Lingji rice fields
Trip Start
Apr 14, 2008
1
17
85
Trip End
Nov 11, 2008
Dazi,
Guangxi Zhuang,
China
Saturday, June 28, 2008
27/6/08
Cramped in a toyota coaster toaster I was among Chinese heading to Longji (aka Dragon's Backbone) rice terraces. The mountain side was carved apart in the 13th century. The highest rice paddy is 1200 meters high. The vertical difference in the terraces is as high as 800 meters. We arrived at
11am when clouds still covered some of the peaks. First stop was the Huanglo Yao long hair village. A classic tourist trap but there is some resemblance to past centuries. We continued on bus further up the mountain side. The last km needed to be done on foot. As you can see, lovely views, if not a little hazy. For lunch I enjoyed local ginger chicken & rice cooked enclosed in bamboo on a BBQ.
Taking local transport from the park proved interesting
1. Huangluo Yao Village & the long haired ladies
. Unable to get an overnight sleeper to my next destination direct, I just tried to get as close as I could instead. The next stop provided a barrier that was always overcome. Bus from Lingji to Longsheng, then to Sanjiang. Taxi 16kms to train station sleeper train to Huahua arriving midnight. Taxi-bus to Fenghaung, arrive final destination 3.30am. Managed a direct route after all!The drive was not so bad though. As well as the stunning scenery I got to see the funny side of the locals. Like the guy who bought a large fresh fish only for it to jump out the bag onto the main bus gangway. Thankfully no fishy smell.
There were a few landslips over parts of the road, most likely the result of the bad weather & earthquake they had received. Also met some nice Chinese people. At the Sanjiang train station one guy I spoke to about football, Japanese rivalry & China.
