What Is This Village All About?
When you visit the Longji Rice Terraces, you’re not just coming for the views of the rice fields—you’re also coming to experience the traditional way of life of the Zhuang people who’ve lived and farmed these mountains for hundreds of years. And there’s no better place to do that than in the traditional Zhuang villages that are right in the middle of the terraces. These villages have been here just as long as the terraces themselves, and they still maintain a lot of their traditional culture and way of life.
The most famous Zhuang village in Longji is called Ping’an, and it’s the one that most tourists visit. But there are also smaller villages nearby that are less touristy and even more authentic. Walking through the village, you’ll see traditional wooden houses built on stilts, old women weaving cloth and dyeing it indigo blue, and farmers carrying baskets of rice back from the fields. It feels like stepping back in time.
Even with the increase in tourism over the last few decades, the villages have managed to keep their character. Most of the people who live here are still farmers first, and tourism is just something they do on the side to make a little extra money.
The Zhuang People: Who Are They?
The Zhuang are the largest ethnic minority group in China, and most of them live in Guangxi province. They have their own language, their own customs, their own clothing, and their own festivals. They’ve been living in this area for thousands of years, and they’re the ones who built all the terraces you see on the mountain.
One of the things that the Zhuang are famous for is their traditional wooden stilt houses—they build the houses elevated on wooden posts to keep them dry and to keep animals out. Most of the houses in the village are still built this way, even today.
They’re also famous for their long hair tradition—many Zhuang women keep their hair very long, and it’s considered a sign of beauty and good fortune.
How To Get There
The Zhuang villages are located right in the Longji Rice Terraces scenic area. Once you get to the entrance of the scenic area, you take the shuttle bus, and it will take you directly up to Ping’an Village. It’s about 30 minutes from the entrance on the winding mountain road.
- From Guilin: It takes about 3 hours total to get from Guilin city to the village—2 hours drive to the entrance, then 30 minutes shuttle, then a 10-15 minute walk from the shuttle drop-off to the center of the village.
- Once you’re there: Most of the village is pedestrian-only, so you have to walk. The paths are stone steps, so be prepared for some walking.
What To Do In The Village
Walk Around The Village
Just walking through the narrow stone streets of the village is a lot of fun. You’ll see traditional wooden houses, local people going about their daily lives, small shops selling handicrafts, and children playing. It’s a really interesting look at traditional mountain village life.
Watch Or Join In Traditional Activities
Many of the local women still do traditional weaving and dyeing. You can watch them work, and they’ll often let you try it if you’re interested. You can also buy hand-woven cloth and clothing as a souvenir. Some villages also have traditional dance performances during peak tourist season.
Hike Through The Terraces To Other Villages
There’s a hiking trail that goes from Ping’an Village all the way to Dazhai Village, which is another village in the terraces. The hike takes about 2-3 hours, and it goes right through the rice terraces the whole way. It’s absolutely beautiful, and you get amazing views the whole time.
Stay With A Local Family
Most of the guesthouses in the village are run by local families. Staying with them is a great way to experience real local life. You get to eat home-cooked food made with ingredients from their farm, and you can ask them all about what it’s like to live in the mountain.
Best Time To Visit
The best time to visit is the same as the best time to visit the Longji Terraces:
- April-May: when the terraces are filled with water before planting
- September-October: when the rice is golden before harvest
At these times, the weather is good, the scenery is the most beautiful, and the village is lively. But even outside these peak seasons, it’s still worth visiting—you just have the place almost to yourself.
Practical Information
- Entrance: Your Longji scenic area ticket covers the village too—you don’t need to pay anything extra.
- Accommodation: Prices start from around 100-150 yuan per night for a basic room, and go up to 500+ yuan for a nicer room with a view.
- Food: Most guesthouses provide meals, and there are also small restaurants in the village. You can expect to pay about 30-50 yuan per person for a meal.
- What to bring: Good walking shoes, because you’ll be walking on stone steps and paths. Bring cash because some smaller places don’t accept cards.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is it very touristy? Ping’an is the main village, so yes, it does get a lot of tourists during peak season. But it’s still a real working village, and most of the people who live there are still farmers.
- Can I visit just for the day? Yeah, you can do it as a day trip, but I think staying overnight is a much better experience. You get to see the village when all the day trippers leave, and it’s really peaceful.
- What should I buy as a souvenir? Traditional hand-woven Zhuang cloth is beautiful, and it makes a great souvenir. They also make delicious local honey and bamboo products.
- Is it accessible for people who can’t walk a lot? Because it’s a mountain village with stone steps everywhere, it’s not very accessible if you have trouble walking.
Final Thoughts
The traditional Zhuang villages in Longji are more than just a place to stay when you visit the terraces—they’re part of the experience. It’s fascinating to see how people have adapted to living in the mountains, building these incredible terraces and maintaining their traditional culture for hundreds of years. Even with tourism changing things, there’s still something really special about walking through the village and seeing the traditional way of life that’s still going strong today.
