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INSPIRED by dragons that traverse the mountains and guard the valleys, Longsheng in Guilin is a mesmerizing destination that’s right out of a painting.
Located about 100km away from Guilin, Longsheng is accessible via local buses or hired vans. However, buses can only take you to the foothills of Longsheng as the rest of this terraced county is sprawled across a twisty mountain range that is not feasible for vehicular access.
To explore the interiors of the rice terraces, you’d have to go by foot; so be prepared to do a lot of walking here. The good news is that hiking across the terraces is often a relaxing and remarkable experience in itself because of the cool climate and the breathtaking landscapes that accompany you every step of the way.
Here are a few places to target when in Longsheng.
Longji Rice Terrace
The Longji Rice Terraces span every color. Pic: Chris Nener/flickr
If you’ve seen photographs of picturesque terraced hills in China that seem to belong to a distant dream, chances are you’re looking at the Longji Rice Terraces.
Known as the “Dragon’s Backbone”, Longji is panoramic from every angle – when you visit the rice terraces in spring, the grooved hills stand out like precious emeralds. Meanwhile, in autumn, the terraces take on a golden-earthy hue that resembles gold silk spread across acres of land.
From the foot of the mountain right to the pinnacle, there are layer after layer of paddy fields which are divided into different sections and named after the different shapes of terraces seen from the top. The widely recognized ones are the “The Moon Accompanied by Seven Stars” and “Nine Dragons and Five Tigers.”
Ping’an and Jinkeng
Village houses are perched at the edge of the terraces. Pic: Adrian Lim/flickr
The Longji terraces are home to the Zhuang and Yao people, the most well-known ethnic minorities in Longsheng. Their villages, Ping’an Zhuang and Jinkeng Da Zhai Yao are hidden within the rice terraces, so it’s best to find someone to take you there.
What’s striking about the villages is that they seem to be frozen in time. Houses perched at the edge of the terraces are all built using wood, and they blend beautifully with the swirling terraces around them.
It’s a good idea to spend a few nights at one of these villages if you want to get in touch with the local customs that guide the daily lives of the locals. While there are hotels to choose from, some villagers have opened their homes to tourists for homestays, providing travelers with accommodation and home-cooked meals.
Don’t worry about needing to rough it out; while only the most basic amenities are available, it still makes for a comfortable stay. The pace here is slow and easy, so take your time to take in the beauty around you.
The meals are healthy and 100 percent organic, as the locals only use what they grow and rear in their villages for food. Rice dishes are made from the paddy harvested from the terraces itself, and their famous chicken stew is broiled for hours over a charcoal stove.
The Yao and Zhuang are very friendly folks and if you happen to have a local guide with whom you who can translate local dialects, ask the villagers for a story or two. They’ll be more than happy to share folk tales and stories of their life in the mountains.
You can also participate in their traditional outdoor activities – try propping bamboo bars or engaging in a tug-o-war with an elephant. The Yao are also pretty good entertainers with wonderful voices – you can request for a song or two when you get the chance.
Longsheng Hot Springs
The Longsheng Hot Springs Holiday Resort, the only five-star hotel in Longsheng. Pic: Guilin Holiday
For a different experience in Longsheng, stop by the Longsheng Hot Springs. Located adjacent to the National Forest Park home to Guilin’s flora and fauna, this hot springs is renowned as a “a haven of peace and happiness” and “paradise on earth”.
Reputed to offer healing qualities, the water from the hot springs has a temperature between 45℃ to 58℃ and contains more than ten kinds of microelements that benefit human bodies, such as lithium, strontium (Sr), iron, zinc and copper.
Experts from the National Ministry of Geology and Mineral Resources, Ministry of Light Industry, and Ministry of Health in China have also approved water from the springs as a natural drinkable mineral water.
Right in the heart of this destination, you’ll find the Longsheng Hot Springs Holiday Resort, a province-level resort which is the only five-star hotel in Longsheng. With a full set of modern facilities including business suites and a hot-spring swimming pool, the resort offers a luxurious stay amidst Guilin’s lush outdoors.
The post The striking beauty of Guilin: Traversing the mountains and valleys of Longsheng appeared first on Travel Wire Asia.
Source: travelwireasia.com