01City Guide
Longji Rice Terraces
龙脊梯田
All Ages
Admission
Adult entrance ticket is usually CNY 80; scenic shuttle, Jinkeng cable car, and Huangluo performance cost separately.
Typical Visit
1 full day for one main area; 2 days for two areas
Quick Facts
Ticket
Included with the Longji Rice Terraces entrance ticket, usually CNY 80; cable car to Golden Buddha Peak is separate.
Hours
Outdoor sunrise viewpoint in Jinkeng Dazhai; stay nearby if you want to arrive before dawn.
Transport
No metro. From Guilin, use a tourist bus or hired car to Longji, then continue to the Jinkeng Dazhai area.
Duration
1-2 hours; longer when linked with nearby Jinkeng viewpoints
Best Time
Apr-Jun for flooded fields; Sep-Oct for golden harvest views
Visitors
All ages
How to Visit
1
Use it as Jinkeng's sunrise viewpoint
Xishan Shaole is Viewpoint No. 1 in Jinkeng Dazhai and is best for sunrise and morning mist.
Tip:It is not directly reached by the Golden Buddha Peak cable car, so treat the routes separately.
2
Stay nearby for an easier sunrise
For an easier sunrise, stay near Xishan Shaole or Tiantou Village. Some guesthouses are only a 10-15 minute walk from the viewpoint.
Tip:This is much more reliable than trying to come up from the lower area before dawn.
3
Link it with Thousand-Layer Terraces
During the day, you can link Xishan Shaole with Thousand-Layer Terraces. There are mountain paths and steps between them.
Tip:Do not make the timing too tight.
4
Decide if Golden Buddha Peak still fits
If you also want Golden Buddha Peak on the same day, decide in advance whether you will use the cable car.
Tip:Covering Xishan Shaole, Thousand-Layer Terraces, and Golden Buddha Peak takes both time and energy.
Highlights
- Xishan Shaole is strongest as a sunrise viewpoint. Morning light through mist makes the terrace layers stand out.
- The view is open, with fewer buildings blocking the main terrace face, so it works well for full valley and terrace-curve photos.
- It is quieter than Golden Buddha Peak and suits travelers who stay overnight and watch the morning slowly change.
- Nearby guesthouses make it easy to combine lodging and early viewing.
- Continuing from here toward Thousand-Layer Terraces gives denser terrace lines.
Insider Tips
✦Do not try to rush up from the lower area at the last minute for sunrise. Mountain roads, parking, and walking time can make you miss the light.
✦The viewpoint can be slippery in the morning, so wear shoes with grip and do not stand near unsafe edges for photos.
✦Heavy fog may hide the sunrise completely, but the terraces can still be worth waiting for after the mist shifts.
✦Xishan Shaole is better for slow viewing than a 10-minute photo stop.
✦If you mainly want an easy broad Jinkeng view, Golden Buddha Peak is better. If you want sunrise, it is worth staying closer to Xishan Shaole.
More Longsheng Attractions
02City Guide
Ping'an Zhuang Village
平安壮寨
All Ages
Admission
Included with the Longji Rice Terraces entrance ticket, usually CNY 80; local shuttles or parking may cost separately.
Typical Visit
3-5 hours; longer with an overnight stay
03City Guide
Jinkeng Dazhai
金坑大寨
All Ages
Admission
Included with the Longji Rice Terraces entrance ticket, usually CNY 80; Jinkeng cable car is usually CNY 55 one-way or CNY 100 round trip.
Typical Visit
Half day for Golden Buddha Peak; 1-2 days for multiple viewpoints
04City Guide
Huangluo Red Yao Village
黄洛红瑶寨
All Ages
Admission
Longji scenic-area entrance ticket is usually CNY 80; Huangluo folk performance is extra and usually around CNY 80.
Typical Visit
1-2 hours without performance; 2-3 hours with show or meal
05City Guide
Longji Ancient Zhuang Village
龙脊古壮寨
All Ages
Admission
Included with the Longji Rice Terraces entrance ticket, usually CNY 80; parking or local transfers may cost separately.
Typical Visit
1-2 hours; 2-3 hours for slow walking and photos
06City Guide
Nine Dragons and Five Tigers Viewpoint
九龙五虎观景台
All Ages
Admission
Included with the Longji Rice Terraces entrance ticket, usually CNY 80; Ping'an sightseeing car costs separately.
Typical Visit
1-2 hours; 3-5 hours with Seven Stars with Moon