Excursion to Longshen

Early Sunday morning, the group set off for Longshen, a three-hour drive from Guilin. The drive took the group through winding roads, sometimes unpaved and with little room for two vehicles, much less two large buses. As the bus got closer to Longshen, the scenery became hilly and then mountainous. In the distance, students caught glimpses of Guangxi’s amazing terraced hills and mountains. Students marveled at the ingenuity required to build such terraces.

Upon arrival at Longshen, there was still another drive needed to get to the beginning of the hike to the top. This drive was much more windy and several students became dizzy from the twisting and turning of the small bus. At the top, the wind blew, but the day was gorgeous – clear skies and sun and breezes. The group started walking up to the top to see the view of the terraces.

At first the path was wide, paved even. On either side were souvenir stands, manned by relaxed men and women. They smiled and if you said, “No thanks” to their offers of goods, they nodded and left you alone. The path became narrower and split in two. To one side was a village of Yao ethnic minority peoples. To the other side was the narrow path up to the top. The ascent became a literal climb and students broke off into groups to make the journey up. At the top a hut selling cold tea and snacks offered shade to sweaty hikers. The students took several group photos and rested for several minutes before returning to a hut in the middle of the hike for lunch.

Students claimed the lunch served in Longshen was one of the best of the trip. Especially favored were the fresh corn and meat-stuffed hot peppers. After lunch, students were given free time and then toward the end of the afternoon met up at the bus for the twisting and turning trip back down the mountain.

On the return trip to GXNU, the bus overheated and the students stopped off at a gas station to use the restrooms, purchase water and fruit. While the driver tried fixing the air conditioner and added coolant, students tried exotic fruits and stretched their legs.

Upon arrival in Guilin, the students had dinner at a restaurant from earlier in the trip and then they celebrated the birthday of a fellow student with a Chinese cake. After dinner the group returned to campus and had an hour to shower and prepare for the Mid-Autumn Festival.