Need info. on visiting Dragon's Spine Terraces near Yangshuo
Apr 3rd, 2011, 09:35 PM
#1
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Need info. on visiting Dragon's Spine Terraces near Yangshuo
We'll be on a pkg. tour that will arrive in Yangshuo probably mid-day after we do a 3 hr. boat tour from Guiin to Yangshuo. At least we will have the afternoon free when in Yangshuo to do whatever we please.
How much time would be needed to visit the Dragon's Spine Rice Terraces from Langshuo? Is that someplace we would need to book a local tour for, or are there other, easy modes of transportation that would take us to the area? I understand there is a path or something that people hike to get to the top. Is it more of a walk or more of a strenuous hike? Are there other, closer, similar places that are somewhat like these terraces that would be easier to reach for someone w/out a full free day?
Thanks for any help or info.
How much time would be needed to visit the Dragon's Spine Rice Terraces from Langshuo? Is that someplace we would need to book a local tour for, or are there other, easy modes of transportation that would take us to the area? I understand there is a path or something that people hike to get to the top. Is it more of a walk or more of a strenuous hike? Are there other, closer, similar places that are somewhat like these terraces that would be easier to reach for someone w/out a full free day?
Thanks for any help or info.
Apr 3rd, 2011, 10:01 PM
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When you refer to the "Dragon's..." do you mean the Longsheng rice terraces? I'm not an expert on the area and I've only visited Longsheng(+Guilin and Yanghsuo) once but if you did mean that you wanted to visit Longhseng then it's closer to Guilin than Yangshuo.
Quite an easy hike up and on cement path, or steps so making it relatively easy. I would say that if you're moderately fit then you can take your time and leisurely climb to the top for the view.
I have some family pictures from Longsheng and if you're interested then you can gauge how hard the hike is form it.
http://khun-pook.smugmug.com/Other/C...88427352_85tRZ
Quite an easy hike up and on cement path, or steps so making it relatively easy. I would say that if you're moderately fit then you can take your time and leisurely climb to the top for the view.
I have some family pictures from Longsheng and if you're interested then you can gauge how hard the hike is form it.
http://khun-pook.smugmug.com/Other/C...88427352_85tRZ
Apr 4th, 2011, 06:59 AM
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mlb...also called "The Dragon's Backbone"...same thing. We had some very good viewing locales just north of Longji (see pix)...hike is moderate from there. We used Jade Leo's tour who supplied us with car, guide and driver from Guilin. An entire day did it for us, as were based in Guilin. Here are the pix of both Guilin, the Li River cruise, Yangshuo , the famous "night show", and the trip the next day to the Longshen-Longji region. I'll also toss in shots of Xian, Shanghai and BJ...when you get bored hit "delete". Have an exciting, educational, rewarding, fun, great trip.
https://picasaweb.google.com/stuartt...erAndVicinity#
https://picasaweb.google.com/stuarttower/ChinaXian2007#
https://picasaweb.google.com/stuartt...naBeijing2007#
https://picasaweb.google.com/stuartt...hanghai200702#
The above (2007) were taken on my second visit to China ...previously spent a month in 1984 and the differences were nothing short of remarkable.
stu
https://picasaweb.google.com/stuartt...erAndVicinity#
https://picasaweb.google.com/stuarttower/ChinaXian2007#
https://picasaweb.google.com/stuartt...naBeijing2007#
https://picasaweb.google.com/stuartt...hanghai200702#
The above (2007) were taken on my second visit to China ...previously spent a month in 1984 and the differences were nothing short of remarkable.
stu
Apr 4th, 2011, 11:03 AM
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mlbcruiser,
If I am reading your question right, it seems you will be in Yangshuo after the boat trip from Guilin and want to fill the afternoon with a visit to the rice terraces. Dragon's Backbone is closer to Guilin--about 1 hour north of Guilin and so 2 1/2 hours from Yangshuo. It really isn't feasible to do a trip from Yangshuo for the afternoon unless you can go directly back from the rice terraces that evening to Guilin, which is where I am supposing you are staying.
We hired a taxi from Yangshuo to Ping'An (cost about Y700 for the day). We left Yangshuo at 7am, hiked around Ping'An and were dropped off at 5pm at the airport in Guilin. It was a combination of steep steps and dirt paths around the fields and village. It was spectacular, although we were there after the harvest. It is a unique environment but merits a day trip (and even overnight if you love to hike).
I would suggest exploring Yangshuo for the afternoon instead (Moon Hill, bamboo raft trip down the Yulong).
Have a great trip!
If I am reading your question right, it seems you will be in Yangshuo after the boat trip from Guilin and want to fill the afternoon with a visit to the rice terraces. Dragon's Backbone is closer to Guilin--about 1 hour north of Guilin and so 2 1/2 hours from Yangshuo. It really isn't feasible to do a trip from Yangshuo for the afternoon unless you can go directly back from the rice terraces that evening to Guilin, which is where I am supposing you are staying.
We hired a taxi from Yangshuo to Ping'An (cost about Y700 for the day). We left Yangshuo at 7am, hiked around Ping'An and were dropped off at 5pm at the airport in Guilin. It was a combination of steep steps and dirt paths around the fields and village. It was spectacular, although we were there after the harvest. It is a unique environment but merits a day trip (and even overnight if you love to hike).
I would suggest exploring Yangshuo for the afternoon instead (Moon Hill, bamboo raft trip down the Yulong).
Have a great trip!
Apr 4th, 2011, 11:29 AM
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Hanuman, old friend....you know what I meant....purely figure of speech.
