We woke up early the next morning at about 5am. I know, it's crazy to wake up so early while on holidays but we had planned to catch the sunrise at Jinkeng Rice Terraces.
By the time the three of us reached downstairs, Da Jie was already there waiting for us. Yes, she is the same Da Jie who guided us up the rice terraces the evening before to watch the sunset.
For this sunrise, we were heading to Viewing Platform No 1. It was a different platform from the one we went for the sunset the day before, and I was told that this was the best platform to view the sunrise.
It was still dark as we walked up the slab stone steps led by Da Jie. According to her, hiking up the hill would take about 30 minutes. I would however, gave it about 45 minutes as I doubt we were as fit as her and besides, we would be taking lots of photos along the way.
Soon, we reached Tiantou Village. See those wooden houses called Diaojiaolou (吊脚楼)?
If you missed my explanation about Diaojiaolou, you may want to read Part 1.
We passed by another hotel along the way. Forgot to note down the name of the hotel!
There were people, most probably hotel guests sitting outside to watch the sunrise.
But we were not even halfway there yet! There were so many slab stones to climb!
But we could already see the beautiful rice terraces as we climbed.
Oh no! The sun was rising at the horizon! We must move faster!
Then we passed by Mei Jing Lou (美景楼) or Beautiful Scenery Inn. This could be a nice place to stay as it faces the rice terraces. Perhaps I will stay at this inn if I were to go there again!
We walked as fast as we could as the sun was already appearing on the horizon.
But I simply had to stop myself to take all those beautiful landscape scenery that was laid out in front of me!
Look! Even Da Jie was so far ahead of us! She kept urging us to move on or else we would miss the sunrise.
And of course, as expected, we missed the sunrise!! Noooooooo!!!!
We only reached Viewing Platform No. 1 almost one hour later. Not 30 minutes as what Da Jie told us. That's the price to pay for taking too many photos on the way up. But I really had no regrets.
There were already many people enjoying the sunrise there.
If you are a regular reader of my blog, you will know that I am a private person and will not show my face here. But guess what? You now have the luxury to see me in this post!
So here it is.....my shadow! Hahaha!!
Wow! Looked like there was a party here last night judging by the number of LiQ beer bottles here! Or were they placed there for some other reason?
There was a Diaojiaolou hotel here. It was called "Home To Photographers" (影友之家).
Apparently, this hotel is owned by the brother of our host in Dazhai where we stayed. He chatted with us and although I did not know half of what he said, I learnt that this hotel provided the best viewing spot in the entire Jinkeng Rice Terraces!
We asked him if we could go to the first floor to take pictures and he was gracious enough to allow us.
Before that, I took a close up shot of the "hanging foot" of the Diaojiaolou hotel. I was still pretty amazed that a building can be constructed without the use of nails!!
Once we reached the first floor, I was simply awestruck by the breathtaking scenery from the balcony!
See those tiny people walking down the slab stones steps? You may click on the picture for wallpaper size.
This shot from the balcony was a bit dizzying for me. Don't forget I have a fear of heights!
It was beautiful up here. Despite my fear of heights, I found it simply awesome!
The boss of this hotel actually showed us award winning photographs taken from the hotel which really amazed me. (sorry cannot reproduce them here).
It seemed that the scenery of the Jinkeng Rice Terraces changes with each of the four seasons. It was summer season during our visit there. How I wish I could go there during Spring, Autumn and Winter!
Can you see that tiny black spot on the upper right corner of this photo below?
No, it's not a dirt mark on my camera lens. It's actually a spider!
Here, let me show you the big spider web from another angle. Can you see it?
We stayed up there for quite some time enjoying the scenery. By then, the sun was already up in the sky and many people had left.
It was time for us to leave too. It would probably take us just 30 minutes to descend the rice terraces.
But don't bet on it! We love to take lots of photos remember?
I would love to end My Trip to Longji Rice Terraces with this post, but I am afraid there are still many more photos I would like to show you. So do stay tuned for the Final Part coming up next!
FIRST COMMENTER
Hi foong
Hi Bill! Congrats! You are FIRST! : )
Wow what a adventure. i dont know if i could make it all the way to the top so out of shape LOL. You have some great pictures there i wish one day i could view that place first hand. Thanks for the great post i enjoyed the picture and your commentary.
Thanks for your comments Bill! Glad you enjoyed this post : )
5am early meh? Now I woke up t 5am too almost every day. :p
Wow...this da jie was very dedicated huh! :D She woke up early in the morning to guide you guys?
