The Jiabang Terraces praised by CCTV! 2025 nanny-level guide, 20 days earlier golden yellow than Longji

Stop only knowing about the Longji Terraces! Hidden deep in the Miao Mountains of Qiandongnan, the Jiabang Terraces are one of China’s rare “living agricultural heritage” sites—not only featuring over 2,000 terraced fields built along the mountains, but also embodying the thousand-year wisdom of the Miao ancestors “fighting the mountain for farmland.” As a Miao ethnic settlement, the terraces, Miao villages, sea of clouds, and streams form a unique cultural landscape. In 2018, it was listed as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System, with every inch of the ridges engraved with historical marks.

1. Must-know before you go: Key info for 2025

🏞️ Best viewing periods (core advantage!)

- Mid to late September: The golden peak period! The rice ears are fully yellow, and when morning mist drifts over the ridges, the terraces look like golden ladders reaching the clouds, nearly one month earlier than the Longji Terraces’ peak yellow season.

- April to May: Flooding period, the fields look like thousands of silver mirrors reflecting the sky and clouds, perfect for minimalist photography.

- June to July: Seedlings grow rapidly, with waves of lush green rice rolling with the mountains, a truly healing sight.

- December to February: After snow, the terraces are covered in silver, with smoke curling from wooden Miao houses, like an ink painting.

🎫 Tickets and opening hours

- All-inclusive ticket (including sightseeing bus): 130 RMB/person

- Opening hours: 08:30-22:00

- Discounts: Student, senior, and other discounts are subject to the scenic area’s daily announcements.

2. Transportation guide: No getting lost entering the mountains

Jiabang Terraces are located in Jiabang Township, Congjiang County. The mountain roads are winding but the scenery is stunning. It is recommended to choose shuttle buses or experienced drivers for self-driving.

- From Congjiang (most common): Take a direct shuttle bus from Congjiang Bus Station to Jiabang Township. The trip takes 3 hours, costs about 40 RMB, and runs on a fixed schedule (around 8 AM and 12 PM).

- From Rongjiang: Take a bus from Rongjiang Bus Station to Zaibian Town, get off at Dangniu Road intersection (entrance to the core terrace area). The trip takes 3 hours and you need to confirm the schedule one day in advance (extra buses may run in peak season).

- Self-driving tips: Mountain roads have many sharp turns and narrow sections, some without guardrails. New drivers should be cautious! Navigate directly to “Jiabang Terraces Viewing Platform.” In peak season, start early to avoid traffic jams.

3. Accommodation recommendations: Sleep among the terraces and sea of clouds

Accommodations are concentrated in Jiache Village and Dangniu Village. Choose the right place to wake up and see the sea of clouds right outside your window!

- Yunti Hui Resort Hotel: Located in the center of Jiache Village, with scenic rooms facing the terraces. You can shoot sunrise and sea of clouds without crowding the viewing platform, ideal for families or those who prefer convenience.

- Lianghua Homestay: An artsy guesthouse on the mountainside with an unobstructed terrace view. At sunset, you can capture rice waves and evening glow in one frame. The owner can arrange Miao village guides, a must for artsy travelers.

- Yunshang Terrace Scenic Hotel: A standalone wooden house in Dangniu Village, with wooden structures featuring Miao characteristics. At night, you can hear frogs and rice waves, perfect for visitors who enjoy an authentic natural experience.

4. Must-do experiences: A double harvest of culture and scenery

1. Viewing platform tour (classic route)

- No.1 Dongpeng Terrace: The sunrise hotspot! Arrive before 6 AM to secure a spot and watch the sun leap over the mountain, dyeing the terraces golden red.

- No.6 Lianghua Terrace: The best sunset spot! When the sun sets, the ridges stretch long and the light and shadow layers are rich.

2. Hiking through the terraces (in-depth experience)

Choose the 6 km ridge hiking trail: Dangniu Village → Jiache Village. Walk among the rice fields, reach out to touch the rice ears, and pass by Miao stilt houses where you can rest and enjoy a cup of rice wine, immersing yourself in farming culture.

3. Miao village cultural experience

- Have a long-table feast in Jiache Village: Sour soup fish, rice flower fish, and cured meat fill the long table. Miao girls sing drinking songs while offering door-blocking wine (you can taste it lightly, the rice wine is strong).

- Watch farming skills: In peak season, you can see Miao people harvesting rice. If lucky, you can try threshing rice (advance arrangement with villagers required).

5. Must-try food: Authentic Miao flavors on your palate

All ingredients come fresh from the terraces, each bite full of local character!

- Rice flower fish: A must-eat TOP1! Carp naturally grown in the terraces, with tender meat and no muddy taste. Steamed or cooked in sour soup is the most authentic, available in almost every restaurant.

- Miao sticky rice: Made from local specialty glutinous rice, mixed with cured meat and pickles, shaped into rice balls for easy carrying, perfect for hiking.

- Sour soup series: Featured on "A Bite of China"! The red sour soup is sour and spicy, appetizing, perfect for cooking fish or vegetables, especially fragrant with litsea cubeba oil.

🌟 Tips

1. Mountain areas have large temperature differences between day and night. Even in September, bring a light jacket. Mosquitoes are abundant in peak season, so bring insect repellent.

2. For terrace photography, bring a telephoto lens to compress light and shadow layers. Drone photography requires prior permission from the scenic area (some viewing platforms prohibit flying).

3. Respect local customs in Miao villages. Knock before entering villagers’ homes and do not touch silver ornaments or ethnic clothing casually.

Want to avoid crowds and see stunning terraces in 2025? This “golden secret” hidden in Qiandongnan’s Jiabang is definitely worth adding to your travel list!