Hezhou & Huangyao Ancient Town
A Ming- and Qing-era town set among karst peaks, with flagstone streets, ancient banyans and Dailong Bridge, and a filming location for The Painted Veil; nearby are Gupo Mountain and Linhe Ancient City.
This destination centers on Huangyao Ancient Town in Zhaoping County, Hezhou, Guangxi, and also covers the scenery and old towns around Hezhou city (Pinggui and Babu districts). Founded in the Song dynasty and flourishing in the Ming and Qing, Huangyao is encircled by karst peaks and three streams, and its flagstone streets, ancient banyans, old bridges, ancestral halls and opera stage are well preserved. It is a top-rated (5A) national scenic area and a Famous Historical and Cultural Town of China, and has been a filming location for productions such as The Painted Veil. North of Hezhou city are Gupo Mountain National Forest Park, Shibashui (Eighteen Waters) and the Jade Stone Forest; to the east, Hejie Town has the more than 2,000-year-old Linhe Ancient City; and to the south is Daguishan National Forest Park.
The climate is subtropical monsoon and the area can be visited year-round, with Mar–May and Sep–Nov the most comfortable; summer is hot and rainy but good for cooling off in the mountains, playing in streams and rafting, and winter can be cold and damp at times. Take the Guiyang–Guangzhou high-speed railway to Hezhou station, from where direct buses reach Huangyao in about 1 hour; driving from Guilin or Guangzhou takes about 2.5–3 hours. Allow 2–3 days: one day staying in Huangyao to photograph the morning mist and night views, one day for Gupo Mountain and Shibashui, and one for Linhe Ancient City and the Jade Stone Forest. Local specialties include Huangyao fermented black beans, pickles, Hezhou's three treasures (such as taro with braised pork belly) and Zhaoping green tea. Check official sources for ticket prices and opening hours.
Top sights
- Huangyao Ancient Town – A Ming-Qing ancient town ringed by karst peaks, with flagstone streets, old banyan trees, ancestral halls and the meeting of three rivers…
- Huangyao Ancient Opera Stage – An ancient opera stage first built in the Ming dynasty, with upturned eaves and exquisite woodcarving. Local operas such as Caidiao are sti…
- Dailong Bridge – A Ming dynasty single-arch stone bridge across the Yao River. The ancient banyan trees beside it are reflected in the water, making it Huan…
- Former Site of the CPC Guangxi Provincial Working Committee – The former office of the CPC Guangxi Provincial Working Committee in Huangyao during the late stage of the War of Resistance against Japan…
- Gupo Mountain National Forest Park – The best-known forest park in eastern Guangxi, blanketed with waterfalls, streams and primeval forest, and the filming location of the TV s…
- Shibashui Eco-Park – A valley scenic area at the foot of Gupo Mountain, strung together by eighteen streams and waterfalls. In summer you can wade, swim and raf…
- Hejie Town & Linhe Ancient City – A seat of Linhe County since the Han dynasty, over two thousand years old, with well-preserved ancient city walls, moats, ancestral halls a…
- Hezhou Jade Stone Forest – A rare stone forest of white marble, its gleaming pillars rising among green trees and hailed as the “First Jade Stone Forest Under Heaven.”
- Dagui Mountain National Forest Park – A national forest park in southern Hezhou, dense with waterfalls and primary and secondary forest, and a great summer spot for rafting and…
- Jiang Family Hakka Enclosed House – A well-preserved Qing-dynasty Hakka enclosed house in Liantang Town, Hezhou. Its two great houses on the north and south sides form mutuall…
Itineraries
- Eastern Guangxi Historic Towns: Wuzhou, Huangyao, Hezhou & Fuchuan – Take a high-speed train from Guangzhou to Wuzhou, exploring Qilou City, Huangyao Ancient Town, Gupo Mountain, and Fuchu…