Long Sheng's Dragon Spine Rice Terraces, Guangxi, China

5mareth1 5:00 PM Oct 9, 2013

Our favorite stop on our tour of China - Long Sheng Dragon Spine Terraced Rice Fields
I had no idea what to expect but it sounded like a wonderful opportunity to get away from the hustle and bustle of Chinese cities. We were so glad we made the decision and despite being scheduled for total knee replacement the week after our return, I made it to the top of Long Sheng rice paddies under our own steam. Both of us have pacemakers so as you can see it is very doable climbing the 1200 steps as you can pace yourself.For the faint of heart, you can be carried up the mountain by local farmers on a chair like device. Some rather heavy folks had opted for this mode of transport and I felt sorry for the farmers who were dripping with sweat and panting but I am sure glad of the tourist money. But back to the beginning. It took us about three hours from Guillin to the base if the mountain where there was a market selling local wares and where we changed from our larger bus to a smaller local bus to take us closer to the foothills of the rice paddies. As we weaved our way around blind bends on this narrow road, the driver leaned on the horn to warn descending drivers. If you like roller coaster rides (not me nor by the screams our fellow passengers) then you will love the ride. Not sure if the driver was bent on giving us a thrilling ride as he swung the bus out wide and your eyes viewed the sheer drop off or it was the only way to navigate the bends. We survived! Then, we made our way up the mountain under our own steam via steps (1200)that the locals built for the tourists no doubt. Breathtaking views of the terraced rice paddy fields and mountains. It was a beautiful, clear day in Sep with temps around 80. Sunscreen and water is a must We passed through local villages on our way up where you could buy local goods including candies and other snacks. The local minority women were dressed in beautiful local finery and they had the most gorgeous black hair. Their hair does not turn gray which is attributed to the rice water they used to wash their hair. Photo ops of the women for a price but you can take as many photos of the scenery as you wish. In Sep the rice field were still green but spectacular. We ate lunch at the half way point and there were toilet opportunities(one western-yeh! my knees were appreciative). They served local fare and we really enjoyed the rice cooked in a bamboo. Had a nice smokey taste. Lots of construction taking place in the area so go now before the uniqueness is lost. If you have the time and enjoy hiking, stay in one of the villages for a couple of nights. Appeared to be some chalet type buildings going up. While your in the Guillin area, take a day boat trip on the Li River. Loved the feel of the local river traffic here more so than on the Yangtze River. Our day trip to the terraces were part of our China Tour through our tour company, China Spree and like all if the tours was very well organized.

4jensen_chua 5:00 PM Aug 11, 2019

Amazing sight...the magnet of Long Sheng.
The no.1 attraction in Long Sheng, worth the 2.5hr drive from Guilin. For avid photographers, its recommended to stay at least a night over at one lodges at Ping'An village to capture the sunrise and sunset version of the amazing valley. For day trippers, a trek along the rice terrace trails are a real treat. Drone is allowed at this venue.