Pingyuan & Jiaoling
Northeastern Guangdong's Danxia peaks of Wuzhishi, the reclining-Buddha Nantai Mountain and the waterfalls of Xiangsi Valley, plus Jiaoling — a “World Longevity Town” — with Changtan Lake and the former homes of Qiu Fengjia and Xie Jinyuan.
Pingyuan and Jiaoling counties belong to Meizhou in Guangdong Province, in the northeast of the province where Guangdong, Jiangxi and Fujian meet. The two county towns are about 40 km apart; both are Hakka communities with a down-to-earth way of life and well-preserved landscapes. Pingyuan is known for Danxia landforms and gorges: in the north, Wuzhishi in Chagan Town is a famous Danxia mountain on the Guangdong–Jiangxi–Fujian border; Xiangsi Valley in Shangju Town has a series of waterfalls; in the south, Nantai Mountain in Shizheng Town is shaped like a reclining Buddha; Dahebei in Zhongxing Town has boardwalks through a Danxia river valley; and the old county town of Renju preserves the headquarters of the Fourth Red Army and an old Hakka street. Jiaoling is known as a “World Longevity Town”: the Changtan tourist area in the northwest has a gorge lake likened to the Li River; Wenfu Town has the former home of the patriotic poet Qiu Fengjia; Xinpu Town has the former home of Xie Jinyuan, commander of the “Eight Hundred Heroes”; and the Huangyou Bilin Sea in the northeast is good for hiking. The best seasons are Mar–May and Sep–Nov; in winter you can soak in hot springs at Nantai and elsewhere, while summer is rainy, so watch for flash floods in the mountains. Getting there: Meizhou has an airport and a high-speed rail station; the Jinan–Guangzhou Expressway (G35) runs through both counties, and buses connect both county towns with Meizhou. Attractions are spread across rural townships, so driving is recommended; allow 2–3 days. Hakka stuffed tofu, salt-baked chicken and the camellia tea of Jiaoling's longevity villages are local specialties.
Top sights
- Wuzhishi Scenic Area – A Danxia mountain at the junction of Guangdong, Jiangxi, and Fujian. Five stone peaks stand side by side like fingers, and the mountain hol…
- Changtan Lake Scenic Area – Canyon-reservoir scenery northwest of Jiaoling, described as “mountains like the Wu Gorge, scenery like the Li River.” Take a boat cruise o…
- Nantai Mountain (Reclining Buddha) – A famous eastern Guangdong mountain shaped like a reclining giant Buddha, with a cloud-ladder glass walkway, a Sky Mirror and a golden Budd…
- Xiangsi Valley – A canyon with a cluster of waterfalls in Shangju Town, lined with ancient trees and century-old Hakka villages. It is a great place to cool…
- Dahebei Scenic Area – A river valley of red-sandstone cliffs in Zhongxing Town, with boardwalks running along the water. Wild wisteria and shihaitang bloom in sp…
- Red Fourth Army Memorial & Renju Village – Renju, Pingyuan’s old county seat, preserves sites where the Red Fourth Army was stationed, a Red Army Street, and Hakka ancient towers and…
- Former Residence of Qiu Fengjia – The Hakka walled-house former residence of Qiu Fengjia, a modern patriotic poet, built in 1896. It is a national key cultural heritage site.
- Former Residence of Xie Jinyuan – The former residence and memorial of Xie Jinyuan, commander of the “Eight Hundred Heroes” who defended the Sihang Warehouse during the 1937…
- Huangyoubi Mountain – A forested peak in northeastern Jiaoling, about 1,150 meters above sea level, with dense woods and sea-of-clouds views from the summit afte…
Where to eat
- An Xiuzhen Meatballs (Dongmen Branch) – Old meatball shop under the arcade in Jiaocheng's old town, famous for meatball soup and beef meatball noodles, a local…