Longsheng Rice Terraces
Trip Start
Aug 28, 2008
1
28
29
Trip End
Nov 11, 2008
Longsheng,
Guangxi Zhuang,
China
Monday, October 20, 2008
Before arriving at the rice terraces we left our large bags at a random hotel on the way because in order to get to our hotel we had to trek for an hour up a steep path. The whole area around our hotel is covered by rice terraces cut into the mountains and although the rice has harvested, so the terraces arent at there most attractive it is still impressive to see. In the afternoon we walked up the mountain to a couple of scenic viewpoints and in the evening played cards which is something we have done alot of on this trip! Despite the beauty of the area it is changing at a rapid pace as tourism gethers pace and more guesthouses are built. I wouldn't be surprised if soon the local people stop working the fields and switch to the more profitable tourism industry which would ruin the countryside so Im glad I get to see it now.
21/10
Today we left our hotel and took a five hour trek over the mountains to another village where we would be staying for the night. Once you get out of the tourist area the scenery is beautiful. On the way we stopped at a village where they have no road connections and use horses to get supplies in and out of the village. A couple of local children about seven or eight befriended us and followed us for about thirty minutes, they were alot quicker going up and down the mountain paths than us.
Eventually (and soaking wet from the humidity) we reached our hotel in a much smaller and less commercial village village, it only had a couple of guesthouses. All the buildings here (and in Chengyang) are made out of wood so it can be very noisey at night because you can here everyone in the other rooms so my earplugs have been very useful over the last four days. Only problem is that I dont always here my alarm in the morning!
