Go Backpacking

  • About
  • Travel Tips
    • Accommodations
    • Budgeting & Money
    • Adventure Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Gear & Gadgets
    • Packing Tips
    • Travel Blogging
    • Travel Insurance
    • Trip Planning
    • UNESCO Sites
  • Destinations
    • Africa
      • Botswana
      • Egypt
      • Ethiopia
      • Morocco
      • Rwanda
      • South Africa
      • Tanzania
    • Asia
      • Cambodia
      • China
      • Hong Kong
      • India
      • Indonesia
      • Japan
      • Laos
      • Malaysia
      • Nepal
      • Philippines
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
    • Europe
      • England
      • France
      • Germany
      • Greece
      • Iceland
      • Ireland
      • Italy
      • Portugal
      • Spain
      • Switzerland
      • Turkey
    • North America
      • Canada
      • Costa Rica
      • Cuba
      • Guatemala
      • Mexico
      • Nicaragua
      • Panama
      • United States
    • Oceania
      • Australia
      • French Polynesia
      • New Zealand
    • South America
      • Argentina
      • Bolivia
      • Brazil
      • Chile
      • Colombia
      • Ecuador
      • Peru
  • Advertise
menu icon
go to homepage
  • About
  • Travel Tips
    • Accommodations
    • Budgeting & Money
    • Adventure Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Gear & Gadgets
    • Packing Tips
    • Travel Blogging
    • Travel Insurance
    • Trip Planning
    • UNESCO Sites
  • Destinations
    • Africa
      • Botswana
      • Egypt
      • Ethiopia
      • Morocco
      • Rwanda
      • South Africa
      • Tanzania
    • Asia
      • Cambodia
      • China
      • Hong Kong
      • India
      • Indonesia
      • Japan
      • Laos
      • Malaysia
      • Nepal
      • Philippines
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
    • Europe
      • England
      • France
      • Germany
      • Greece
      • Iceland
      • Ireland
      • Italy
      • Portugal
      • Spain
      • Switzerland
      • Turkey
    • North America
      • Canada
      • Costa Rica
      • Cuba
      • Guatemala
      • Mexico
      • Nicaragua
      • Panama
      • United States
    • Oceania
      • Australia
      • French Polynesia
      • New Zealand
    • South America
      • Argentina
      • Bolivia
      • Brazil
      • Chile
      • Colombia
      • Ecuador
      • Peru
  • Advertise
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
  • Travel Tips
    • Accommodations
    • Budgeting & Money
    • Adventure Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Gear & Gadgets
    • Packing Tips
    • Travel Blogging
    • Travel Insurance
    • Trip Planning
    • UNESCO Sites
  • Destinations
    • Africa
      • Botswana
      • Egypt
      • Ethiopia
      • Morocco
      • Rwanda
      • South Africa
      • Tanzania
    • Asia
      • Cambodia
      • China
      • Hong Kong
      • India
      • Indonesia
      • Japan
      • Laos
      • Malaysia
      • Nepal
      • Philippines
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
    • Europe
      • England
      • France
      • Germany
      • Greece
      • Iceland
      • Ireland
      • Italy
      • Portugal
      • Spain
      • Switzerland
      • Turkey
    • North America
      • Canada
      • Costa Rica
      • Cuba
      • Guatemala
      • Mexico
      • Nicaragua
      • Panama
      • United States
    • Oceania
      • Australia
      • French Polynesia
      • New Zealand
    • South America
      • Argentina
      • Bolivia
      • Brazil
      • Chile
      • Colombia
      • Ecuador
      • Peru
  • Advertise
×
Home » Destinations » Asia » China

Hiking the Longsheng Rice Terraces of China

Modified: Jun 15, 2019 · Published: Dec 12, 2011 by Mark Wiens |

Longsheng Rice Terraces
Longsheng Rice Terraces

Eager and excited to do some hiking and view some incredible mountain scenery, I boarded a bus from Guilin to Longsheng in Guangxi Province, China.

The bus driver chose to use his foghorn instead of his breaks as our public mini-bus screeched around mountain switchbacks, over tiny bridges and around completely blind turns.

In just a few hours I had traveled from the inspirational beauty of Yangshuo, to yet another breathtaking site: the Longsheng Dragon's Backbone rice terraces.

