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A Room with a View: China’s Longsheng Rice Terraces

I have been fortunate enough to have seen a lot of picturesque scenery in my life all over the world, but few places can compare with the breathtaking Longsheng rice terraces north of Guilin...

I have been fortunate enough to have seen a lot of picturesque scenery in my life all over the world, but few places can compare with the breathtaking Longsheng rice terraces north of Guilin.  What sets Longsheng apart is that  it is both a manmade and a natural wonder, and therefore doubly incredible.  The local farmers carved rice terraces into the gorgeous mountains 500 years ago in order to cultivate the hilly land – and although this was not their goal by any means, they happen to be absolutely breathtaking.  Each terrace is quite narrow so they still require  hand labor or oxen to plant and pick the rice. Plows and equipment are still unthinkable.

The rice terraces of Longsheng.
The rice terraces of Longsheng.

Hiking is paramount in Longsheng in order to see the most interesting places, because there is no shortage of tourists (99% are mainland Chinese, so I still stick out like a sore thumb with blonde hair). My favorite inn is called Li An Lodge in Ping An Village. The views are astonishing from the rooms.   No roads go there, so the only way to reach it is by walking for 40 minutes straight uphill. Sedan chairs are also available for those who can’t walk, but it is weird to see people carried uphill as if they were emperors in the 1600’s. My own bags were carried by two extremely fit local ladies who appeared to be in their late 60’s or early 70’s. I felt guilty until it was explained to me that if they didn’t carry my bags they would have no work and no money since there is no such thing as Social Security, so if you don’t have  your kids sending you money you are out of luck.  I gave them big tips and they smiled.

Hiking is easier with views like this...
Hiking is easier with views like this…

I love trekking and I hiked around eight hours each day to very remote villages. Every every time I rounded a corner there was another gasp as I drank in the beauty of the scenery.  Please note that it is not necessary to hike as much as I did, and an hour or two a day is sufficient for many people including children.

Making friends with the Zao ladies
Making friends with the Zao ladies

The village architecture is all traditional wooden houses so they look as they have for hundreds of years.    The people were extremely friendly and happy to meet travellers. My favorite village was a Zao minority tribal village where the women have amazingly long hair that they only cut once in their lives when they are married.  The older ladies wear their traditional tribal dress and have hair that sweeps the floor, that they wind into massive buns on their heads.  They were so sweet and they unwound their buns for me to show me their 5-6 foot long straight black tresses. They drank their moonshine rice wine and sang and danced with me, and we had so much fun. The only sad thing is that the young girls wear jeans and cut their hair, so they are losing their traditional culture.

My room at Li An Lodge
My room at Li An Lodge

I understand that everyone in the world wants prosperity and iphones, but I can’t help bemoaning the loss of cultural traditions and rituals as people become increasingly westernized.  Homogenization is inevitable, and it has already occurred in most of the world, including some more developed parts of Asia.   In the next decade or two I predict that the world will be a much more boring place in terms or culture and travel.  I am glad I started Remote Lands when I did because there is still so much that is incredible to see, but by the time our children and grandchildren visit these places, it will be all MacDonald’s and Starbucks and so much less interesting.

Cruising in Guilin
Cruising in Guilin

As incredible as the rice terraces of Longsheng are, three hours drive south is equally unique but totally natural karst topography of Guilin.  No visit to Longsheng would be complete without also seeing Guilin and nearby Yangshuo, and since Guilin airport is the gateway to Longsheng this is very easy to do.  I will save Guilin for a separate report, but I recommend two nights each in Longsheng and Guilin/Yangshuo.