Pingnan

Wade barefoot across the shallow rock 'water plaza' at Baishuiyang, see the gorges and waterfalls of Yuanyang Stream, timber arch covered bridges such as Qiansheng Bridge, and old villages like Longtan and Siping revived through art-led rural regeneration.

Pingnan County lies in the Jiufeng Mountains in the west of Ningde, northeastern Fujian. The county seat, Gufeng Town, sits at about 830 m and stays cool in summer, making it a popular summer retreat for people from Fuzhou and Ningde. There are three main ways to enjoy the county: first, the Baishuiyang–Yuanyang Stream UNESCO Global Geopark (AAAAA) in the north, where you can wade barefoot across Baishuiyang's flat rock riverbed and follow the boardwalks past the gorges and waterfalls of Yuanyang Stream; second, the timber arch covered bridges found throughout the county, such as Qiansheng Bridge and Wan'an Bridge (rebuilt after a fire in 2022), prime examples of the traditional design and construction of Chinese timber arch bridges; third, the old villages revived in recent years through art-led rural regeneration, including Longtan, Siping, Xiadi and Qianfenxi, where old houses have become art studios, bookshops, cafés and guesthouses, along with historic towns and villages such as Shuangxi, Jitou and Jixia. The best seasons are Jun–Sep (wading and cool weather) and Oct–Nov (red persimmons and autumn colours). Getting there: Pingnan Station on the Quzhou–Ningde Railway has bullet trains to Ningde and Quzhou, and Fuzhou is about 2.5 hours away by expressway; sights are scattered and reached mostly by mountain roads, so driving yourself or hiring a car is strongly recommended. Allow 2–3 days: one for Baishuiyang and Yuanyang Stream (stay in Shuangxi), one for the villages of Longtan and Siping, and half a day for the covered bridges and Jitou Village. Note that Baishuiyang's water areas close when mountain streams rise in the rainy season, and village guesthouses are few, so book ahead for weekends.

Top sights

Where to eat

Itineraries