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We drove for about an hour out of Guilin to the hilltop villages of the Dragons Backbone or the Longji rice terraces.  These were built by people who had to escape the tyranny of an ancient ruler several hundred years ago.  They worked for centuries carving out rice paddies on terraces all of the way up the mountain side.  A testament to these peoples engineering genius  and physical and mental strength.  Impoverished but survivors these people eeked out a subsistance living.  They were very poor but now they seem to be having some measure of success with tourism.  Now there are many inns built up the hillside in the traditional style, originally all of wood with not a single nail. There are definitely signs of prosperity with many inns now dotting the terraced hillsides a stark change from my visit in 2002 when there was no where to stay in this area..

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I need this sign at home!
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Unlike most other areas of China, hiking up the Dragons Backbone is not yet overcrowded--it is way too much work for most.  We did meet this group of friendly folk on our way up and they wanted their picture with us.  Kieran counted his steps and it was several thousand.  Needless to say my hair was pretty hot and sweaty. Maybe a ride up would be nice.

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The people work hard yet are always happy and had a smile for us.  Up and up the mountains we all climbed until we almost neared the top.

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If you are old, weak, sick, or just rich yo can get a ride up to the top on a sedan chair.  What a job.  It is amazing to think that everything needs to be carried to the top by people or horses--food, building material, furniture, and crops must be carried down.  This should be a wetter time and saddly the rice fields were showing some signs of drought.  Not a good sign of harvest.

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The people and the horses work really hard around here. Here are some of the poor little horses carrying their very heavy loads up the very steep stone stairs.

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Ahh, atlast we made it to the top!
7/15/2012 05:11:10 am

THX for info

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