Longji Rice Terraces

The Longji Rice Terraces — meaning "Dragon's Backbone" — are a magnificent feat of agricultural engineering carved into the steep mountain slopes of Longsheng County in northern Guangxi over the past 700 years by the Zhuang and Yao minority peoples. The terraces climb from 300 to 1,180 metres elevation, wrapping around every contour of the mountainside in curves that mimic the scales of a dragon. During the growing season the paddies fill with water and reflect the sky in a thousand silver mirrors; at planting and harvest they glow in brilliant emerald greens and golden yellows. The hillside villages — notably Ping An (Zhuang) and Dazhai (Yao) — are built directly on the terraces, connected by steep stone-flagged footpaths. The Yao women of Dazhai are particularly known for their extraordinarily long hair, traditionally never cut after the age of 18 and kept coiled under headwraps. The most dramatic photography occurs at sunrise on misty mornings when cloud fills the valleys and only the terrace ridgelines emerge.