Longsheng Rice Terraces in June 2024: Serene and rainy, the terraced fields glisten in the sea of clouds

After touring Reed Flute Cave in the city, I took a Didi directly to the parking lot of Ping'an Zhuang Village. It cost over 200 yuan and took nearly 2 hours without taking the highway, as the national road doesn't make much difference in time. On the way, you pass through the mountain entrance, which costs 80 yuan per person. There are small shuttle sightseeing cars at the parking lot. Since I booked a homestay on the mountain and reported the hotel's name, it only cost 20 yuan per person for a round trip. Keep the ticket for the next trip down the mountain. The car leaves as soon as it arrives, and in ten minutes, I reached the homestay I booked, Tianjian Pavilion. I highly recommend this place. First of all, the location is excellent. It's only a few minutes' walk to the Nine Dragons and Five Tigers viewing platform, so after visiting it during the day, we went again after dinner because the terraces are lit up at night, offering a different view. Then, there is a dedicated scenic walkway from the Nine Dragons and Five Tigers viewing platform to the Seven Stars with Moon viewing tower, about a 20-minute walk, with many spots along the way to view and photograph the terraces. It seems that tour groups only stop at the Nine Dragons and Five Tigers viewing platform, then let everyone walk down into the terraces before leaving, which is a pity. Unfortunately, when I visited, the viewing tower was shrouded in fog, and nothing could be seen. The weather in the mountains changes rapidly; one moment it's enveloped in thick fog, and the next, it's clear. But maybe because it was night, the fog settled in and didn't move, so I had to return the same way. Back at Tianjian Pavilion, the view from the balcony was picturesque, as shown in the first two photos. There are no other houses in front of this homestay, just the layered mountains, offering a superb view. The third photo is of the homestay taken from a distance. At this time of year, there are some mosquitoes, but not many. It's nice to just sit on the balcony, watching the clouds roll by, and I even saw a beautiful 🌈 once. You can also see the mountain chickens raised by the shop owners below, pecking and strolling in the woods. This was an important reason why I decided to book this place. Another reason is that the homestay is a traditional local building, all made of solid wood and bamboo, with a thoughtful design that adds a special flavor, unlike the many homestays, or rather hotels, in Jin Keng, which are modernly furnished. Coming here, I wanted to experience the local culture. I ate all my meals at the inn, where the owner is a great cook, and the default is non-spicy, or just a little bit spicy, which suits my taste. Especially the Guilin rice noodles for breakfast, which were the best I've ever had and deserve a thumbs up. When leaving, you can arrange a Didi in advance the day before, and on the day of departure, ask the inn to call the shuttle sightseeing car to pick you up at the parking lot, then take the Didi back to the city. This season is the rice planting time, not the peak season, so some shops only have a few tourists staying, very quiet. Of course, you won't see the golden scenery, but you will see another kind of scenery, especially these days with continuous rain, the water is plentiful, and each field is full of water ponds that shine in the sunlight. Some look like crescent moons, some like willow leaves, layered upon each other, creating a different kind of beauty. In short, walking in the mountains, looking at the clouds, and just being anywhere is quite pleasant. Unfortunately, the night was too foggy, with thunderstorms and no view of the stars, which was a regret. I hope to have the chance next time.