world. Longji Ancient Zhuang Village is the originating point of the Zhuang people's terraced fields. The highest altitude in the village is about 1,300 meters while the lowest altitude there is 350 meters. The terraced fields there look magnificent.

12:00 pm - 1:00 pm, Hike from the Ancient Zhuang Village to Ping'an Village.

After admiring the beautiful terraced fields from Slender Ditch, you will hike to another famous village - Ping'an Village. This hike takes about 1 hour to complete and it is a distance of about 8 kilometers. The condition of the road you'll hike along isn't bad - there are no steep or dangerous paths and only a medium level of energy is required.

Hiking Tips: For children over 3 years old, this hike can be a little challenging, but most complete it with extra encouragement from their parents.

1:00 pm - 2:00 pm, Lunch Break

After completing the 1-hour hike, you will finally arrive at Ping'an Village. Take a break and enjoy a delicious lunch at a local farmer's family restaurant. I highly recommend you to taste delicious local dishes, such as bamboo rice and other minority dishes.

Making Bamboo Rice

2:00 pm - 3:30 pm, Visit the 'Seven Stars with the Moon' Viewing Point.

After lunch and feeling refreshed, you'll visit the most famous village in Longji - Ping'an Village. You'll see the beautiful scenery of Longji's magnificent terraced fields — this area is a paradise for shutterbugs.

Many award-winning pictures were taken in this village. That's why it has become more and more famous, attracting many tourists each year.

First, you'll head to the Seven Stars with the Moon viewing point. There, you'll see seven terraced fields surrounding a small hill - that's why people gave it this name.

On the way, you'll have a chance to see many long-haired Yao Ladies. You can speak with an elderly Yao lady with very long hair who has come from another village nearby so that you can learn about another ethnic group. The Yao people favor red clothing and the women always have long hair.

In their culture, girls are only allowed to have their hair cut twice in their life. Do you know when? We'll keep it a secret and you can ask this lady yourself.

Meet with Yao Ladies

3:30 pm - 4:00 pm, Visit the Nine Dragons and Five Tigers Viewing Point.

Keep walking, you'll go to the most beautiful viewing point - Nine Dragons and Five Tigers. This viewing point is the highlight of the day. See the awe-inspiring view of the terraced fields, consider the wisdom of the Zhuang people and all the hard work they have put into this land, and appreciate the beautiful harmony between man and nature.

4:00 pm - 6:00 pm, Drive Back to Guilin or Yangshuo.

Your trip comes to an end after visiting the Nine Dragons and Five Tigers. You'll be dropped off safely at your hotel in Guilin or Yangshuo.