Zhenyuan Ancient City

I came to Zhenyuan six years ago. Comparing the past and the present, both the infrastructure and transportation in the scenic area are more standardized and more complete.

Starting from three o'clock, we followed the tour guide to learn about the history of the ancient city and visited the scenic spots. The dull weather made us feel tired.

As expected, Guizhou’s weather is known as “no three-day clear day”, and it rained in the evening. The raindrops on the river, the fluttering leaves, and the wet streets 🏞 instantly made people feel refreshed.

As the sky gradually darkens and the lights of the houses along the river come on, it is the most beautiful moment of the ancient town.

Especially like the Kamogawa River in Kyoto, maybe it's because the Kamogawa River is like him,

No tickets are required. It is not as noisy as Wuzhen in Lijiang, nor as busy as Langzhong and Pingyao in the off-season. In the morning, you can see many students carrying schoolbags on the street and going to school by themselves, buying breakfast at the school gate, and local people driving by on electric bikes on their way to work. You will feel that it is just an ordinary small county town. The Miao village not far away is completely commercialized. Locals rent out their stilt houses to inns and restaurants for hundreds of thousands of yuan a year, rent their land to others for farming, and move to Kaili or Guiyang to play around. Just like this, you can quietly go to where others live and integrate into the lives of the locals. It is also nice to climb a mountain to see the panoramic view if you are physically fit.

Zhenyuan City is located in Zhenyuan County, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, surrounded by mountains. Wuyang River runs through the city in an "S" shape, dividing the ancient city of Zhenyuan into two parts, the north bank is the old prefectural city, and the south bank is the old acropolis, which looks like an ancient Tai Chi diagram from a distance.

In my opinion, Zhenyuan Ancient Town is the most worthwhile ancient town to visit in Guizhou Province, much better than Qingyan Ancient Town, a 5A scenic spot in Guiyang. Moreover, Zhenyuan Ancient Town is not too commercialized. It is like an old man sitting by the Wuyang River, quietly watching every pedestrian passing by his feet.



The ancient streets and alleys in the ancient city are winding and secluded, the stone bridges and city walls are scattered around, and there are more than 160 key cultural relics protection units, including the Qinglong Cave ancient building complex, ancient dwellings from the Ming and Qing Dynasties, ancient alleys, ancient docks, and ancient city walls.



Most of the buildings are made of blue bricks and black tiles, with flying eaves and corners, carved beams and painted buildings. Every bluestone slab and every blue brick records historical relics, telling the vicissitudes of the thousand-year-old ancient town.

When I took the bus from Zhenyuan Railway Station to the foot of Zhenyuan Ancient City, it was drizzling. I walked slowly along the Wuyang River on the empty streets without an umbrella. It was a little deserted, but that was just what I wanted. Looking at the houses with blue bricks and black tiles, I seemed to have walked into the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

The ancient city is not big, and you can walk along the streets in an hour or so, but the alleys and ancient buildings on both sides of the street are worth stopping to appreciate slowly, and you may encounter different beauty at a turn. Keep going forward and come to the bend of the river. You will see the ancient buildings built on the hillside across the river. This is the most representative Qinglong Cave ancient building complex.

Qinglong Cave is one of the few examples of the integration of Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism in China, and is also a national key cultural relic protection site. It is backed by green mountains, faces green water, and is close to the wall and overlooks the sky. There is a building every five steps and a pavilion every ten steps. It is very ornamental, and you can overlook the panoramic view of Zhenyuan Ancient City from a high place.

After crossing the Qinglong Bridge, the entrance to the Qinglong Cave Ancient Buildings is opposite. I don't know if it was because of the rainy day and the off-season, but I didn't see the ticket inspector when I entered through the gate, so I visited these buildings for free. Entering the scenic area, the stone steps are very narrow. Climbing up the steps, you can see a building with flying eaves and cliffs at every turn.

1. About transportation: You can take a train, a bus, or drive to Zhenyuan Ancient City. Zhenyuan Railway Station is only a ten-minute drive from Zhenyuan Ancient City.

2. About attractions: Zhenyuan Ancient City itself does not charge admission, but the specific attractions inside sell tickets separately. The Qinglong Cave Ancient Buildings are highly recommended. Standing halfway up the mountain and overlooking Zhenyuan Ancient City is a visual enjoyment. If you have time, it is recommended to stay overnight in Zhenyuan Ancient City to slow down and feel its charm.



3. Accommodation: There are many quaint inns along the Wuyang River in Zhenyuan Ancient City. You can do some research online before booking and choose the inn you like. You can go there directly in the off-season. You may find the inn you like just around the corner.

4. About food: You can try the unique "Dao dishes" (also known as aged Dao dishes) of Zhenyuan Ancient City. It takes at least half a month to make a jar of Dao dishes from the beginning to the time they are put into the pot for frying. The longer the Dao dishes are marinated in the jar, the better they taste.

Zhenyuan Ancient Town is a famous town in Zhenyuan County, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou Province. It is located on the bank of Wuyang River and surrounded by mountains. The river meanders through the city in an "S" shape. The north bank is the old prefectural city, and the south bank is the old acropolis. From a distance, it looks like a Tai Chi diagram. Both cities were built in the Ming Dynasty, and some city walls and gates still exist. There are many ancient buildings, traditional houses, and historical docks inside and outside the city. The county borders Xinhuang, Hunan in the east, Sansui and Jianhe in the south, Shibing in the west, and Shiqian in Cengong and Tongren in the north. It is known as the "key to Yunnan and Chu, and the gateway to eastern Guizhou". Zhenyuan has a long history. It has a history of 2,281 years since the establishment of the county in the 30th year of King Zhao of Qin (277 BC). It was the seat of Dao and Fu for more than 700 years in the Yuan and Qing dynasties. The night view is even more beautiful.

