The Most Beautiful Terraced Rice Fields in China
There are landscapes which, though rooted in the earth, seem as if they were born from a divine brush. In southern China, the Longji Terraced Rice Fields—literally the “Dragon’s Backbone”—offer one of the most breathtaking panoramas in Asia. For over 700 years, local ethnic communities have sculpted the mountains into a living masterpiece: a vertiginous weave of vegetal curves, rippling between sky and clouds.
Yet Longji is more than a postcard scene. It is a place to walk through, to listen to, to inhabit. To wander among these terraces is to step into an ancestral China—one shaped by agricultural gestures, wooden villages, and the rhythm of the seasons. It is also a rediscovery of a slow, precise, and almost sacred relationship with the land.
Where are the Longji Rice Terraces located?
The Longji Terraced Rice Fields are located in Longsheng County, north of Guilin, in the Guangxi region of southern China. The name “Longji” refers to a series of rolling hills where rice fields have been carved into stepped terraces. Depending on the light and the season, these curves can appear liquid, metallic, or golden.
The villages of Ping’an, Dazhai, Tiantouzhai, and Jinkeng are the main gateways to exploring the area. Each has its own atmosphere, landscape style, and local communities—together forming a living mosaic of human culture and natural beauty that defines the unique character of Longji.
What makes Longji unique?
A landscape shaped by the seasons
The rice terraces never show the same face twice. In spring, they are flooded and shimmer like suspended mirrors. In summer, they turn a vibrant, almost fluorescent green. Autumn brings a cascade of gold, while winter—sometimes wrapped in mist—freezes the contours and adds an air of mystery.
Each season transforms the experience. This cyclical rhythm gives Longji its contemplative power: you are not simply observing a landscape, but witnessing its continuous metamorphosis.
Sleeping Among the Heights: A Truly Immersive Experience
Spending the night in the highlands of Longji is an essential part of the journey. As dusk settles over the terraces, the crowds fade away, silence returns, and the landscape reveals a more intimate face. From traditional wooden guesthouses perched on the slopes, you wake to mist rising gently from the rice fields, the sound of birds, and the first farmers beginning their day. Far from modern distractions, this overnight stay offers a rare sense of calm and a deep connection with the rhythm of the mountains and the life they sustain.
A Millennia-Old Agricultural Culture, Still Alive Today
In Longji, agriculture is not a relic of the past but a living tradition passed down through generations. The rice terraces are still cultivated by hand, following ancestral techniques that respect the land and the seasons. Each gesture—from planting to harvesting—reflects a deep knowledge of nature and a way of life rooted in patience, balance, and collective memory.