1Highlights
Longji is a rice-terrace landscape carved into the mountainside by Zhuang and Yao farmers over more than 700 years — contour lines drawn at landscape scale, climbing from the valley floor to the ridge. It is divided into several areas, and the two that matter for most visitors are Ping'an Zhuang village (the Seven Stars with the Moon and Nine Dragons and Five Tigers viewpoints) and the Dazhai Red Yao terraces (larger, with three viewing platforms). The seasons produce genuinely different pictures: roughly May to June the flooded terraces reflect the sky, and September to October brings the rice to gold. Winter occasionally adds snow, but that is luck rather than a plan.
- Location
- Longsheng county, about 2 hours out
- Peoples
- Zhuang and Red Yao
- Main areas
- Ping'an and Dazhai
- Gate ticket
- Reference about ¥80
- Best windows
- May–Jun and Sep–Oct
- Suggested
- A full day, ideally one night
2Tickets
Longji uses a single main gate ticket covering the village entrances, with a reference price around ¥80. Transport inside the area is generally charged separately — the Dazhai cableway in particular is its own ticket, and some viewpoints need a shuttle connection. Prices vary by season and channel, so the official current listing governs. Mountain guesthouses are independent businesses and have nothing to do with the ticket.
| Longji main gate ticket | Reference about ¥80 | Covers the Ping'an, Dazhai and other area entrances. |
|---|---|---|
| Dazhai cableway | Reference ¥70–120 | One way or return; saves the summit ascent, walking is also possible. |
| In-area shuttle and parking | Per locally posted rates | Some viewpoints need a shuttle connection from the car park. |
| Mountain guesthouse | Reference ¥150–500 per night | The practical way to catch sunrise; book well ahead in season. |
One ticket, but the villages are far apart：The gate ticket covers the villages, which sounds like an invitation to see both. In practice Ping'an and Dazhai are around an hour apart by road, so doing both in a day means rushing each and arriving at neither viewpoint in good light. Pick one area and go deep into it.
The cableway only removes the ascent：It spares you the climb to the summit area, which is genuinely useful. But the photographs still come from walking between the platforms — getting in among the terraces is the experience, and no lift replaces that.
Three different boat experiences, three separate tickets：Guilin has three water experiences that visitors constantly confuse. The Li River cruise is a large scheduled passenger boat running Guilin to Yangshuo over roughly four hours, sold by boat class through official channels. A Yulong River bamboo raft is a short, negotiated ride on a small tributary near Yangshuo — no gate ticket at all. A Li River bamboo raft around Xingping or Yangdi is a third thing again, on the main river, also negotiated on site. None of these tickets covers another, and the word 'raft' alone does not tell you which river you are on. Decide which experience you actually want before paying anyone.
Water levels and fog can cancel the day — leave slack in the plan：Guilin's rainy season runs roughly April to June. After heavy rain the river can rise past safe operating levels and cruises and rafting are suspended, often with only same-day notice. Heavy fog can erase the terraces and the hilltop views entirely. None of this is predictable far ahead, so the practical defence is scheduling: put the weather-dependent items early in your trip, keep one spare day, and check the local forecast the night before.
Klook
Compare Longji day tours with transport and ticket included
Longji has no convenient public transport and getting a ride back from the mountain is the hard part, so a tour that includes both legs solves a real logistical problem rather than just saving a queue. Klook lists Longji day tours bundling round-trip transport and the gate ticket, with English-guided options. On the listing, confirm which area the itinerary actually visits — Ping'an and Dazhai are different places about an hour apart — plus how long you get on the mountain and whether the cableway is included.
- Includes the return leg, which is the hard part to arrange locally
- Confirm whether the itinerary goes to Ping'an or Dazhai
- Check which section, how long and whether the return leg is included
- Sailing schedules and suspensions follow the operator's decision on the day
- Read the change and cancellation terms before paying
Disclosure: this is an affiliate link. We may earn a small commission if you buy through it, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products we would use ourselves.
3Getting There
Longji sits in Longsheng county, roughly 80 km and about two hours from Guilin. There is no convenient direct public transport, which shapes the whole plan.
Guilin to Longji and back in around two hours each way.
Guilin to Longsheng town, then a local connection — noticeably slower.
About two hours each way; finding a ride back from the mountain is hard.
Transport and the gate ticket bundled, which removes the logistics.
Arrange your return before you go up：Summoning a ride from the mountain is close to impossible, so a chartered car that waits, a booked tour, or a guesthouse-arranged transfer are the three workable options. If you are staying overnight, ask the guesthouse to handle both legs.
4Route & Photos
The standard approach is to pick one village and go deep. At Ping'an, walk the Seven Stars and Nine Dragons viewpoints — around two to three hours on foot. At Dazhai, cover platforms 1, 2 and 3, which is a much larger area at roughly four to five hours, or less with the cableway. A night on the mountain gives you both sunrise and sunset.
