Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region is home to large diverse ethnic minorities in China, or the hill tribes. Longji, the land of hill tribes, is located at the north west part of Guangxi province, Longshen county. Longji or the dragon backbone is famous for its terrace padi field. Here resides the Zhuang people, who has laboured on this difficult terrain since the Yuan Dynasty. I was told the tribe was chased off the flat land by other tribes and has no choice but to work on this grueling land. Centuries of hard labours have created an amazing man-made landscpe, the Dragon Backbone terrace rice field that stretch from an altitude of 300 m to 1100m!
Glimpses of the hill village of Ping’an or Safe Haven. I’m fascinated not only by the terraces, but the buildings that hug along the hill. Imagine the amount of strenous labour put in to haul logs and brick all the way up to the hill, to create a safe haven, far from the harrassment of enemies.
Chilis…They love spicy food, just like us! Chilis was originated from the South America and was introduced to the world thanks to Christopher Columbus. Its intriguing how chilis get to this remote place and become a crucial part of their cruisine.
Jagung. Almost every household hangs bunches of jagung by the eaves. The jagung is sun and wind dried, just like ikan masin. Wonder if its going to taste like ikan masin!
Lemang, is not a specialty in Malaysia. People in Lonji is famous for making Lemang too. The difference is one might need to pay a hefty price to sample the lemang here, cos we are of the Tourist tribe!
Trail to the hill top. This sleepy village is never the same ever since the “dragon has awaken” and the door to the dragon land has opened. This little village is perpetually overcrowded with tourist, mainly local Chinese people, even the small trail to the hill top is filled with all sorts of trail peddlers! 
Ping’an Village from atop. I like the traditional builings of this village, especially the uniformity of the roof tile. It basically tells me that this remote village is not so secluded anyway, cos the villager has to go down to town to shop shop for roof tile…
The Land of Hill Tribes