Longji Terraces

near Guilin

Southeast China close to Vietnam

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The construction of the Longji Rice Terraces started during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). The Zhuang and Yao ethnic people live a simple life abiding by the laws of nature. What you see on this page took centuries to create. The Current law regarding minorities in China protects and encourages these people to continue living similar to the way they have for centuries.

There are fifty-six minorities in China numbering one hundred million. The one child policy does not apply to minorities. The Chinese government offers support to minority students if they want to attend college after completing a mandatory public school education.

The Han majority, numbering 1.2 billion, does not receive the same support.

These Yao minority women never cut their hair. Even the hair that falls out during washing and brushing is woven back in.

This is the Yao minority theater where we watched a traditional wedding dance and a hair washing ceremony. Men in the audience volunteered to play the part of the groom. The construction methods for the buildings used mortise and tenon joinery.

If you don't want to or can't walk up this mountain, these Zhuang ethnic men will carry you for a fee. We walked and walked and walked ...

Hiking into Zhuang ethnic territory.

Cleaning rice.

Closer to the top.

Here we stand, sweaty and tired after the long hike to the top. Now, all we have to do is walk back to the bus. The parking lot is below and to the left of those terraces behind us. It might not look like it, but I should have been smiling. I had a great time and loved every minute.