The 10 Best Civic Centers in China, China

Reviewed By Clubess1 - Lido Beach, United States

Planning to hike/walk from Ping'an Village to Longji, we drove up here from Guilin and the scenery and sites got better and better as we drew closer and closer to our starting point in Ping'an, starting with the winding river on the valley floor to the serpentine road rising up to the hilly village. There was so much of interest to see that it was hard to concentrate on the sometimes stony pathway. There are many walking paths, steps, etc. in and around Ping'an to choose from, all lined with food stalls, chickens, ducks rinsing off in rivulets of mountain water, souvenir sellers, local folks in traditional clothing, the ubiquitous and golden rice terraces being readied for harvesting and that go on and on, ancestors' hillside headstones being taken over by weeds, Zhuang and Yao vendors hawking their wares (some handcrafted, some generic), folks selling rice dishes stuffed into the hollows of grilled, smoking hot bamboo poles, women in their uniquely Zhuang colorful hats carrying woven baskets on their backs, a brand-spanking new wooden viewing pagoda at the highest point (and thus, a gorgeous view of the rolling hills and valleys below), women with their sturdy ponies schlepping food and more from place to place, open fires roasting sweet potatoes and eggs, and, at the Longji end, the adorable and rustic wooden cut-out figures that tell the story of the unchanging Zhuang life, multi-storied, cheek-by-jowl, ancient wooden homes and a wonderful, wonderful meal at the Guzhuang Renjia Restaurant (AKA Ancient Longji Zhuang Peoples' restaurant...am hoping to find a way to review this no-address restaurant on TA). The hike is not hard, there is SO much to see, so much color, so many interesting people who you pass by; make sure to go up every set of steps so you can experience every sight, every valley view, eat a good, local meal, support the Zhuang and Yao minority peoples' lives and you will gain as much as you give (and feel oh, so tired and happy by the end)