Longji Rice Terraces (Longsheng) Tourism

The Longji Rice Terraces, also known as the Longsheng Rice Terraces, are a significant and alluring cultural landscape in Guilin, Guangxi, China. Created over 650 years ago during the Yuan and Ming dynasties, the terraces were designed to make optimum use of the scarce arable land and water resources in the mountainous region. Locally referred to as 'Longji Titian', which means Dragon's Backbone, the terraces wind from the foothills up along the hillsides, resembling a dragon's scales, while the summits mimic the backbone of the dragon. Covering an area of around 66 square kilometers, these terraces are built into the hillside that ranges from 200 meters to 1,100 meters in elevation. This marvelously constructed agricultural zone is famous for its scenic beauty, especially from late spring when the paddies are full of water, creating stunning reflections until mid-autumn when the terraces are awash with golden hues of the ripe rice. The terraces span across multiple villages with Zhuang and Yao ethnic minorities, preserving traditional practices and way of life.