Longji Terrace-Longsheng Rice Terraces

The Longji terrace, also known as Longsheng Rice Terraces are located in Longsheng County, some 100 km (2 hr drive) from Guilin, Guangxi, China. The most popular among Longji terraces are Ping An Rice Terrace and Jinkeng Rice Terrace.

Longji Terraced Rice Fields received their name because the rice terraces resemble a dragon's scales, while the summit of the mountain range looks like the backbone of the dragon. One standing on the top of the mountain can see the dragon's backbone twisting off into the distance. In an early morning, when the weather is fine, the sunrise on the summit of Longji Rice Terraces is magnificent.

Longji terraces were mostly built during the Ming Dynasty, some 500 years ago. The terraces are built along the slope winding from the riverside up to the mountain top, the highest part being 880 meter in elevation while the lowest part is 380 meter. The coiling line that starts from the mountain foot up to the mountain top divides the mountain into layers of water glittering in the sun in spring, layers of green rice shoots in summer, layers of golden rice in fall, and layers of silvery frost in winter.

The best time to visit Longji terrace (Longsheng Terrace) is in early June. At this time, water is pumped over the rice paddies and young plants are transferred to the main terraces.