Gorgeous Guangxi

Happy Autumn!

Yao Women of Dazhai Village

Guangxi Province is a 2 hour flight southwest of Shanghai.  In late September we take advantage of the three day Zhong Qiu Jie, or Mid-Autumn Festival, and travel to two magnificent areas: Longsheng Rice Terraces, and Yangshuo

Harvest time

Dragon's Backbone Rice Terraces

The rice is almost ready
for harvest

We first head to the spectacular vistas of Dragon's Backbone Rice Terraces.  The rice is just about ready to harvest.  We stay in a simple inn, Wisdom Inn, run by a Shanghainese woman.  The town of Dazhai is tiny. Very refreshing to be away from the crowds!

Called Dragon's Backbone Rice Terraces
 because in some seasons they look like the twisty scales of dragon's back.

We trek from village to village in the Dragon's Backbone Rice Terrace

Dazhai, laid back Yao Minority Village where we stay

In the rice fields with new Chinese friends


We then travel 3 hours south in a taxi to spend two more nights at our next destination:  Yangshuo.  The karst mountain peaks are just stunning.  Mystical and magical, we are in awe of God's creation.  We take a bamboo raft down to Yangshuo.

Two hour float down Li River

We stay at the Yangshuo Mountain Retreat; very affordable  @ $100 per night, with this view! An American educator started this wonderful retreat in Yangshuo.  He employs all local workers.  It was a relaxing place to retreat and reflect on our time in China.  We have only two more months in China!

We experience one of the most beautiful bike rides ever! 

Water buffalo sighting from bikes

Biking through fields and mountains

Our bike ride leads to a 600 year old bridge.

Mystical Mountains of Yangshuo, Heavenly.



For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods.  In His hands are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to Him.  Psalm 95: 3-4

Next Up:  Vietnam