Longsheng Transportation

Huanglao Yao Minority Village and Ping'an are located in Longsheng County, about 93km (56 miles) north-west of Guilin. I came to both villages on a day tour from Guilin that I organised through where I was staying at the Backstreet Youth Hostel, which cost RMB160. The journey to the Huanglao Yao Minority Village took about 2 hours and the weather was a little miserable and damp over some of the high hills along the way but cleared up when we reached the village. You then take another, smaller, bus up the hill to a gate where you then have to walk up to Ping'an.

Longsheng is the gateway bus station to access Ping'an and the Dragon's Backbone Rice Terraces. Look for the buses marked as in the accompanying image. The ride may be around 7 yuan, (Lonely Planet said 6.50) but there's a 50 yuan per person entrance fee into the park area that contains Ping'an.

This is a great ride if you like cliff-hugging, narrow roads, and is therefore scenic if the weather cooperates. It is also the only way up from Longsheng, though you could probably get private transport along the same road.

The Longsheng long distance bus station isn't a huge place, but there's the typical apparent lack of order here anyway. If you don't know where you're going, however, ticket agents aren't as helpful as others such as bus drivers and ticket takers/checkers.

To get to Dazhai, you need to get to Longsheng first. Longsheng is about 2hours bus ride from Guilin. (Frequency of bus : every half an hour, earliest bus, if i am not mistaken is at about 7am and last bus is about 5.30pm) The fare is 23yuan one way. Bus is fully AC and the ride is comfortable, passing many countrysides - great landscapes of valleys, rice fields, streams , bridges and little houses.

See travelogue titled "Sceneries along the way to LongSheng"

This is Longsheng Bus Station - the final stop for all buses bound for Longsheng.
It is also the station for all intercity buses.

If you are worried about how to get to Dazhai/PingAn upon arrival at Longsheng bus station, don't. Loads of "agents" will be waiting for you once the bus from Guilin lands at Longsheng station. If you already have something in mind ie the lodge that you want to stay - just move to main station, ask where the buses bound for Dazhai/PingAn are stationed.

Bus schedule from Longsheng to/fro Dazhai :-
Earliest bus at 7am
Last bus at 5.20pm
Interval half hour
Travel time : 2hours
Fare : 7yuan one way

Bus schedule from Longsheng to PingAn
7.40am, 9.20am, 11am, 1pm, 3pm and 5pm
Bus schedule from PingAn to Longsheng
7.30am, 9.00am, 11am, 1pm, 3pm and 5pm
Fare : 7yuan one way