Beautiful scenery, slow pace, clean, many snacks, rich nightlife, it is hard to imagine what kind of city can combine these words into a clear stream, this is Zhenyuan. There are many snacks in the city, and tofu grilled fish and bayberry soup are recommended. You can climb Shiping Mountain during the day. You don’t need to buy a ticket to go up the mountain from Fuxing Lane or the surrounding alleys. There are signs on the roadside saying Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and local noodle houses. There is a pig trough well in the alley going up the mountain. Going forward is the scenic spot. There is a Taoist temple halfway up the mountain. There is a ticket point written at the door. Usually no one is guarding it. Locals basically go up the mountain from here. In addition, Shiping Mountain overlooking Zhenyuan at night is also spectacular. There are small spotlights on the stone steps on the mountain, but be careful.

The town is very simple and not as noisy as some ancient towns full of commercial atmosphere. The people in the town are very simple and willing to introduce their hometown to the outside world and willing to provide help. The scenery on both sides of the river is very beautiful, a kind of simple beauty from the inside, the beauty of ancient charm, and the beauty of enthusiasm. The train station is only more than 10 minutes away from the center of the ancient town (on foot), which is very convenient. The beauty of nature is beautiful; the beauty of humanities is rich in connotation: Qinglong Cave, Heping Village, Museum, Ancient City Wall... In a word: Must recommend!

It is recommended to visit one scenic spot during the day and one at night. At night, stroll along the river to enjoy the night view, and have a leisurely dinner at a riverside restaurant with a better environment near Qinglong Cave in the north. During the day, go to Qinglong Cave, climb Shiping Mountain, and walk through the ancient alleys. The cruise has its own flavor during the day and at night.



Zhenyuan Ancient Town was an important place for river transportation in ancient times, and an ancient town with developed transportation and trade. Standing on the higher Qinglong Cave or the top of Shiping Mountain to look at the whole town, the S-shaped bend of the river makes the whole town appear in the shape of a Tai Chi ☯️, which is very magical.



The north of the river used to be where soldiers were stationed. There are bars along the river near Qinglong Cave, and restaurants near the central bridge. The south of the river used to be where residents and the government lived, so don't be fooled by the boring modern commercial streets. Find a few ancient alleys and walk in. You can enjoy the ancient houses of the wealthy families in the ancient town during the Ming and Qing dynasties. The plaques of each mansion are very impressive! I remember that the Shangguan family had a lot of mansions!



Friends who have good physical strength and like to climb mountains and see the scenery: 1. First go to Qinglong Cave (during the Chinese New Year, Guizhou's scenic spots are free of charge for five provinces, including Shandong, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and Guangdong, and I forgot one). First, pass through the Buddhist area, then pass through the area of Confucius' Four Books and Five Classics, and climb to the caves. There are Taoists who can pray for blessings. Donate and pray as you like. 2. Shiping Mountain can be entered from the ancient alley or from the entrance of the scenic spot near Qinglong Cave. The recommended route is to enter the scenic spot! (Relatively less tiring) Climb up to the viewing platform on the top of the mountain and stop for the first time to enjoy the entire town view, and you can also enjoy the scenery of the river to the lower half. Seeing the train slowly passing on the track above the town, the sun shining on the terraces, and the bustling crowds on the river can vaguely imagine the ancient scene. 3. Continue to climb up from the viewing platform to the Miaojiang Great Wall, and many tourists return the same way. Here I recommend everyone to go down the mountain in the direction of the other Four Temples! You can go down the mountain in the ancient alley. Many local residents go up the mountain from the ancient alley. I personally think this is more tiring! 4. Going down the mountain to enjoy the ancient alleys and take photos is an experience



A famous snack in the town is Yuanjia Tofu, and there is only one next to the boat dock. The others are fake. I recommend tofu balls dipped in chili powder (the chili powder is delicious), and the fried fern cakes eaten by the locals are also good. I found that the locals like fried food very much!

The center of Zhenyuan Ancient Town is not very big, with two streets facing each other along the river, plus a bridge that carries various legends. If you are not strolling around, running around the ancient town in 40 minutes will do the job.

Zhenyuan is very quiet in early autumn, without too many tourists and the streets are also quiet. It is not too commercial and not too noisy. We stroll quietly in this Bagua city.

Sitting on the bank, eating hot pot, looking at the night view, and listening to the songs in the bar on the other side of the river is also a very enjoyable thing. But are all the bars here of this level? They are simply at the level of mass-market KTVs.

It is said that Qinglong Cave is a temple that combines Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism. I can't help but think of Qingyan on the first day. Do remote areas like to gather gods together to make it lively? Shiping Mountain is the mountain to the north of Zhenyuan. It is said that you can overlook the natural Tai Chi formed by Wuyang River passing through the city from the top of the mountain. It's just a pity that we didn't go to the top of the mountain this time. There are several alleys in Zhenyuan, which are all connected on the map. We plan to walk around in these alleys the next day. Early the next morning, we plunged into those alleys. There is a martial arts hall that looks very old. I wonder if there is a master sitting in it. After that, we walked back and forth for a long time in Sifangjing Alley, Renshou Alley, and Fuxing Alley. The streets and alleys here have one biggest feature: crooked doors and slanted roads. Almost all the roads are crooked, and there are few straight ones. The doors are also open in all directions, and there are very few doors facing south and north. Climb to the middle of the mountain and overlook Zhenyuan City. Due to the low height, you still can't see Wuyang River. Coming down from the mountain, I unexpectedly found a Qing Dynasty post office. This brand that opened in Yandaixie Street actually crossed thousands of mountains and opened to such a far place. Then I unexpectedly saw a beautiful scene, as beautiful as an oil painting. If there was a broken wooden boat with oars on the river, it would be even more perfect.

