Terraced rice fields

Long ji rice fields

View more photos 

Arrived in Guilin after our first experience of night travel through China, we travelled from Guangzhou to Guilin by coach, slept more than I thought I would. Decided on booking a tour to Long ji rice fields. Had an excellent day and luckily met Shuang on the trip who became our translator for the day. We stopped at a Minority village first, the Yao minority, the women keep their hair very long, in fact after the age of 18 they never cut it so it all gets piled on top of their heads, they did a show for us and gave us a "tea" that was actually soup. Then they chose three men from the audience for a pretend marriage ceremony, quite funny as the custom is to pinch the men on the bum if they like them!

After the village we were dropped off at the bottom of the slope towards the rice fields, this was really in the country and the air was a bit fresher without too much smog. On the way up (about 20 minutes walk) there were small Chinese canteen style restaurants, like being in someone's kitchen and shops and stalls by the side of the path. The views from the top were amazing, terraced fields as far as the eye could see, some with water that glistened in the sun. We had lunch up there, a huge fish was ordered which apparently is caught in the rice fields!? On the way back from the country we stopped at Dr. Tea and saw them make some typical teas which was not pleasant, like almost all the tea here so far tastes of mud.  A really good day.