Hezhou

Hezhou is a good choice for a weekend getaway or a relaxed short holiday. Visitor numbers are relatively low and prices are reasonable. You can stroll through a historic town or head into the forested mountains for a change of pace from city life.

• Huangyao Ancient Town: This thousand-year-old town retains its Ming- and Qing-era character. Bridges, streams and ancient banyan trees form a picturesque setting, while morning mist and evening lanterns add to the quiet atmosphere of its lanes.

• Gupo Mountain National Forest Park: This densely forested area in southern China is a good place to escape the summer heat and spend time in nature. Highlights include Xiangu Waterfall and Fangjia Tea Garden, and you may also spot wild macaques.

• Jade Stone Forest: This site features a white marble stone forest, a rare landform in China. In sunlight, its clusters of white rock create a scene resembling a snowy landscape. Follow the paths to sights such as the narrow passage known as “A Thread of Sky.”

• Zhongshan Ink-Wash Countryside: This free attraction brings together karst peaks, rice fields and villages in a rural landscape. Explore by car or bicycle, following country lanes through scenery where mountain views meet everyday farming life.

• Dazhong Mountain Park: This free park is a high point in central Hezhou. Climb to Pavilion No. 4 for panoramic city views, or visit in the evening to watch the sunset.

• Ziyun Wonderland: Temperatures remain fairly stable inside this underground karst cave, where lighting highlights the stalactite formations. It can be visited year-round and requires relatively little physical effort, making it manageable for older visitors and children.

Suggested 3-Day, 2-Night Itinerary

• Day 1: Arrive in Hezhou and explore the city

Check in after arrival; the area around Lingfeng Square is a convenient place to stay. Then walk or take a shared electric bike to Yongfeng Lake Wetland Park for a stroll. In the late afternoon, climb Dazhong Mountain Park to watch the sunset from Pavilion No. 4, then stay to see the city lights come on. For dinner, head to Far East Shopping Street and sample local snacks along the way.

• Day 2: Explore Gupo Mountain, then visit the Jade Stone Forest in the afternoon

Set off for Gupo Mountain in the morning. You can buy a sightseeing shuttle ticket to Xiangu Waterfall, then follow the downhill route through Fangjia Tea Garden and Guyaochong Monkey Park. Keep snacks and plastic bags tucked away when passing through the monkey park. In the afternoon, continue to the Jade Stone Forest to see the white marble formations and explore A Thread of Sky. Return to the city in the evening for duck feet casserole, or eat at a farmhouse restaurant.

• Day 3: Visit Zhongshan Ink-Wash Countryside before heading home

In the morning, drive or hire a car with a driver to Zhongshan Ink-Wash Countryside. Follow the rural loop route, stopping along the way to enjoy the peaks, fields and villages. Return to the city at midday for rice noodles and pick up local specialties such as Huangyao fermented black beans before heading to the high-speed railway station for your journey home.

Suggested Compact 2-Day, 1-Night Itinerary

• Day 1: Arrive in Hezhou by high-speed train in the morning and head straight to Huangyao Ancient Town. Consider entering before 7 a.m. for a chance of free admission or to avoid the main crowds. Have breakfast in the town, then walk its stone-paved lanes and visit Dailong Bridge and the stepping-stone bridge. Stay into the evening to see the streets lit by red lanterns, then spend the night at a guesthouse in the town.
• Day 2: Photograph the town's morning mist, then head to Gupo Mountain to explore its forests and waterfalls. Depending on the time left in the afternoon, visit the Jade Stone Forest or return to the city for a tea-seed meal hair wash. Take a short rest before heading home.

Local Foods to Try in Hezhou

Food in Hezhou is generally affordable, with distinctive local flavors found in everything from street snacks to home-style dishes.

• Sour and Spicy Beef Offal Skewers: This local specialty costs 1–2 yuan per skewer. Beef intestines and tripe are simmered in a sour and spicy broth and served with a choice of two dipping sauces: a tangy, spicy red sauce and a richer, more aromatic brown sauce.

• Hezhou Stuffed Dishes: Filling various ingredients with a savory stuffing is a common local home-cooking technique. Stuffed tofu, squash blossoms, eggplant and pig-leaf greens each have their own flavor, with tender, juicy results.

• Mafeng Jelly Dessert: Choose white or jade-green jelly served with honey water or sour plum juice. The jelly is translucent and springy, making a bowl a refreshing treat in hot weather or after a meal.

• Rice Noodles with Freshly Sliced Meat Toppings: A common local breakfast, these noodles cost 9 yuan with your choice of two meat toppings. Options include crispy fried pork, beef brisket and pork offal. The crispy pork is fried fresh, making it a good choice if you enjoy a crunchy, savory topping.

• Taro and Chicken Feet Casserole: A popular late-night dish in Hezhou. The taro is fried until crisp outside and soft and fluffy inside, while the chicken feet have thin skin with a slight crunch. A sweet and savory seasoning soaks into the ingredients for a full-flavored dish.

• Huangyao Fermented Black Beans: A signature local specialty, these plump beans develop a rich aroma through fermentation. Use them to add savory depth to everyday cooking, or take some home as a food souvenir.

Accommodation and Transport

• Where to stay:
  • City center, near Lingfeng Square or the Far East shopping district: Dining, shopping and leisure facilities are concentrated here, and accommodation offers good value. It is also convenient for reaching Gupo Mountain and city attractions, making it a practical base for most visitors.
  • Inside Huangyao Ancient Town: Stay in the town if you want quiet early-morning walks or time to enjoy its lantern-lit streets at night. Room rates rise during holidays, so book ahead.
  • Hot spring accommodation: To unwind with a hot spring soak, consider accommodation near Gupo Mountain, such as Xixi Hot Springs or Yunyaogu Hot Springs hotels.
• Getting around:
  • High-speed rail: Trains from Guangzhou South or Shenzhen North to Hezhou Station take about 1.5–2 hours.
  • Local transport: Attractions such as Gupo Mountain, Huangyao and the Jade Stone Forest are spread out, so driving or renting a car makes a multi-stop itinerary easier. Visitors arriving by high-speed rail can rent a car at the station. For trips limited to the city center, shared electric bikes can cover most journeys.

Practical Tips

• Tickets and validity: Huangyao Ancient Town admission costs about 70–88 yuan. Tickets are usually valid for three days, with repeat entry using facial recognition. Avoid roadside offers to help you enter without a ticket. Gupo Mountain admission costs 66 yuan, with sightseeing shuttle tickets at 15 yuan. The park is large, so taking the shuttle is recommended to reduce walking.
• Mosquito and sun protection: Bring mosquito repellent for the wooded areas of Gupo Mountain and the Jade Stone Forest. Some sections of the Jade Stone Forest have little shade, so consider visiting in the morning and wear a sun hat.
• Macaque safety: Wild macaques around Guyaochong on Gupo Mountain may snatch visitors' belongings. Do not take out snacks in front of them or carry plastic bags in your hands. If feeding is permitted, follow staff instructions.
• Clothing and footwear: Gupo Mountain and the Jade Stone Forest both have plenty of steps, so wear comfortable, flat athletic shoes. Mountain temperatures are 3–5°C lower than in the city; bring a light jacket.
• When to visit: For photography in Huangyao Ancient Town, visit between 7 and 9 a.m., when there are fewer visitors and you may see light mist near Dailong Bridge. Aim to enter Gupo Mountain at 8:30 a.m. to help avoid afternoon showers and the busiest tour-group periods.