Then in the end you guys needed how many minutes to hike up to the platform? :p
Wow...the view of the Diaojiaolou from below is simply stunning. :D
Wow...you guys really needed to walk quite far to get there huh! :D
Wow...beautiful scenery inn must be expensive huh because you will get to see the best view from there. :D
Wow...the sun rise and landscape is really breathtaking. :D
Yeah! You guys are so damn slow. The old da jie can crawl faster than you guys. :p It clearly showed that you guys are not fit. Hahaha :D
You missed it? Too bad bro. You could have snapped those photos while you are on your way down mah. :D
These people drank so much beer. And yet they could wake up so early? :p
Yeah! How could a building sustain itself without nails? Hmmm...is it safe? :/
OMG...this is so amazing...I mean the scenery. :D I would love to go there one day with my family.
Oops you missed the sunrise oh kesian!
First your sexy hairy legs, then merryn got one of your arm and now your shadow..well well well we can wait..
Hah incy wincy spidey having a swing..eh the "grass" so nice and well trimmed haha. Lovely ricefields..& hill top hotel. tQ
aiya! wake up 5am for sunrise is good wat n worth it! :D
whoaa Da Jie waiting there already so i bet she woke earlier than u guys! LOL!
You walk so slow, is it? XD
omg! 30mins?! i would do that IF im not in sleepy mode. :p
Love the vivid green of the fields. Nice. :)
5am where got early. I everyday oso get up at 5am. LOL
yea nice view! :D lol! u guys missed the sunrise! nemind la, still got nice views ma. :)
chey! who want to see ur shadow?! show ur hand before, show ur mosaic face before! =_____=
wow! amazing aye! without the use of nails! o.o
wth! spider web oso wana show us! hahaha! but its huge! @.@
wahh u haven't finished ur China story yet!? :D
omg have to wake up so early ah? :D
lol don't want to see ur shadow la! btw, i love the rice terraces :)
wow.. spectacular sights.. those houses without nails reminds me of a toy set i used to play when we were small.. wooden sticks attached to one another to make shapes of cars, houses.. etc..
this trip is really something.. so different..
wow, very very nice view indeed!! i would like to be there also.. :p
i'll feel very relax and freed when i see green and clear blue sky.. it just make your mind so peaceful..
and the "Home To Photographers" just look stunning, at such a stragetic position over the hill, nice!!
Wow, you still writing post on the terrace field. Longji Rice Terraces is my most favorite place in our Guilin trip last year!
Interesting! How you got hold of all those Chinese characters. I remember you can't read and write Chinese.
nice!!! a great escapade from the city!
Wow such an amazing place, thanks for sharing those pics with us, really liked the scenery, Wat a great and perfect adventurous place.
Absolutely breathtaking scenery!
This is a place i wanna live when old age.
The hotel "Home To Photographers" have some really splendid views of the rice terraces.
tekkaus, 5am is very, very early cos I normally wake up at 8am. And during holidays I wake up even later! So yes, 5am is very early!
The Da Jie is a nice lady and indeed she had to wake up early to guide us up the hill.
Snapping the photos on the way up before the sunrise and on the way down after sunrise would produce a different effect, that's why I took as much photos as possible while going up as well as down.
Yes, you should go there with your family : )
bananaz, LOL!! I will stop at my shadow. No more further revealing my face! : )
caroline, haha shadow is the way to go! LOL! And yes, the spider web is huge!
lina, 5am is very early for me. OK will not repeat myself. Read my reply to Tekkaus above : )
monica, no have lots more China stories to share haha!
Why you don't want to see my shadow? Better than nothing right? Haha!
reanaclaire, you like this place? Plan for a trip there - you will love it! : )
SK, yes very peaceful and relaxing indeed. You will love it there : )
jam, haha! Yeah, still got many more posts before I can start on my Cambodia trip posts!
How I got hold of the Chinese characters? Some from the net and some from your blog lah! Haha!!
renaye, great escapade indeed! : )
carol, thanks and welcome! : )
day-dreamer, breathtaking indeed! : )
kelvin, really? You must retire there then! : )
che-cheh, yes it is indeed the best viewing spot! : )
oh its like the Banaue Rice Terraces here in the Philippines... amazing
is it human carved also?
wow look at the view... so relaxing
nice shots you've got in there
so refreshing
i makes me long for some nature's ambiance wew city pollution it just too tiring
such breathtaking views..
have a great day pandaBuddy
Seems like a lot of countries have rice terraces. Bali has one, Luzon Philippines has one - and both are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
You're using LX3 rite? How come certain pics seem more to the bright/whitish side?
