This week I’m featuring great photograph and story from Dragon’s Backbone rice terraces in China taken by Stefan and Sebastien, a gay couple behind Nomadic Boys Blog.
Those to crazy Boys quit their lives and jobs in London back in June 2014 to eat their way around the world and have been in Asia since.
You can follow their adventures on Instagram and Facebook.
Photo Story: Dragon’s Backbone Rice Terraces
“Yes Stefan, I swear I saw the mighty Chinese Dragon…right over there, see?”
The photo is taken from the beautiful Longji (Dragon’s Backbone) Rice Terraces in China’s southern Guangxi province in the Longsheng County.
Longji means “Dragon’s Backbone” and is named because the rice terraces look like the scales on the back of a dragon when the paddy fields are full of water in the spring.
We were there in late August time when the terraces were a lush green.
A random fact we learnt – the word “paddy” (ie the rice paddy fields) is derived from the Malay word, “padi”, meaning rice plant and has nothing to do with the Irish as we initially thought.
We stayed a week in the rice terraces – a peaceful respite from the smog of the Chinese megacities.
On one morning we did an early hike up in the middle of the night to watch the incredible sunrise over the rice terraces. Trekking up in the dark with torchlight is quite romantic.
But then the sunlight breaking out slowly over the rice terraces was one of the most magical and memorable moments of our big trip in Asia
These rice terraces are also impressive because they are an agricultural wonder. They rise up to just over 1,100 metres into the clouds.
They are entirely man-made, built over 650 years ago. Their structure has been maintained this way since.
Each terrace was carved out and maintained by local farmers using basic digging tools.
There are numerous villages situated around the Longji rice terraces, which are home to the Zhuang and Yao ethnic minorities.
Most of the houses there are built in their unique wooden Zhuang or Yao style from bamboo.
The old ladies of the nearby Zhuang and Yao villages were always out in their numbers attending to the large tourist trade visiting the Longji rice terraces.
And of course a word about the food. In the rice terraces, bamboo is plentiful. So, as well as using it to build their homes, locals use bamboo as a cooking technique.
One particularly yummy meal was barbequed bamboo style chicken with and rice served in the bamboo it was cooked in.
The Longsheng Rice Terraces (Dragon’s Backbone) are located in Longsheng County, about 100 kilometres from Guilin, Guangxi, China.
The terraced fields are built along the slope winding from the riverside up to the mountain top, between 600 to 800 metres above sea level.
Longji (Dragon’s Backbone) Terraced Rice Fields received their name because the rice terraces resemble a dragon’s scales, while the summit of the mountain range looks like the backbone of the dragon.
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Oh wow, this is absolutely stunning. I would love to visit China some day.
Thanks for sharing (and for linking up to the #SHINEbloghop).
Wishing you a lovely week.
xoxo
Jennifer recently posted…How to Plan the Perfect Mom Retreat in 5 Easy Steps!
Yeah, China is high on my list as well!
Marysia recently posted…Friday Lens Affair #159
I’ve seen the terracing in Sapa but not in China. I think rural China has a lot of sights I would like to see and this is definitely one of them.
budget jan recently posted…NebotiÄnik Skyscraper and a walk in the park in Ljubljana
I have seen them in many places but China is on my list too!
Marysia recently posted…Friday Lens Affair #159
The rice terraces in China have been a long must-see on my list! Loved seeing this incredible photo and reading about the experience of hiking and viewing these man-made landscapes. Hard to believe they have been around for hundreds of years!
Brooke of Passport Couture recently posted…The Story of Hand Block Printing
I so want to visit this place and Boys did a great job with pictures and the story :)
Marysia recently posted…Friday Lens Affair #159
Amazing photo! It looks almost unreal.
Totally!
Marysia recently posted…Friday Lens Affair #159
Love the photos and the story behind it.
Ruth recently posted…Barcelona’s Markets: A Burst of Color
Can’t Help but agree Girl :)
Marysia recently posted…Friday Lens Affair #159
Thanks for sharing with the Let’s Get Real party.
Gaye recently posted…10 Healthy Eating Hacks for Busy Women + Free Printable Checklist
Thanks for stopping by :)
Marysia recently posted…Friday Lens Affair #159
What an incredible story! How amazing to travel like that.
To travel is amazing in general :)
Marysia recently posted…Friday Lens Affair #159
Thanks for linking to Monday Writes with your rice story
much love…
gillena recently posted…Monday WRites 67
My pleasure, glad you like it and thanks for stopping by :)
Marysia recently posted…Friday Lens Affair #159
Love this story and I can imagine myself being here, watching the sunrise – brilliant! I love China and it’s people and I have vowed to return one day and when I do, I will be sure to look up the Dragon’s backbone!
I have never been myself but it is a big dream to visit :)
Marysia recently posted…Friday Lens Affair #159
Love it! Thanks so much for featuring us :)