I had heard long ago that the night view of Zhenyuan Ancient Town was no less beautiful than that of Fenghuang Ancient Town. After a long journey, I finally arrived at the ancient town in the evening.

In the winter of December, I went to several small shops in the ancient city and finally found the last chocolate and three small puddings. I bought them all and ate them all in one go. I covered myself with a quilt shivering. At this time, the lights were on. I had nothing to do with the world, just for the beautiful scenery. Good night! An S-shaped green belt winds through the small town opposite, dividing the town into two. There are towering green mountains on both sides. In the early morning, the surface of Wuyang River will be filled with a layer of light mist. In this way, an ink painting of a small town with green mountains and green waters is frozen.

I walked along the Wuyang River towards the alleys in the city, brought my tripod and took some photos that I liked.

Tofu pudding is everywhere, so I tried it. It’s different from the north in that it doesn’t have brine, and you have to add seasoning yourself. I really can’t get used to it…

We wandered around the ancient town, stepped on the quaint bluestone road, walked on the Zhusheng Bridge, and watched under the Qinglong Cave. We also completed the mandatory task of every trip - sending postcards in the post office. There is also a slow delivery service in the post office. If you are sure that you will not change your address, you can show your current mood to your future self. I wonder what you will think when you see it ten years later. Isn't a leisurely and peaceful life supposed to be like this, wandering aimlessly? Isn't the meaning of travel to spend your days in idleness without any meaning? Walk comfortably, sit at ease, drink when thirsty and eat when hungry. We bought the special bayberry soup of Zhenyuan on the street. The sour and sweet taste is very rich, cool and refreshing. Relaxing after walking tired or as a drink between meals can really make people feel better instantly, or full of energy, or increase appetite. I was so surprised that I hurriedly placed an order on Taobao and bought a large box to send back home. We had dinner in a restaurant by the river. Sitting by the river, we could see the green mountain stream and the sunset scenery on one side, and the fireworks on the other side. The fishermen and woodcutters were content. If we could live here every day, we would have wine in the bottle and no worries. We tasted the sour beef soup, which is a speciality of Zhenyuan, and matched it with a vegetarian dish - sweet potato leaves. It was my first time to eat sweet potato leaves, and I felt that they were a bit sticky. Personally, I was not very accustomed to them. The sour beef soup was sour, spicy and refreshing, and it was very suitable for me. Although the yellow beef was a little old and a little dry, it was better because of the soup. We ate a lot. After dinner, we walked leisurely along the way to enjoy the night view of the ancient town. Cigarettes were floating, and the music was noisy, flying up to the waist of the jade building. The sky was dressed in evening makeup, and the electric piano and guitar sounded in the clouds. Choose a bar at will, and you can open your arms in front of the bottle, which is quite like the beauty of the ancients who were drunk in the West Lake.

We bought fruits, snacks and wine on the roadside, returned to the inn, and sat on the small balcony overlooking the river to enjoy life. The night breeze blew on my body, comfortable and cool. The lights of thousands of houses were bright and lively on the Spring Bridge, and the light shone for ten miles. Looking at the lights on the riverside and listening to the singing of the bar singers on the other side of the river, I emptied my mind and felt very comfortable. The scenery of Zhenyuan in October is really better to be drunk than to be awake. The morning was quiet and slightly cool. My bestie and I walked out of the inn to the town for breakfast. After eating tofu pudding and fried dough sticks, we strolled in the ancient town. At this time, Zhenyuan took off the gorgeous and bright brocade clothes of the night, and was peaceful and elegant, with the modest beauty of lotus in clear water.

The strong local ethnic atmosphere hit me in the face, and I felt a little excited. There was a direct bus from Zhenyuan Railway Station to the ancient town, and it seemed that we were the only two tourists on the bus, so I was secretly happy.

Zhenyuan Ancient Town still retains a relatively primitive atmosphere. The ancient town is surrounded by mountains and Wuyang River runs through the ancient town. Due to the off-season, the ancient town is very quiet. After getting off the bus, it was about 200 meters away from the inn where we stayed. We could only drag the suitcases on the clattering bluestone road, which was a bit strenuous. We lived by the river and the scenery was very good. I was very happy that I had never lived in an ancient town. There were many inns, restaurants and taverns on both sides of the river~

After leaving the Qinglong Cave Scenic Area, stroll along the river to the commercial street Heping Village and then walk back to the hotel. The entire ancient town is almost finished. You need to walk from day to night. On the way, you will pass several old docks and visit many small shops.

For breakfast, my friends went to buy steamed buns, eggs, soy milk and jueba. It seems that they don’t know how to make steamed buns here. The ones we bought were all unpalatable. . . Jueba was delicious. . .

We arrived at Zhenyuan Ancient Town at 7:30 in the evening. We couldn't help but take photos crazily when we saw the noisy and gorgeous night view. There was a bar and band singing on the bank of Wuyang River. It didn't look like the ancient town we had imagined at all. The night view was so beautiful that we couldn't help but linger.

The next morning, at 6 o'clock, it was still dark and the ancient town was still sleeping. A thin layer of morning mist covered the top of the mountain in the distance. The houses nearby were reflected in the calm Wuyang River without a trace of water. Three or two early risers were walking on the stone street. It felt like Zhenyuan had the flavor of an ancient town at this time.

Zhenyuan is an ancient city in a remote corner. It is not really big. Although it is called an ancient city, this is the area of buildings. The rest of the impression it left on me is more like the county town where I grew up. People's lives are still relatively backward, primitive and rough, but I also fell in love with it as much as I love the county town where I grew up.

