Ping’an

“Lost luggage?” a voice called out from beneath a towering wooden structure. That’s how my adventure in Ping’an Village began. Ping’an, nestled in the Longsheng Autonomous District about 100km from Guilin, is more than just a village. It’s a living museum of Zhuang culture, a testament to centuries of tradition. Ping’an, also known as Ping’an Zhuang Village, is famous for its breathtaking rice terraces. These iconic landscapes, carved into the mountainsides like giant staircases, were first cultivated during the Yuan Dynasty and completed during the early Qing Dynasty. Imagine generations of Zhuang people, in their distinctive wooden houses, meticulously tending these fields for over 650 years. Ping’an Village itself is a marvel. The three-story wooden buildings, built at the end of the Qing Dynasty, reflect the unique architectural style of the northern Guangxi Zhuang people. Here, amidst the stunning natural beauty, the Zhuang people maintain their vibrant traditions, from their intricate clothing to their daily lives. If you want to delve deeper into their world, Ping’an even has a museum dedicated to the history of the Zhuang minority and the evolution of their remarkable rice terraces. But the real magic lies in the surrounding rice paddies. Two viewpoints offer unparalleled vistas. The first, “Nine Dragons and Five Tigers,” reachable by a scenic hike, provides the highest and most breathtaking perspective of the cascading terraces. The second, “Seven Stars around the Moon,” is a shorter walk from the village, offering a closer look at the intricate patterns of the paddies, a central, moon-like terrace reflecting the sky, encircled by smaller, star-like fields. Ping’an offers modern amenities like guesthouses and restaurants, making it the perfect base for exploring the wider Longji Terraced Fields. So, leave your heavy luggage at the entrance, and prepare to be enchanted by the timeless beauty of Ping’an.