Sunrise and sunset are at different platforms：At Dazhai, sunrise generally belongs to Platform 1 (West Hill), the highest point, while sunset tends towards Platform 2 (Thousand-Layer Steps). They are a walk apart, which is the single strongest argument for sleeping up the mountain rather than day-tripping.
Recommended Route
- 1
Arrive at the Dazhai car park
Walk up or take the shuttle; guesthouses can often arrange a mule for luggage.
- 2
Platform 2 — Thousand-Layer Steps
The most layered view, and afternoon light suits it.
- 3
Platform 1 — West Hill
The highest point and the sunrise choice — it needs an early start.
- 4
Platform 3 — Golden Buddha Peak
Another high vantage point, reachable with the cableway.
- 5
Yao village lanes
A Red Yao village of stilt houses, where the terraces are still worked daily.
Best Photo Spots
Platform 1 at sunrise
Mist rising from the valley, with raking light giving the terrace lines depth.
Platform 2 at sunset
The layered curves of the Thousand-Layer Steps under warm evening light.
Field paths between platforms
Down among the terraces, where the scale reads as walls of water or rice rather than pattern.
5Food & Stay
| Village farm kitchensBamboo rice, chicken and cured pork | Mid-range | Cooked by guesthouses and farm restaurants with local ingredients. |
|---|---|---|
| Longji teaLocal product | Varies | Grown on these slopes; tastings are commonly offered. |
| Your own suppliesWater and snacks | Bring your own | Walks between platforms are long and shops are few. |
Eating at your guesthouse is usually the practical choice：Standalone restaurants up the mountain are sparse, while most guesthouses cook home-style food that is both better and cheaper than the tourist restaurants at the foot of the hill. Carry cash — some small stalls up here do not take cards or apps.
Where to Stay
- A mountain guesthouse is the practical way to see both sunrise and sunset — book early in the two peak seasons.
- Staying in Guilin city makes Longji a long day trip: workable, tiring, and it guarantees missing the best light.
6Tips & Pitfalls
- Prices, sailing schedules, opening hours and reservation rules change; verify the official notice for your date.
- Carry your passport — real-name ticketing and boarding checks may require the original document.
- Pick your season deliberately — roughly May to June for the flooded mirror fields, September to October for golden rice. July and August are green and pretty but busiest.
- Expect real climbing: steps and dirt paths between every viewpoint. Not suitable for limited mobility, and not a place for heels.
- Travel light uphill — guesthouses can often arrange a mule for luggage, which makes the climb much easier.
- Carry water and some cash; shops are few up the mountain and some stalls are cash-only.
- Heavy fog can erase the view entirely — check the Longsheng forecast and keep a spare day if you can.
7Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the Longji Rice Terraces ticket?
The main gate ticket is a reference of around ¥80 and covers the Ping'an, Dazhai and other area entrances. In-area transport costs extra: the Dazhai cableway runs a reference ¥70–120 one way or return, and some viewpoints need a shuttle. Mountain lodging is priced independently. The official current listing governs.
Should I visit Ping'an or Dazhai?
Ping'an is more developed with shorter walks — both viewpoints in roughly two to three hours — which suits a tight schedule or average fitness. Dazhai is larger and more dramatic, with three platforms taking about four to five hours, or less using the cableway. If you are choosing one and want maximum scale, choose Dazhai.
When is Longji at its best?
There are two windows: roughly May to June, when the flooded terraces mirror the sky, and September to October, when the rice turns gold. July and August are green and lovely but carry the heaviest crowds. Winter snow is a bonus if it happens, not something to plan a trip around.
Can I do Longji as a day trip from Guilin?
Technically yes, but it is not the good version of the trip. It is about two hours each way, and the climbing plus the walks between platforms need a full day on their own. A day trip guarantees missing both sunrise and sunset, which are precisely the reason photographers come. One night on the mountain changes the whole experience.
Do I need a car to get to Longji?
Effectively yes, in the sense that there is no convenient direct public transport. A chartered car at a reference ¥300–500 per day or an organised day tour are the practical answers; buses via Longsheng town take substantially longer. Crucially, summoning a ride back from the mountain is close to impossible, so arrange the return leg before you go up.
Combine With
Other Guilin sights that genuinely pair well with this one
Before You Go
The practical guides you will actually need here
All Guilin attractions
Klook
Compare Guilin countryside and multi-day itineraries
If Longji is part of a longer loop, the same operators generally sell Guilin and Yangshuo combinations. Klook lists these in English; check the daily pacing, because Longji plus a Li River day in one itinerary is a lot of road time.
- Check which section, how long and whether the return leg is included
- Sailing schedules and suspensions follow the operator's decision on the day
- Read the change and cancellation terms before paying
Disclosure: this is an affiliate link. We may earn a small commission if you buy through it, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products we would use ourselves.
GoChinaTravel Editorial Team
Our team of China travel researchers combines on-the-ground contributor insights, official government sources, and traveler community feedback to create the most detailed English-language China guides available. Every guide is fact-checked against primary sources (NIA, 12367, official attraction websites, Railway 12306) before publication.