Most ancient towns are built near mountains and rivers, and Zhenyuan is no exception. I first saw it in a village in Qiandongnan, Guizhou. The first impression was that it was quiet, and besides the quietness, there was also a very strong atmosphere of life.

I don’t know if it was the off-season when we went there, but there were not many tourists. The Wuyang River and the Gaoguo River intersected and passed through the town, stretching into the distance.

It was already afternoon when we arrived.

Just like the first impression, this is indeed a very quiet place, with a sense of being free from worldly desires.

The architecture is in the Huizhou style, which is the same as the architectural style of the entire Zhenyuan Ancient Town. There are some small houses hidden in those large buildings. It is said that here, the higher the family status, the higher the wall of the building. In the past, this could be used to identify which local wealthy families were.

Walking slowly inside from an alley, the whole ancient town is very peaceful and quiet, with not many tourists. You can calmly appreciate the architecture of the entire ancient town and the feelings of time left in every brick and tile. Not only are there not many tourists, but even locals are rarely seen. Occasionally, two playing children run by, and then there are not many people again.

Such an ancient town is very suitable for taking photos and lingering. Occasionally, I sit quietly outside the lightly closed door and take a photo, and the breath of time comes to my face. I have been to many ancient towns. Although each has its own characteristics, many of them have been heavily commercialized. To be honest, I feel very repulsive. However, Zhenyuan Ancient Town did not give me such a feeling. The sister who was traveling with me also said that this place is very suitable for couples to come here to fall in love. It is like a small world that will not be disturbed by anyone. I hope it can always remain so clean and independent.

The ancient town looks small, but it is an illusion. I walked along the winding path without knowing where I was going. Before I knew it, I came to a place with higher terrain. There was a small terrace with chairs and tables, but no one took care of it. We sat there to rest. The ancient town seen from here was very beautiful.

Zhenyuan has a different charm after nightfall. There are often people singing and ordering songs by the river. I can listen to the singing by the river while eating. The breeze blows through the willow trees, reflecting the lights of the ancient city near and far. The people under the trees look even more lovely.

According to online reviews, it is better than Fenghuang Ancient Town, and each has its own characteristics. The ancient town is surrounded by mountains, with a river in the middle. There are many ancient buildings and ancient houses in the alleys in the city. There are many ancient docks along the Wuyang River. When you go to Zhenyuan, you must walk in the long and deep ancient alleys, look at the ancient houses with high walls and courtyards on both sides, and experience the life of local residents, which is different from Fenghuang Ancient Town. I asked the locals and they said that you can climb to the top of Shiping Mountain along the alley to overlook the ancient city, and there is no entrance fee. It takes about half an hour to climb up.

Taxis in town are all shared. It's 5 yuan for outsiders and 4 yuan for locals. Just pay this amount no matter where you go.

We went to the ancient street, but after walking around, the overall feeling was not very good. It was basically newly built, not ancient, and the food was not special.

In conclusion, Zhenyuan Ancient Town, the name sounds quite misleading, but there are actually very few ancient places here. If you are short on time, you can completely ignore this place and go to other cities.

I got off at Zaimi Wharf in the ancient town, which is exactly the location of the ancient town archway and also the preferred location for everyone to take photos in the ancient town. I think it is most convenient to choose accommodation between the ancient town archway and Zhusheng Bridge. On both ends of Zhusheng Bridge is the entrance to Shiping Mountain on one side and Qinglong Cave on the other side; Sifangjing Lane, Fuxing Lane, and Siguandian are all distributed in this section.

Surrounded by mountains, it seems like a mysterious village unknown to the public, quiet and colorful. It lacks the crowded streets of Lijiang Ancient Town, but has the tranquility of Zhenyuan; it lacks the hustle and bustle of Fenghuang Ancient Town, but has the ancient charm of Zhenyuan.

In the early morning, walk on the ancient bridge, listen to the raindrops falling, and see the vicissitudes of history. Walking into the Zhenyuan Ancient Town, every brick and tile shows the Hui-style architecture, and has the charm of Jiangnan. The ancient streets and alleys are winding, the stone bridges and city walls are scattered, the morning mist on the clear water is in various shapes, and the fishing fires on the spring river are poetic. Slowly walk through these ancient city walls and see the changes in the world.

Every brick and tile reflects the Hui-style architecture and has a Jiangnan flavor.

The ancient streets and alleys are winding and secluded, the stone bridges and city walls are scattered and orderly, the clear water and morning mist are in various shapes, and the fishing fires on the spring river are poetic.

The lights of Zhenyuan are particularly shy, and the faint afterglow fills the entire city. In the ancient town at night, sitting by the river, counting the crisp folk songs, walking in the ancient city, it seems that this ancient city belongs to you. People in groups of three or two, near the bar, are singing moving ballads. The lights of Zhenyuan are particularly shy, and the faint afterglow fills the entire city.

Strolling in the city at night is relaxing and comfortable; strolling in the town in the early morning is peaceful and far-reaching.

The ancient town is even more charming and beautiful at night. When the lights come on, the entire Wuyang River is illuminated. The bar singers on the shore sing devotedly, giving you a feeling of time interweaving and a perfect interpretation of classical and modern. Although the place is brightly lit, it is not overly commercialized and there are not many people. If you have enough time, it would be great to stay here for a week.

