Cangnan

The industrial heritage of Fanshan, the "World Capital of Alum", sits alongside the 168 Golden Coastline on the Zhejiang–Fujian border, with Wanyao Ancient Village, Yucang Mountain and Xiaguan fishing port each worth a visit.

Cangnan County lies at the southern tip of Zhejiang, in the south of Wenzhou, bordering Fuding in Fujian; the county seat is Lingxi. The county has both mountains and sea: the west is the mountainous area around Fanshan and Qiaodun, while the east is the indented East China Sea coast. There are three main areas: Fanshan (the "World Capital of Alum", with Fudewan Miners' Village, the No. 312 mine tunnel at the old alum mine and the Wenzhou Alum Mine Museum, plus wind turbines and tea gardens on nearby Heding Mountain); Qiaodun and Juxi (Wanyao Ancient Village, Yucang Mountain National Forest Park and Juxi Grand Canyon); and the 168 Golden Coastline (Yanting Golden Beach, Jinxiang Garrison Town, Yu'ao Village, Zhongdun and Palm Bay in Chixi, Moon Bay at Wucheng, and Xiaguan Old Street). Yuliao Beach and Puzhuang Fortress are also in Cangnan but are listed under the Wenzhou destination. The best season is May–Oct, the peak time for the seaside, seafood and beaches; spring and autumn suit strolls around the Fanshan mines and ancient villages. Jul–Sep is typhoon season, so keep an eye on warnings. Getting there: Cangnan Station (in Lingxi) has high-speed trains to Wenzhou and Fuzhou. Sights are spread out, so driving is recommended; allow 2–3 days and stay at Yanting, Yuliao or Xiaguan along the coast. Local food includes Fanshan meat-wrapped wontons (rouyan), Yanting fish cakes, Xiaguan seafood and Qiaodun mooncakes. Mountain roads are narrow and winding, so drive slowly in rain or fog.

Top sights

• Fanshan Fudewan Miners' Village – A 600-year-old alum miners' village built into the hillside, with stone houses, ancient mine shafts and alum-smelting ruins stacked up the…
• Fanshan Alum Mine Heritage & No.312 Mine Tunnel – The core industrial heritage of the 'World Alum Capital', where you can ride a small train into the enormous No. 312 mine tunnel and see ce…
• Cangnan 168 Golden Coastline – A coastal road of about 168 kilometers in southern Zhejiang, linking bays and fishing villages from Yanting, Jinxiang, Dayu, Chixi, Mazhan…
• Wenzhou Alum Mine Museum – A specialized museum about alum mining in Fanshan Town, telling six centuries of alum mining and refining history through ore, tools, and o…
• Wanyao Ancient Village – An ancient village known for Ming and Qing folk blue-and-white porcelain. Its old kilns, water-powered mills, wooden stage built without na…
• Yucang Mountain National Forest Park – A granite mountain famous for its three wonders of strange rocks, sunrise, and sea of clouds. Free entry since 2024.
• Juxi Grand Canyon – A granite canyon called the “Nine Valleys of Southern Zhejiang.” Three-tiered waterfalls, green pools, and cantilever walkways connect its…
• Hedingshan Mountain – The highest peak in Cangnan. Thirty-five wind turbines stand on the summit, with tea gardens, reeds, and sunrise sea of clouds overlooking…
• Yanting Golden Beach – A bay beach at the northern end of the 168 Coastline, with fishing boats, seafood stalls, and a food street nearby. You can watch the sunri…
• Jinxiang Ming Garrison Town – A coastal defense city built during the Hongwu era of the Ming dynasty under Tang He, surrounded by a moat, with old streets, mansions, and…
• Yu'ao Village & Dayu Bay – A fishing village with a fortress from the anti-pirate period on the shores of Dayu Bay. The Ming-era Yuao fortress and harbor fishing boat…
• Zhongdun Village & Palm Bay (Chixi) – The most beautiful section of the 168 Coastline, where Zhongdun Village, built into the hills, connects with Palm Bay’s reefs.
• Wucheng Moon Bay Beach – A crescent-shaped beach in Wucheng Village, Mazhan Town. Calm waves and clear water make it one of Cangnan’s most popular sea-bathing beach…
• Xiaguan Old Street & Fishing Harbour – A first-class national fishing port at the southernmost tip of Zhejiang. The Ming-era Jiufeng Old Street, built into the hillside, is known…
• Nanyandang Mountain – A national scenic area in Pingyang County and one of the “Three Yandang Mountains.” Its East and West Caves with strange rocks and the Bixi…
• Yuliao Beach – One of Zhejiang’s largest beaches in Cangnan County, with about 2 km of golden sand, reefs, and clear water. A great place for swimming and…
• Puzhuangsuo Fortress – An ancient Ming garrison town built to fight Japanese pirates. Its walls, gates, and internal street layout are intact, making it one of th…
• Taishun Covered Bridges – The home of China’s wooden arch covered bridges. Beiqian Bridge and Xidong Bridge in Xishui Town are known as “sister bridges,” with ancien…

Where to eat

• Ruohong Seafood House – A seafood restaurant along the 168 Golden Coastline near Xinzhi Village, serving steamed blue crab, stir-fried spicy wh…