Rice terraces are hilly or mountainous slopes claimed from nature for cultivation, usually by minority peoples. Some are hundreds (or even thousands) of years old. They make spectacular places for hiking and photography. We have listed, according to popularity, China's best five rice terraces, so you can choose the most suitable area based on your itinerary.
1. The Longji Rice Terraces — Best in All Four Seasons
Longji rice terraces- Chinese: 龙脊梯田 lóngjǐ tītián 'Dragon's back terraced fields'
- Location: Heping District, Longsheng County, Guilin Prefecture, about 80 kilometers (50 miles) north of Guilin city.
The Longji Rice Terraces (a.k.a. the Longsheng Rice Terraces) have become one of the most important tourist destinations in Guilin.
Best Time to Visit
The Longji Terraces are worthy of visiting four times in different seasons. For mirror-like irrigated terraces, go mid-April to late June; for green terraces, go July to mid-September; for golden terraces, go late September to mid-November; and for silvery-white terraces go late December to early February after snow fall.
Top Things to Do
There are numerous Zhuang and Yao villages among the terraces. The wooden houses there are all built in unique Zhuang or Yao style, and the women there all wear typical ethnic clothing. Experience their ethnic cultures and customs. Hiking around the rice terraces is really popular. The massive tiers upon tiers of rice terraces attract numerous photographers every year.
Sunrise over the Longji Rice Terraces should not be missed. Hotels are available among the terraces. Stay at least one night there, get up early in the morning (as early as 4 o'clock in the morning), hike to a high place, and wait for the moment when the sunshine pierces the horizon.
Read more about Longji Rice Terraces for detail introduction and transportation guide.
Recommended tour:
2. Yuanyang Rice Terraces — Amazing in January and February
Yuanyang Rice Terraces- Chinese: 元阳梯田 Yuányáng Tītián
- Location: Yuanyang County, about 300 kilometers south of Kunmingcity
The Yuanyang Rice Terraces are situated in the southern Ailao Mountains, dug out by the Hani people. Different from the Longji Rice Terraces, the Yuanyang Rice Terraces do not have so many layers, but they are outstanding for their grandiose area with shallower slopes.
Best Time to Visit
After the harvest, when the terraces have been irrigated, is a good time for appreciating Yuanyang's Rice Terraces, and the best time is from January to March, when seas of clouds on the terraces are more likely. In early spring (from late February to March), the terraces are decorated with lots of flowers, including pink peach blossom and white pear blossom. Besides an umbrella, warm clothes are necessary, because the temperature differences there are big.
Top Things to Do
Besides the majority of Hani people, there are some other ethnic groups living in the terraced area, including Yi, Dai, Yao, Zhuang, and Miao. It is said these different minorities reside in different layers according to altitude. Hani-style houses look like mushrooms. They are characteristic minority dwellings, though not as uniform as those in Longji.
The sunrise and sunset views attracts many photographers.
- Read more about Yuanyang Rice Terraces for detail introduction and transportation guide.
- Recommended tour: 6-Day Yuanyang Rice Terraces Breaking Tour
3. Jiabang Rice Terraces — Mysterious Terraces with Cloud and Mist
Jiabang Rice Terraces- Chinese: 加榜梯田 jiābǎng Tītián
- Location: about 80 kilometers (50 miles) from Congjiang Town (从江县城), and Congjiang Town is about 257 kilometers (160 miles) from Kaili city
Guizhou Province is a good place to experience ethnic cultures and customs; there are many ethnic villages in Kaili and Southeast Guizhou. There are five notable rice terrace areas in Guizhou, and the most famous one is the Jiabang Rice Terraces in Southeast Guizhou.
Best Time to Visit
You can appreciate mirror-like terraces from April to June, and gold terraces from September to October. The wet weather gifts Jiabang Rice Terraces mysterious scenery with cloud and mist almost every early morning.
Top Things to Do
In Jiabang, the picture sque natural scenery of rice terraces is combined with the quaint wooden Miao houses. The Jiabang Rice Terraces were cut from the hilly terrain in hundreds of layers.