By chance, I came to Tianyuan, located on the bank of Wuyang River. This is an ancient town that perfectly combines the Jiangnan style and the alpine terrain. Escape from the noisy city. There are no tourists shoulder to shoulder here, nor the noise of Fenghuang Ancient Town. Compared with these prosperous ancient towns, it is less lively and worldly. Enjoy the unique tranquility. Zhenyuan is not very big. It takes enough to spend a day. You don’t need to deliberately find a tour route. Just walk in the alleys you like. Don’t expect any particularly amazing activities and encounters here. It is only suitable for tourists who travel with a relaxed mood and pursue tranquility, and enjoy the original slow life. I like the Zhenyuan Ancient Town in the morning mist. The fresh air, unique buildings, a boat rowing over, and the rippling blue waves give people a full sense of comfort. This is a river that makes people forget to return. The water is clear and the ripples on the river slide like silk. The hazy peaks in the distance gradually disappear at the bend of the river. If you stand on a high place and look down, it is like a beautiful ribbon floating in the mountains. The ancient alleys in the ancient town are narrow and deep, with various ancient buildings, red lanterns on the gates, and pedestrians strolling leisurely. It seems that you can see a time-travel painting here, but people are all in modern cities. Every bluestone slab and every blue brick here records historical relics and tells the vicissitudes of the thousand-year-old ancient town. When you walk into the alley, you will find that the doors on both sides of the alley are of the same pattern. With the large pieces of bluestone as the door frame, they look heavy and a little narrow. There are always a few steps in front of each house, some high and some low. In addition to the green mountains and waters full of ancient charm, you can't miss the fragrant, tender and refreshing Zhenyuan tofu when you come to Zhenyuan. Especially the Yuanjia tofu and Dengjia tofu in the ancient city area, which have traditional craftsmanship, melt in your mouth and taste delicious. The ancient town is brightly lit at night. The dazzling lights are reflected on the bluestone road in the rain, which looks simple and melodious. The bustling passers-by hurriedly pass by, as if they were lonely in another world, and the prosperity returns to silence. It is also a special experience to walk and stop in this quiet town. The lights along the banks of Wuyang River are very stunning, making the ancient town gorgeous again. The night view is centered on Zhusheng Bridge, connecting the city and the Acropolis, which are brightly lit. The soft red light makes the ancient town dreamlike. In the distance, a hand-cranked boat slowly sailing on the river surface comes with beautiful and pleasant singing. This is the charm of an ancient city with the reputation of "Venice of the East".

Compared with the commercialized Fenghuang Ancient Town, this place still retains some original ecology. When I came here, it was the time when the local primary and secondary school students were leaving school. The students walked on the road in groups, some running, some chasing each other. It added a vibrant vitality to the originally quiet county town.

Although it is late autumn, the midday sun is still very strong. You will feel very warm after a while. I am also lucky that there is bright sunshine every day these days. Along the Wuyang River, many inns have been newly built. But now it seems to be the off-season, and there are not many people. After the excitement of just getting out of school, the whole town seems to have become quiet again. The old street under the bright sun. The houses here are still built with local characteristics. For lunch in the town, the Guizhou cuisine here is still very distinctive. The meat fried with peas is wrapped in lettuce. This is the first time I have eaten this way. Paper-wrapped fish is also said to be a more distinctive way of eating here. Although I only stayed in Zhenyuan for more than two hours, I actually like this quiet and simple town from the bottom of my heart. Pure river water, clean alleys, and quiet small county town. I will definitely come here again if I have the opportunity, and stay here to slowly experience everything here.

The ancient city of Zhenyuan is located in Zhenyuan County, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou Province. The river meanders through the city in an "S" shape. The north bank is the old prefectural city, and the south bank is the old acropolis. Both cities were built in the Ming Dynasty, and some city walls and gates still exist. There are many ancient buildings, traditional houses, and historical docks inside and outside the city. According to records, the ancient Zhenyuan was located at the junction of the historical "Wuxi Barbarians" and "Baiyue People". In the first year of Shaoding in the Song Dynasty (1226), it was named Zhenyuan Prefecture, and the name "Zhenyuan" has been used ever since. Zhenyuan has a long history. It has a history of more than 2,280 years since the establishment of the county in the 30th year of King Zhao of Qin (277 BC). It was the seat of Dao and Fu for more than 700 years in the Yuan and Qing Dynasties. On January 7, 2020, the ancient town of Zhenyuan was designated as a national AAAAA-level tourist attraction by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. This is some information about the ancient city of Zhenyuan. Based on my personal experience, I highly recommend traveling to Zhenyuan Ancient Town. Friends who visit Guizhou should not miss this attraction.

The night view of the streets and riverside is gorgeous, but if you go to the museum, you will find that the essence of the ancient city is hidden in the alleys. Go to Sifangjing Alley, Fuxing Alley and other alleys, you will be surprised!

Overall it was okay, but maybe because I am from Guizhou and I have been to Qingyan Ancient Town in Guiyang before, I didn’t feel it was amazing.

The Qinglongdong ancient building complex was first built in the 21st year of the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty. It is built against the mountain and is a garden wonder of ancient buildings attached to the cliff. Buy a ticket on Ctrip and go up the stairs. What comes into view is the flying eaves, carved beams and painted buildings. The quiet and secluded temple Zentai Academy is integrated with the ancient trees on the cliff. It is a complex of buildings that combines the Central Plains architecture with the Miao and Dong stilt-style buildings.

Looking down at the ancient town, the view becomes wider and wider as the height increases, with blue bricks and black tiles among the clouds and the whole city surrounded by blue waves.

At noon the next day, after having lunch in the Miao village, I packed my luggage and left, and took a Didi ride to Zhenyuan Ancient Town.

I have been to and experienced the ancient town of Fenghuang, a border town described by Shen Congwen. But I feel that the ancient town of Zhenyuan is more like a border town. Under the karst mountains on both sides, it is a beautiful picture scroll.

Walking along the inner roads of the ancient city, I kept taking in the history of the place, walked into the museum to stay for a while, and then walked towards the Qinglong Bridge to enjoy the scenery from the bridge.

