Ethnic tribes and Longji's breathtaking rice terraces

This fascinating full-day excursion takes you up into the Chinese Highlands to ethnic tribes and breathtaking rice terraces.

You drive from Yangshuo to the village Huangluo Yao, located on the banks of the Jinsha River. This is where the red Yao tribe lives, and the village is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as “The village with the world’s longest hair”. The Yao women’s beautiful black hair measures up to 2 metres long and weighs up to 1.5 kg. For the women, their long hair is a symbol of prosperity and a long life. The women only have one hair cut during their lifetime, and that is when they turn 18 – a symbol that they are now adults and ready to marry.

There are rules on how women should wear their hair. An unmarried woman has to cover her hair with a black scarf, while a married woman without children must wear her hair in two plaits. A married woman with children, on the other hand, has to wrap her hair around her head like a turban with a bun in front.

Until 1987, women’s hair was considered sacred. When the woman was married, only the husband got to see her beautiful, long hair hanging loosely – and only on their wedding day. If a man should accidentally see the unmarried woman’s hair, he would have to spend the next three years with her and her family. However, this was changed as tourism found its way to the village.

During the visit, you learn about the secret to their thick, healthy and shiny hair, which remains black.

After this exciting visit, you drive further up to the village of Ping’an. The village is inhabited by the Zhuang tribe, which has lived in the area for more than 650 years. You go for a walk through the village, where you gain a good insight into how life is lived here. You should be aware that there are a lot of steps in the village.

It is traditional for several generations to live together in the more than 100-year-old wooden houses, which are built over several floors. Livestock such as pigs, cows and horses lives on the ground floor. On the first floor, there is a kitchen, and the upper floor is used as sleeping quarters. You may be lucky enough to be invited into the home of one of the local families going about their daily chores.

Ping’an is famous for its location in the midst of Longji’s stunning rice terraces, which stretch as far as the eye can see. Longji means dragon’s back, and that is exactly what the curved rice terraces look like. It’s not difficult to understand why they are said to be the world’s most beautiful and why they attract poets, photographers and tourists from near and far. They are massive, breathtaking and overwhelming! The terraces, which cling to the steep mountain slopes at an altitude of 300–1100 metres, were created by the ancestors of the Zhuang tribe

From the village, you walk up steep paths along the scenic rice terraces. The first stop is the “The Seven Stars and Moon” viewpoint. The view from up here is indescribable, and you feel unusually small in relation to the huge mountains surrounding you. Have a little rest, enjoy the view and make sure you take lots of pictures! You then wander on to the next viewpoint, “The nine dragons and five tigers”, where the view is every bit as impressive. From here, there is not only a spectacular view of the breathtaking rice fields, but also of Ping’an village.

You then head back to the village and you are driven back to Yangshuo.

Lunch is included and served at a local farmer’s restaurant.

This excursion is open to TourCompass’ own guests only.

We recommend that you book the excursion from home, either when booking the tour or at least 3 weeks before departure. The excursion can also be booked by the guide at the destination, subject to availability.