Longji Rice Terraces & Yao Villages Private Tour from Guilin

Yao women in Huangluo grow their hair as long as 2 meters, and you'll learn why.

A 9-hour private tour from Guilin to the Longji Rice Terraces, visiting Huangluo (where Yao women maintain extraordinary hair traditions) and Ping'an Village (home to Zhuang and Yao minorities). Your private guide and driver collect you from your hotel, airport or train station, lead you through the terraced fields carved into steep slopes over centuries, and return you by evening. Seven route and activity options let you choose between car-based stops, cable car access, or hiking routes at different villages.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Longji Rice Terraces and Villages

• Pick up from Guilin or Yangshuo
• Drive to Long Hair Village, Huangluo
• Learn about Yao women's hair culture
• Travel to Ping'an Village
• Enjoy traditional lunch in Ping'an
• Walk through Longji Rice Terraces
• Return to Guilin or Yangshuo

The Experience

How do you get from Guilin to rice terraces that sit on near-vertical mountainsides without spending half the day in transit? Your private driver picks you up at 8:30am from your Guilin hotel, Yangshuo accommodation, or the airport or train station—roughly two hours from Guilin, or just over an hour from Yangshuo. The air-conditioned vehicle handles the winding approach road while your guide briefs you on what you're about to see.

Your first stop is Huangluo, known as Long Hair Village. Yao women here grow their hair to lengths that reach 2 meters (6.6 feet), a practice tied to their cultural identity and family lineage. You'll spend time learning about Yao lifestyles and traditions before moving on to Ping'an Village, which sits directly within the Longji terraces themselves. The village still has traditional wooden houses, and both Zhuang and Yao families work the same rice fields their ancestors carved into the mountainside centuries ago. A traditional lunch is available in the village (at your own cost), then your guide walks you through the terraces, explaining how these landscapes were built step by step across generations on slopes so steep that flat ground barely exists.

Seven options let you shape the day around what appeals to you: visit both villages by car, take a cable car up to Dazhai village, hike the Dazhai or Ping'an terraces, trek from Ping'an to Zhuang, or explore on your own with a self-guided option (which does not include the entrance ticket). Depending on which you choose and where you're staying, you'll leave the terraces around 3:30pm (Guilin return) or 4:30pm (Yangshuo), arriving back at your hotel, airport or train station by 5:30pm.

What’s included

• Private car and private guide.
• air-conditioned vehicle.
• Longji terraces entrance ticket (included in most options.
• the self-guided option does not include it).
• hotel, airport or train station pickup and drop-off in Guilin or Yangshuo.

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availableNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by happychinatours

Is this one for you?Choose a hiking option if you want to move through the terraces on foot and feel the scale of the slopes; pick a car-based route if you prefer to cover both villages and rest between stops. The seven options mean you're not locked into someone else's pace—you decide whether the day centers on walking, driving, or a mix of both.

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Top questions

What exactly do Yao women do with their hair in Huangluo?

Yao women in Huangluo grow their hair to extraordinary lengths—some as long as 2 meters (6.6 feet)—as part of their cultural tradition and family identity. You'll visit the village and learn about the practices and beliefs behind this distinctive custom.

Can I hike the rice terraces, or do I have to see them from a vehicle?

You can choose. The tour offers seven options: some include car-based visits to both villages, others feature cable car access to Dazhai, and several are dedicated hiking routes through either the Dazhai or Ping'an terraces, or a trek connecting Ping'an to Zhuang village. Pick the one that matches your pace and fitness level.

How long does it take to get from Guilin to the terraces?

From central Guilin or the airport, the drive is around two hours. From Yangshuo, it's just over an hour. Your private driver handles the route while your guide prepares you for what you'll see.

Is lunch included in the tour?

A traditional lunch is available in Ping'an Village, but it's at your own expense. Your guide can recommend options and help with ordering.

Do I need to speak Chinese, or will my guide speak English?

Your private guide speaks English or Chinese, depending on which you choose at booking. The guide leads you through both villages and the terraces, explaining the landscape and local traditions throughout the day.

What if I'm staying in Yangshuo instead of Guilin—does the tour still work?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are available at hotels in Yangshuo or central Guilin, as well as at Guilin airport or train stations. If you're in Yangshuo, the drive to the terraces is shorter (just over an hour), and you'll return by around 4:30pm.