It is still a highly recommended scenic spot, the ancient town style is as beautiful as a painting, and you can stay there for 1 or 2 days without rushing. It is especially beautiful at night.

It takes 1.5 hours from Kaili Station to Zhenyuan Station. You can take a taxi or a bus after getting off the train, because there is a bus terminal at the entrance of the train station with seats. You don't need to take a bus when you are playing in Zhenyuan. I always walk. There are several scenic spots around it, some for mountain climbing and some for mountain climbing and wading. You can choose according to your preference.

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Zhenyuan gives me a very direct feeling. Surrounded by mountains, the Wuyang River runs through the city in an S shape. It is quiet yet bustling. The quietness refers to the small alleys and houses on both sides of the river, which are quiet and simple, while the bustling crowds on the bridges by the river are bustling. It is like an old man sitting by the river, quietly watching every passerby, never saying a word for himself, just waiting for the discovery of the destined person.

Zhenyuan Ancient Town is also a famous town in Southeast Guizhou, located in Zhenyuan County on the banks of Wuyang River. Zhenyuan is an ancient Miao town with a long history of more than 2,000 years. The ancient town is located on the main road into Guizhou, with Wuyang River running through the town in an "S" shape and surrounded by mountains.

When traveling in Zhenyuan, the attractions you can visit are:

1. View Zhusheng Bridge from a distance (the side near Qinglong Cave is better for taking portraits)

2. Visit Qinglong Cave (you can overlook the scenery of the ancient town)

3. Tour the ancient alleys

4. Climb Shiping Mountain (because my mother's knees are not very good and she is not suitable for climbing steep places, so we finally gave up on going to Shiping Mountain)

Many people say that the night view of Zhenyuan is better than the day view, but I think the day view is no less beautiful than the night view. The night view is a little bit like the scene in "Spirited Away".

In the ancient city of Zhenyuan, there is a Wuyang River running through it, and the water is green. There are several bridges in the city, and the most beautiful one is the Zhusheng Bridge. Buildings on both sides of the Wuyang River are built along the river, and many have been converted into hotels and B&Bs. Usually, there are balconies on the riverside of the rooms, and there are rocking chairs on the balconies. It is so pleasant to sit in a rocking chair and look at the Wuyang River and the Zhusheng Bridge!

While walking along the Wuyang River, we encountered trains passing by in the distance several times. The whole town was filled with the clanging sounds of trains, and it felt like a scene from an old movie.

When I was looking up travel guides, I found Zhenyuan and felt that Shen Congwen's "Border Town" should have taken place in such a small town. In short, it just felt so good!

My travel notes: A trip to Guizhou - Huangguoshu Waterfall/Libo Xiaoqikong/Zhenyuan/Xingyi Wanfenglin travel notes http://www.mafengwo.cn/i/20581885.html

The ancient town of Zhenyuan is located on the bank of the Wuyang River and is surrounded by mountains. The river flows through the city in an "S" shape. The river water is very similar to that of Libo and is also blue-green. The ancient town has a history of more than 2,000 years. Compared with other ancient towns, I personally feel that the commercialization here is not very heavy, and the prices of the things sold are not outrageously expensive. Moreover, many ancient alleys are preserved in the ancient town. The ancient alleys are narrow, long and deep, with intricate structures and all bluestone roads. Many old houses and old wells can also be seen inside. The more famous alleys include Sifangjing Alley, Renshou Alley, Shipaifang Alley, etc. There are also more distinctive crooked ways. The gate of the house is not facing the alley but diagonally facing the street. The gate is not perpendicular or parallel to the alley, and the hall is definitely not facing the alley. This architectural style is mainly because there were many merchants living here in the past. Merchants pay attention to Feng Shui, and they don’t show their wealth or face the alley with their doors. To see the panoramic view of the whole ancient town, you can go to Shiping Mountain, where there is an observation deck. Normally, you go up from Zhusheng Bridge and pay 30 yuan for the ticket. I saw on the Internet that there is a way up from Sifangjing without paying the ticket, but when we went there, we found that there were three ways. Go up from Sifangjing and then go to the right. There is a small iron gate, which is locked. Then go up from the leftmost road and walk to Siguandian. There is a fee there. Maybe it was because we went there during the National Day, so there was a fee. But when we came down, it was 5:30. I saw that the small iron gate was open, and there was no fee to go up from there. Shiping Mountain is not high. We went up from the road on the left side of Sifangjing. It was more difficult to walk there, and it only took 1 hour. If we took the right road, we should get to the observation deck faster, and we can also see the ancient city wall on the mountain. The night view of the ancient town is also beautiful. The lights on both sides of the river are bright at night. The riverside on the other side of the ancient town is full of bars and restaurants, and there are many people there at night.

Zhenyuan Ancient Town is a famous town in Zhenyuan County, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou Province. It is located on the bank of Wuyang River and surrounded by mountains. The river meanders through the city in an "S" shape. Zhenyuan is known as the key to Yunnan and Chu and the gateway to eastern Guizhou. The ancient streets and alleys in the city are winding and secluded, such as Sifang Lane and Fuxing Lane. Because of their winding, intricate and irregular paths, they have formed the architectural characteristics of crooked houses. The stone bridges and city walls are scattered and orderly. There are two bridges on the Wuyang River. The west side is newly built and the locals call it the New Bridge. Between the old and new bridges is the boundary of the ancient town in the traditional sense. You must climb Shiping Mountain to view the panoramic view of the ancient city and the Wuyang River Big S Bay. Qinglong Cave is the Chinese Mountain Cliff Architecture Cultural Museum. If the town during the day is compared to a small jade, fresh and beautiful, then Zhenyuan at night is charming and poetic under the moonlight and lights. It is worth a visit.