As soon as I stepped foot out the door of the bus, I was surrounded by a host of local Chinese women all trying to get hired to be my personal porter.

Despite the pleads of all the ladies, because I travel light, I opted to carry my backpack myself.

Rice Terraces in China
Rice Terraces in China

The Longsheng Rice Terraces are accessible only by foot.

After just 10 minutes of walking we arrived at the first small village - a few homes, some newly opened hotels and a slew of restaurants to cater to the growing tourism industry.

From the bottom of the terraces the view was gorgeous, but to get the greatest view I continued hiking up the winding rice trail to get to the top village of Dazhai.

Longsheng Rice Terraces
Longsheng Rice Terraces

It took about an hour to arrive at the guest house, a nicely designed Chinese equivalent of a wood cabin.

The entire guest house was made of varnished wood and there was a lovely porch with a stunning view over the mountain basin and the rice terraces.

Sunrise at Longsheng Rice Terraces
Sunrise at Longsheng Rice Terraces

One of the most popular things to do at Longsheng is to wake up early in the morning, hike to the very top viewpoint and watch the magnificent sun break through the clouds and shine on the various levels of rice.

Unfortunately, on the day I went, the clouds were a bit too strong and the sunrise wasn't nearly as amazing as it could have been.

However, I wasn't complaining with the view.

Noodles and Sausage
Noodles and Sausage

Due to the elevation, the weather at Longsheng was quite cool - so there was nothing that made me happier than returning to the guest house to order up a bowl of piping hot Guilin rice noodles topped with local Dazhai style smoked sausage.

I had heard Chinese people rave about the famous sausage before visiting, so I knew it was something I needed to eat.

The sausage lived up to its expectation, an extremely smokey flavor that delightfully flavored the entire bowl of noodles.

Thousand Layers to the Heavens
Thousand Layers to the Heavens

The main trail that winds through the terraces leads through a series of viewpoints - each with a Chinese dramatic dreamy name.

One of my favorite viewpoints while walking around was the "Thousand Layers to the Heavens."

Each viewpoint offered a chance to see the terraces from a different angle or side.

Hiking at the Longsheng Rice Terraces
Hiking at the Longsheng Rice Terraces

Many of the most beautiful attractions in China are represented by lots and lots of local Chinese tourists.

The Longsheng Rice Terraces were no different, but as I began to stray further and further from the main trails, I was able to lose most of the crowds and discover hidden places where few chose to hike.

Gazing at the neatly manicured steps of rice through the evergreen trees while breathing cool crisp air on the top of mountain ridges was truly a remarkable experience!

If you ever happen to visit Guilin, China, make sure to head over to Longsheng and Dazhai to catch a glimpse of this magnificent natural wonder. 

Related Stories

  • Snowy Heilongjiang, China
    Visiting Heilongjiang: China’s Frozen Northeast
  • Child
    Applying for an ESL Job in China: What to Look for in a Contract
  • Yangshuo: Bike Ride and a Marvelous Chinese Farmer's Lunch
  • Top 5 Things to Do in Chengdu, China
38 shares
  • Share
  • Email

About Mark Wiens

Mark was raised in central Africa before migrating back to the U.S. for university. After graduating, he decided to continue traveling the world. On Migrationology, he shares the cultural side of travel from a slow-paced local perspective that often revolves around his love for eating all forms of food. Join him on Facebook and follow him on YouTube.

Comments

  1. Dean says

    December 13, 2011 at 1:22 am

    Those rice terraces are amazing. Looks like a really beautiful place.

  2. Andi of My Beautiful Adventures says

    December 13, 2011 at 9:43 am

    Wow now that is a hike!!!

  3. Mount Everest Camp says

    March 27, 2012 at 8:13 am

    I think you enjoyed a lot while hiking the longsheng rice terraces. Photos shows that the place beautiful. All the shots are nice and the Chinese food is always awesome.

Dave at Ahu Ko Te Riku on Rapa Nui (Easter Island), Chile.

Hi, I'm Dave

Editor in Chief

I've been writing about adventure travel on Go Backpacking since 2007. I've visited 68 countries.

Read more about Dave.

Footer

back to top

About

  • About
  • Archive
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy

Follow Us

Contact

  • Contact
  • Work With Us
  • Submissions

Copyright © 2025 Go Backpacking

38 shares
  • 31