Ping’an Village
Babu District, Ping'an Village, Guanxi
Ping’an Village is one of three main villages that comprise the Longji Terraced Fields Scenic Area northwest of Guilin. The terraced rice paddies here rank among the region’s most spectacular as they spill down the mountainside toward a river. The village itself is home to a few hundred people living much as they did centuries ago.
The traditional wooden houses in Ping’an are crowded together, and many women still wear traditional clothing—colorful scarves and embroidered blouses—to work in the rice fields. Due to its spectacular setting perched above the picturesque Longji Rice Terraces, Ping’an is a popular stop on just about every guided tour to the area. Many itineraries include the hike up to the village for a chance to snap some photos, as well as opportunities to learn more about the Yao and Zhuang ethnic minorities who live in Longsheng. The village is also a popular spot to spend the night and watch a sunrise over the rice terraces from a nearby overlook, such as Seven Stars Around the Moon or the Nine Dragons and Five Tigers.
Ping’an Village is a popular spot for photographers and those looking for a rural escape from Guilin or Yangshuo.
Don’t forget your camera; the scenery here is nothing short of spectacular.
Wear comfortable, sturdy shoes for the hike up to the village.
Temperatures in the rice terraces near Ping’an tend to be a bit cooler than in Guilin.
Always ask permission before taking photos of village residents.
It’s easy to get to Ping’an by taking the bus to Guilin, then switching to another bus leaving from the same terminal to Longsheng. Buses leave regularly, and the whole journey takes about three hours. From Longsheng, it’s a 20-minute walk up the hill to Ping’an.
Views from Ping’an are spectacular any time of the year. In spring, water glitters on the newly irrigated fields like silver ribbons; in summer, the bright green of the growing rice takes over; during harvest time in fall, the slopes are golden; and in winter, everything is covered in a layer of frosty white.
If you have time for a meal during your time in the village, be sure to try bamboo rice. This local specialty is made by stuffing a bamboo tube with spiced rice, meat, and sometimes small pieces of taro or pumpkin, then sealing it within a corn husk and baking it on a fire. Top it off with some preserved pork and spicy chili sauce.
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