I'm sure you enjoyed that visit as we did...has to be seen in person to fully appreciate the views, of course. By the way, my photo of the long haired Dong/Yao women was the L.A. Times Sunday Travel Section Picture of the week last month.
best wishes
stu
I'm sure you enjoyed that visit as we did...has to be seen in person to fully appreciate the views, of course. By the way, my photo of the long haired Dong/Yao women was the L.A. Times Sunday Travel Section Picture of the week last month.
best wishes
stu
Apr 14th, 2011, 12:48 PM
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LvL;
Did you hire the taxi as transportation only or was the driver also a guide of sorts? I have a 4:30pm flight from Guilin to Shanghai in October, and will have been in Yangshuo for 3 nights prior. I was thinking of doing this type of day trip as you did-leave Yangshuo in the morning and stop at Ping'An and the rice terraces on the way to the Guilin Airport. With arriving at the airport by 3:00pm do you think this is feasible in one day? Would someone at the hotel be able to arrange this trip?
Did you hire the taxi as transportation only or was the driver also a guide of sorts? I have a 4:30pm flight from Guilin to Shanghai in October, and will have been in Yangshuo for 3 nights prior. I was thinking of doing this type of day trip as you did-leave Yangshuo in the morning and stop at Ping'An and the rice terraces on the way to the Guilin Airport. With arriving at the airport by 3:00pm do you think this is feasible in one day? Would someone at the hotel be able to arrange this trip?
Apr 14th, 2011, 08:36 PM
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Hi Susiesan,
Our driver was organized though our hotel (Li River Retreat) and was for driving only--not a guide.We left at 7am from Yangshuo and arrived at Ping'An about 10. You actually drive an hour or so past Guilin so it is not "on the way" to the airport. We had about 5 hours to hike and have lunch in Ping'An. The driver waited for us at the entrance to Ping'An. It took just over an hour to get back to Guilin airport, arriving about 2 hours in advance of our flight at 6:30.
You could certainly do it for a 4:30 flight although you would have less time. But time enough to get the feel of the place (will you be there over the harvest?). We really wanted to see the terraces so sacrificed the day and a lot of money to do so--others may not think it is worth the short time you have.
Cheers!
Our driver was organized though our hotel (Li River Retreat) and was for driving only--not a guide.We left at 7am from Yangshuo and arrived at Ping'An about 10. You actually drive an hour or so past Guilin so it is not "on the way" to the airport. We had about 5 hours to hike and have lunch in Ping'An. The driver waited for us at the entrance to Ping'An. It took just over an hour to get back to Guilin airport, arriving about 2 hours in advance of our flight at 6:30.
You could certainly do it for a 4:30 flight although you would have less time. But time enough to get the feel of the place (will you be there over the harvest?). We really wanted to see the terraces so sacrificed the day and a lot of money to do so--others may not think it is worth the short time you have.
Cheers!
Apr 16th, 2011, 08:28 PM
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Hanuman and tower, thanks so much for the great pictures! I am SO disappointed that we won't be able to visit the rice terraces.
Lvl, we'll have just one night in Guillin (plus we won't arrive in Guillin until mid to late evening). The next morning we'll then ride down the Li River to Yangshuo, where we'll spend the night. We'll have an afternoon free in Yangshuo. Guess we are just stuck. We MIGHT use our afternoon in Langshuo to do the raft trip down the Yulong River. We will probably just wait until we get there and assess our options.
Thanks for all the replies.
Lvl, we'll have just one night in Guillin (plus we won't arrive in Guillin until mid to late evening). The next morning we'll then ride down the Li River to Yangshuo, where we'll spend the night. We'll have an afternoon free in Yangshuo. Guess we are just stuck. We MIGHT use our afternoon in Langshuo to do the raft trip down the Yulong River. We will probably just wait until we get there and assess our options.
Thanks for all the replies.
Apr 29th, 2011, 07:21 AM
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Lvl:
We would be doing this day trip to Longsheng on Oct. 15. Is that harvest time? The hotel I'm looking at staying with, Outside Inn, will organize this trip like you did, and their cost is 700RMB. Perhaps we could get the driver to leave earlier, say 6:00am to have more time there.
We would be doing this day trip to Longsheng on Oct. 15. Is that harvest time? The hotel I'm looking at staying with, Outside Inn, will organize this trip like you did, and their cost is 700RMB. Perhaps we could get the driver to leave earlier, say 6:00am to have more time there.
Apr 30th, 2011, 09:12 PM
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Susiesan: We were there a week after your date, missing the harvest by about 3 weeks. So I suspect you will also miss it as it's usually in the last weeks of September or early October. However, even though the harvest was done, the landscape was still very unique.
If you left at 6am, you'd arrive by 9. You would have to leave Ping'An by 2pm, so would have 5 hours to explore, probably enough to appreciate the essence of the place. You could certainly walk many of the trails, enjoy the views and stop for lunch. You'd also be there in the morning before the bus tours arrive. Again, there will only be watery ditches where the rice was harvested, but you can get a sense of how the people live (ignoring of course the many tourist gift stalls lining the walk to/from the village!)
If you left at 6am, you'd arrive by 9. You would have to leave Ping'An by 2pm, so would have 5 hours to explore, probably enough to appreciate the essence of the place. You could certainly walk many of the trails, enjoy the views and stop for lunch. You'd also be there in the morning before the bus tours arrive. Again, there will only be watery ditches where the rice was harvested, but you can get a sense of how the people live (ignoring of course the many tourist gift stalls lining the walk to/from the village!)