Zhenyuan Ancient Town is a famous town in Zhenyuan County, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou Province. It is located on the bank of Wuyang River and surrounded by mountains. The river meanders through the city in an "S" shape. The north bank is the old prefectural city, and the south bank is the old acropolis. From a distance, it looks like a Tai Chi diagram. Both cities were built in the Ming Dynasty, and some city walls and gates still exist. There are many ancient buildings, traditional houses, and historical docks inside and outside the city. Zhenyuan Ancient Town has convenient transportation and a superior location. The Hunan-Guizhou Railway, Zhuliu Double Line, National Highway 320, and Shanghai-Kunming Expressway pass through the town. It is 90 kilometers, 170 kilometers, and 270 kilometers away from Tongren, Hunan Zhijiang, and Guiyang Airport respectively. The county borders Hunan Xinhuang in the east, Sansui and Jianhe in the south, Shibing in the west, and Cengong and Tongren Shiqian in the north. It is known as the "key to Yunnan and Chu, and the gateway to eastern Guizhou." Zhenyuan has a long history. It has a history of 2,281 years since it was established as a county in the 30th year of King Zhao of Qin. It was the seat of a circuit and a prefecture for more than 700 years in the Yuan and Qing dynasties.

I had always longed for this place before I went to Fenghuang two years ago. I was planning to go to Zhenyuan on the way back from Fenghuang, until the highway from Sansui to the ancient city was opened. Compared with Fenghuang, Zhenyuan brought me more surprises. Although it is inevitable to develop commercially, I strolled along the Wuyang River from Zhusheng Bridge. The scenery was endless and free, and my mind gradually opened up.

Zhenyuan Ancient Town is a famous town in Zhenyuan County, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou Province. It is located on the bank of Wuyang River and surrounded by mountains. The river meanders through the city in an "S" shape. The north bank is the old prefectural city, and the south bank is the old acropolis. From a distance, it looks like a Tai Chi diagram.

As the sky gradually turned white, the unexpected morning sun rose, and soon it became a bright sun with thousands of rays of light. The scenery by the river suddenly became brighter, no longer as dim as in the early morning. All the buildings, willow trees, and river water exuded vitality, and the picture of the ancient town became vivid! This really made me unable to suppress my excitement. No matter how hot the weather was, it was nothing with the company of beautiful scenery.



Zhusheng Bridge is the landmark building of Zhenyuan. On one end of the bridge is the Qinglong Cave ancient building complex, and on the other end is Shiping Mountain. Together with the rushing Wuyang River, the four scenic spots complement each other and constitute the core and soul of the ancient town.



Walking on the stone road on one side of the city, the buildings on both sides are similar to Hui-style buildings. It may feel a bit monotonous after seeing them too much, but you will inadvertently pass by two archways with Sifangjing Lane and Fuxing Lane inscribed on them respectively. These two lanes look very ordinary from the street, but if you have heard of the reputation of Zhenyuan's residential houses being "evil and unorthodox", you will definitely be curious and want to go in to find out.

When I first arrived at this ancient town, I actually regretted it a bit, thinking that the scenery on both sides of the river was all there was. Later, I went inside the ancient town, and the stone paths were quite interesting. There were no special attractions. There were not many people on both sides of the river during the day, but at night, the shops on both sides would put tables and chairs outside, so you could sit by the river to have dinner and watch the night view. On the Shiping Mountain opposite the Qinglongdong River, you can see the entire ancient town from the highest point, where there is something like an ancient city wall. I don't remember the name of the mountain.

Zhenyuan, I came here purely by chance, but it is my favorite place in the trip. Zhenyuan is a charming little town, different from the ancient towns I usually go to. Here, um, it can't be said to be quaint, but the buildings are of a unified style, built along the river, the river water is clear and blue. During the boat trip, crude words can't express the shock that Zhenyuan brought to my senses and soul. It's like a master who doesn't show off his talents, making people indulge in it.

It reminds me of a saying, "Choose a city to live in for the rest of your life, and meet someone to grow old with."

If there is such a choice, if I can "discard" what I have, if I have a blank slate, then I will choose Zhenyuan at the moment.

Zhenyuan, I firmly believe that I will meet it again. I hope that one day, I can stay there longer and wander in the small town of landscape painting.

Zhenyuan Ancient Town is a place suitable for a whole day of fun. It is highly recommended to stay here for a night, listening to songs, drinking wine and hugging girls. Isn't life supposed to be so comfortable?

"Evil ways" are a unique feature of Zhenyuan's residential architecture.

The front doors of houses beside the alleys are never parallel or perpendicular to the alleys, and the alleys are never directly opposite the halls. Instead, the doors are intentionally turned at an angle to face the street diagonally, which is the so-called "evil" (slanting) road.

Zhenyuan Ancient Town, I personally think it is the most worthwhile ancient town to visit. Compared with Lijiang Ancient Town and Hunan Fenghuang Ancient Town, the commercial development here is well controlled. The ancient town is not very big. If conditions permit, it is recommended to stay in a river view room in the inn near Zhusheng Bridge. The price of a double room in the off-peak tourist season is generally over 200 yuan. If you want to be cheaper, you can consider staying near Zhenyuan Tianhou Palace. The price of a double room in the off-peak tourist season is generally around 130 yuan. It takes about 20 minutes to walk to Zhusheng Bridge. If you want to eat fresh sour soup fish, please see the picture. After ordering, the fish will be slaughtered right under your eyes. The price is also very fair. The restaurants by the river are relatively more expensive. It takes about 4 hours to take a green train from Guiyang Railway Station to Zhenyuan Station, and then it is not expensive to take a taxi to the inn where you want to stay.

