Stickier than Yao People

This story was posted under the categories: Big Asia Trip, China, Hiking

After being on a side track for a week we decided to go and visit another wow tourist attraction on our way… the Dragon Backbone Rice Terraces.

Described in travelguides as THE must see place in China, especially in October with its spectacular vistas while the rice is stunningly golden. Who would not go there??? So after a week of almost no tourists, we arrived after another busmarathon of 13 hours in Longsheng.

Another 2 hours busride took us to Ping’an, the place from where to start our 5 hour walk through the rice fields. As we started walking we were confronted with another Chinese specialty… sticky chinese. As soon as you start walking Chinese ladies offering guided tours and little prularia start hasseling and even following you to buy something. As you can see on the picture they go to great lengths to “help” you. Every tourist gets his personal buying assistant and is followed by at least one lady.

We got rid of them after some arguing, but as you can see the other people had more troubles losing them and were followed for the rest of the 5 hours walk.

Furthermore the rice terraces were beautifull, but eventhough not stunningly golden and as always covered with fog. Of course not having our personal guide and the lack of roadsigns on our way gave the walk an adventurous edge. We climbed “the ladder to heaven” and were rewarded with larger non tourist exploited rice terraces. If you ever visit Longsheng, you shouldn’t go to Ping’an (which is the tourist side) but take the bus a bit further to Jenking and you’ll find a more off the track area, with nicer terraces and less nosy touts.