Panda, it is official: Our new Proton Waja 2 Lancer is called Proton Inspira (unless if the flyer is fake). :) http://www.tekkaus.com/2010/10/proton-inspira-new-proton-waja-lancer.html
Kind of scary standing near the cliff...
Did the 'Home to Photographers' charge people for taking pictures?
OK, like your post already...
The view were breathtaking. Very soothing to the eyes....haha... and am sure fresh air too.
damn so nice!!!!
so breathtaking ya the view!
gonna hit the entire guangzi province once i am back home next year!
Very nice photos and explanation!
I like such refreshing greenery in the morning. Good for my eyes!
Even the rice Terrains in Bali cannot beat yours which is deeper and farther.
I bet you tasted the rice from this field. Was it good and fragrant?
Will you give me the Daiojiaolou Hotel's contact? I really wanna go there soon!
Love the view of rice terraces. They are beautiful.
Thanks foongpc! I'm glad that you like my photos! Nice to meet you!
I find out your pictures need a long time to appear, may be you shall try the Picasa Web Albums, it's very convinient as you're using Blogspot!
Btw, your trip is nice, photos are great! I also want to visit this Rice Terraces too!
waking up at 5am to see sunrise!
Wow, better than my sunrise! Against greeneries always way better!
Wow 1 Hour trek just to see sunrise! I doubt if I had such patience/stamina for that! LOL! BUT I guess the pictures that you took along the way more than made up for it!
bluedreamer27, so you have rice terraces in Philippines too?
poorprince, thanks! Yes you should go for some nature sightseeing and take a break from city life! : )
wenn, breathtaking indeed : )
kyh, yeah a lot of countries in Asia have rice terraces.
Yes, using LX3. Still consider myself an amateur photographer, in fact not even a photographer! haha! No idea why cetain pics seem more to the whitish side. Probably over exposure? Anyway, I am using auto mode : D
tekkaus, thanks! So are you buying it? : )
khengsiong, you can be sure it was scary for me as I have a fear of height!
No, the 'Home To Photographers' did not charge for taking pictures.
Thanks for FB "like" my post! : )
mNhL, yes the air was fresh alrite : )
fufu, gonna hit the entire Guangzi province next year? Haha!!!
twilight, thanks! Yes, the greenery is surely refreshing to the eyes and to the mind as well!
I have not been to Bali's rice terrace field. So it's not as nice compared to this one?
You really want to go there? OK, I will email you the hotel's contact if I can find it! : )
mei teng, beautiful indeed : )
rafael lam, nice to meet you too! : )
You found my pictures slow to appear? Funny I did not have this problem though some readers have the same problem too.
Anyway, I have a paid account with Photobucket so I will keep on using that. May try Picasa Web next time, thanks for the suggestion!
ladyviral, LOL!! Your sunrise and my sunrise is the same just different location and ambience! : D
iamthewitch, you don't really need much patience and stamina cos the view of the breathtaking rice terraces will make you forget about everything! LOL!
I took pictures of rice terraces in another part of the world... in Bali. :)
Your destination is so beautiful and the sight of the rows of rice terraces are so stunning.
I got up reluctantly at 5am on the first morning in Bali because of a cock's crow. haha....
The countryside is such a tranquil place to stay for a while.
eh...lazy see ur shadow la...LOL
nice views...wish i can personally snap some photos there...
I need to type here so that I hit 100 comments!
Yippeeee! 100th Comment! What is my PRIZE????????????????
Oh, you should try the manual modes. I normally use A (aperture priority mode) and set the f at 2.8-3.2 for sunny days. For such vast expanse of green rice fields, it'd look superb if u set the colour settings to dynamic - to give that punch in green colour. :D
I don't think I'd get up at 5am just to catch da sunrise..unless if I'm still up at that hour lol!
So lucky can just see ur pics here, no need to wake up so early he he, TGIF!! :)
wow, your blog is full of greenery these days.
The liq bottles were kept there by some tourist obviously. But this will definitely degrade the quality of the entire environment.
The rice fields are looking really great. I'm shocked to see rice growing in a sloping land. But we know rice need stagnant water and grow good in them. The houses depict an unique artistic style too.