Hiking the Longji Rice Terraces (梯田) in southern China is something I would recommend for everyone to add to their bucket list. The name     1     (literal) means “Dragon’s Backbone” due to the fact that the rice terraces look just like a dragon’s scales, while the mountain’s summit     2    (resemble) the backbone.

During my visit to Guilin, I decided to set out on a three-day hike through the famous Longji Rice Terraces. Known as the “Dragon’s Backbone”, the terraces were a spectacular sight as they stretched across the green hills in complicated     3     (pattern) looking like ripples of water.

The hike     4     (take) me through small villages set against the beautiful landscape. Local farmers were busy tending to the terraced rice fields that had been farmed for over 1,000 years. Along the paths, I passed orange groves and met friendly locals     5    offered me fresh lychees.

At night, I stayed in simple homestays run by farming families. Over multicourse meals     6     (feature) local specialties like sticky rice, I learned     7     (much) about the terraces and village life. The feeling of community spirit and connection to the natural environment was unique.

Reaching the hike’s end after three full days, I felt a profound     8     (appreciate) for these ancient agricultural wonders carefully built into the landscape     9     generations of families. The Dragon’s Backbone terraces provided me with unforgettable mountain views     10     cultural insights into rural China.