Rice Terraces and Zhuang Villages

Bite-sized trip

Itinerary:
Yangshuo - Ping'an - Guilin
Duration:
3 days / 2 nights (flexible)
Price:
from £ 245.- per person

Amble between tumbling rice terraces and meet the minority Zhuang people. You’ll be welcomed into a timeless world of hillside tradition and rural hospitality. Wandering amongst some of the largest rice paddies in the world, a sea of tiered terraces will ripple into the horizon as you hike from hill to hill. Longji, or the Dragon’s Backbone is home to never-ending paddies carved into the green hills.

Day 1 – Arrival in Ping’an

When you arrive in Ping’an your driver will drop you off on the edge of the village, which has no roads running through it. From here, you’ll walk through the rice paddies until you reach traditional Ping’an. You’ll spend two nights in a friendly guesthouse with a large veranda with views of the rice terrace.

Although Ping’an has become increasingly popular with tourists, it retains its traditional charm and in no time at all you’ll become accustomed to the Ping’an atmosphere. Once you’ve settled in you can start to explore. The Ping’an territory is home to the Zhuang minority, who introduced the terraced irrigation system used for rice cultivation over 5,000 years ago.

Days 2-3 – Rice paddies hike & departure

Today you’ll set off on a guided hike into the patchwork of rice paddies, known as the Dragon’s Back Bone or Longji. You’ll follow undulating mountain paths through forests, past rivers, into timeless villages and between the rice paddies. The villages here are remote, with houses perched high on poles. The length and pace of your hike is up to you and your guide can tailor it to your needs.

The following morning, you can enjoy breakfast on the veranda and soak up the views over the mist-cloaked mountains. As the sun climbs, light will flood the paddies and the mist will magically clear. Afterwards, you’ll grab your bags and check out, ready to continue your China adventure.