LONGJI RICE TERRACES (龙脊梯田)

We were here: October 17, 2018.
Number of days needed: 2. We would gladly have stayed a second day having had more time.
My score: 5/5.

It is not that this place is more or less beautiful than Guilin mountains, it is different but equally impressive; if I rate it a bit higher is because there are not as many rice terraces as karst mountains in China. This is simply a lovely site.

There are rice fields all over Asia, and it is a fact that the more vertical they are, the more people like them. The most worthy of mention terraces are probably those of Tegallalang and Jatiluwih in Bali, Banaue in the Philippines, Sa Pa in Vietnam, and Yuanyang and those that occupy us both in China. Longji terraces, a village belonging to neighboring Longsheng, tend to be in second place compared to their cousins in Yuanyang in terms of magnificence, but they have a great advantage over them, their proximity to a mandatory stop in each trip to China as it is Guilin, while those in Yuanyang require to arrive from Vietnam or a visit to the less touristy, although no less interesting, southern province of Yunnan.

Whether they are the best or the second best in the country will depend on each one’s taste, but it is still an irrelevant detail because both are extraordinarily beautiful. Exploring this vast area calmly is a cure for the soul, because not only the landscape radiates charm in each viewpoint and can be enjoyed at any time of year, but the masses of tourists have not yet arrived, so we can delight our visit in a truly rural environment, passing by small villages with ethnic minorities, and making our own effort (because we should not overlook that you have to climb) part of the experience. All this could change soon; globalization is proliferating at top speed, even in so high parts that in the past you could only climb on foot or by donkey, roads and expensive hotels are being built, since in general, at higher altitudes, better views; there is even a cable car to access the viewpoints of the area further east. There is no doubt that in a few years the road from Guilin will become a highway, or worse, it may be reached by train.

Go and marvel, and do it as soon as possible.