Transportation Guide
The Jiabang Rice Terraces are about 80 kilometers (50 miles) from Congjiang Town (从江县城), and Congjiang Town is about 257 kilometers (160 miles) from Kaili. You can now take a bullet train to Congjiang. If you plan to have an in-depth tour of Kaili to visit the ethnic villages, you could extend your tour to Jiabang. Due to the complicated transportation, independent travel is not recommended.
- You can contact us to have us tailor-make a tour including Jiabang's Rice Terraces.
4. Ziquejie Rice Terraces — Magnificent but Remote Rice Terraces
- Chinese: 紫鹊界梯田 zǐquèjiè Tītián
- Location: Shuiche District, Xinhua County, Loudi Prefecture, about 285 kilometers west of Changsha City
The Ziquejie Rice Terraces are an almost undis covered heritage of ancient rice farming. They are honored with the appellation "the Terrace Kingdoms", because of their variety and large areas (the largest single terrace covers about 2 square kilometers or 250 acres).
Besti Time to Visit
From March to early May, you can see mirror-like irrigated terraces; From late May to early June, you can see green grain seedling terraces; And in October, you can see golden terraces.
Transportation Guide
Ziquejie is situated in Shuiche District, Xinhua County, Loudi Prefecture, about 285 kilometers west of Changsha City (about a 6-hour drive, so prepare for possible carsickness). You should spend at least one night. Prepare for more basic accommodation conditions in Shuiche or in Xinhua (the best hotel is two-star).
- In Hunan Province, there are another two highlights worth a visit: Wulingyuan Scenic Area, in Zhangjiajie, and Fenghuang Ancient Town.
Comparison: The Ziquejie Rice Terraces have the complexity of the Longji Rice Terraces, the magnificence of the Yuanyang Rice Terraces, and the steepness of the Banaue Rice Terraces in the Philippines. Similar to the Longji Rice Terraces, the Ziquejie Rice Terraces show different landscapes in different seasons.
- You can contact us to have us tailor-make a tour including Ziquejie Rice Terraces.
5. Yunhe Rice Terraces — China's Most Beautiful Terraces
- Chinese: 云和梯田 yúnhé Tītián
- Location: Chongtou District of Yunhe County, Lishui Prefecture, Zhejiang Province, East China, only 5 kilometers (3 miles) from Lishui City
The Yunhe Rice Terraces are recognized as the most beautiful rice terraces in China. The entire area of the Yunhe Terraces is 51 square kilometers (20 square miles), covering mountains, hills, and valleys.
Best Time to Visit
From May to late June, you can see For mirror-like irrigated terraces; in October, you an see golden terraces. You can see with seas of clouds in the early morning, especially during spring and summer. Being further north, you are more likely to see terrace scenery with snow or rime in the winter. In the Yunhe Rice Terraces, the best times for photography are early morning and at dusk.
Top Things to Do
The altitude of the terraces ranges from 200 to 1,400 meters (650 to 4,600 feet), which gives Yunhe Rice Terraces amazing scenery. It's a good place for you to hike and experience minority culture, if you don't want to go southwest China. But the scenery is not as spectacular as Longji and Yuanyang terrace fields.
Rare minority culture: You can learn about and experience the culture and customs of the She ethnic group (畲族), a minority with a very small population in China.
Transportation Guide
The terraces are in Chongtou District of Yunhe County, Lishui Prefecture, Zhejiang Province, East China, only 5 kilometers (3 miles) from Lishui City. It is takes about 2 hours from Wenzhou to the Yunhe Rice Terraces, and 3 hours from Hangzhou to the terraces.
- You can check out our popular Hangzhou tours to see other popular attractions around Hangzhou.
Need Some More Help with a Rice Terraces Tour?...
If you are interested in visiting the beautiful rice terrace fields in China, please see the most popular tours below for inspiration:
- Guilin Li River and Terraced Fields Photography Tour
- Classic Wonders — 11 Days Beijing, Xi'an, Guilin/Yangshuo, Shanghai Private Tour
Your Tour can Be Tailor-Made
Not interested in the above tours? You can tailor-make your own unique tour by telling us your interests and requirements. We will help you design a perfect trip.