This is basically the worst ancient town I have ever been to. I don't know where the good reviews come from? Or are there not enough places to go? The same shabby imitation ancient buildings are endless, the things sold are not special, the hygiene is very poor, and it is crowded. When you park your car in the morning, someone will poop around twice. This is a place I will never come again.

There are many scenic spots in Zhenyuan Ancient City, and the night view is also worth seeing.

Climbing up Qinglong Cave, you can see the whole picture of the ancient city.

Zhenyuan Ancient Town has a not very strong ancient town atmosphere and a nice night view

The night view is nice, very beautiful, and the city layout is good

Zhenyuan Ancient Town and Zhusheng Bridge are worth a visit.

The ancient city of Zhenyuan is a "traditional cultural maze" entirely composed of scenic spots and historical sites, and is called the "World Cultural Protection Circle" by experts.

Living by the river, you can enjoy the night view. The night view is very good and the weather is also very good.

The ancient city of Zhenyuan on the banks of the Wuyang River is known as the "Gateway to Eastern Guizhou."

Zhenyuan Ancient Town is a famous town in Zhenyuan County, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou Province.

Zhenyuan Ancient Town is a famous town in Zhenyuan County, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou Province. It is located on the bank of Wuyang River and surrounded by mountains. The river meanders through the city in an "S" shape. The north bank is the old prefectural city, and the south bank is the old acropolis. From a distance, it looks like a Tai Chi diagram.

The ancient town of Zhenyuan is known as "the lock of Yunnan and Chu, the gateway to eastern Guizhou" and is well worth a visit.

I am deeply fascinated by the Zhenyuan Ancient Town in the morning and at night.

It's a nice ancient town. I recommend going there in the afternoon so you can see both the sunset and the night view!

An ancient city with its own unique charm, strong yet gentle.

Zhenyuan Ancient Town is a famous town in Zhenyuan County, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou Province. It is located on the banks of the Wuyang River and is surrounded by mountains.

The scenery is pleasant and the local customs are quite special and beautiful

The famous Zhenyuan is a town formed along the Wuyang River. It is now a commercial street. It is cold and there are few tourists. The hotel waiters go to the door and try their best to attract customers.

It is said that Zhenyuan has a lot of delicious food, but I didn't taste anything particularly delicious. Maybe it's not to the taste of Guangzhou people. The night view of Zhenyuan is beautiful.

Compared with the extremely famous ancient cities of Yangshuo, Lijiang and Fenghuang, Zhenyuan Ancient City is much quieter. Most of the people doing business here are locals, and the nightlife here is not very rich. Not long after dark, the streets gradually return to tranquility, and tourists often choose to quietly enjoy the night view on the balcony.

Zhenyuan Ancient Town and Qingyan Ancient Town are two famous ancient towns in Guizhou. I visited both during this trip to Guizhou. In comparison, Qingyan Ancient Town is more commercialized than Zhenyuan Ancient Town, and Zhenyuan Ancient Town is more impressive than Qingyan Ancient Town. In terms of cost-effectiveness, it is far worse than ancient towns such as Wuzhen and Zhouzhuang. This is just my personal opinion.

The ancient town of Zhenyuan in 2013 was plain, simple and quiet. Compared with the more popular Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village, Zhenyuan is not as famous, so there are not as many tourists visiting, but it has become my favorite ancient town in Guizhou.

The rain stopped, and the bluestone pavement in the ancient town reflected the Hui-style buildings like a mirror. It was rare to see the comfortable and peaceful life in a mature ancient town. After dinner, most of the small shops on the street were closed. The Zhusheng Bridge was constantly changing colors, and many old photographers were clicking their shutters on the bridge or on the shore.

There are many alleys here, collectively known as "Ancient Alleys of Crooked Doors and Evil Ways", which are a group of buildings left over from the Qing Dynasty, imitating the characteristics of Hui-style architecture. There are many courtyards of wealthy families at that time, such as the Quanjia Courtyard, the Fuji Courtyard, etc. There is really nowhere to go today, so I just walked around and took pictures along the way.

According to old experience, climb up and find the former residence that has not been commercialized, so as to do justice to this ancient town that is more than 2,000 years old. Don't be tired, just climb.

On August 27, 2014, I went to Zhenyuan on my way back to Sichuan from Hunan via Guizhou. I had a quick visit. I felt that it was not as commercialized as Fenghuang Ancient Town. Although it was the peak tourist season in August, there were not many tourists. It was quiet and peaceful, surrounded by mountains and rivers, and it could be regarded as a beautiful mountain and water town.

Walking in the dimly lit and bustling streets of the ancient town, I felt the atmosphere of the thousand-year-old town for the first time. The ancient town is much quieter during the day than at night. The Wuyang River runs through the city in an "S" shape, with the old prefectural city on the north bank and the old acropolis on the south bank, which looks like a Tai Chi diagram from a distance.

It's a very beautiful place, best to stay for a while in the off-season and enjoy the slow life here.

Zhenyuan is a bit like Fenghuang in Hunan. In fact, it is very close to Hunan. It is the eastern gate of Guizhou Province and is known as the "key to Yunnan and Chu, and the gateway to eastern Guizhou."

Zhenyuan Ancient Town is very lively at night, with bright lights. However, the government is very wise and has a curfew after 11pm every night.

The ancient town is surrounded by mountains and rivers. It is quaint and not very big. It is enough to stay for one night to see the night view.

Zhenyuan is not much different from all the ancient towns in China. It is a bit aesthetically pleasing and there is nothing worth visiting. However, if you walk up along the bluestone alley of Sifangjing, you will find it has a sense of age.

Zhenyuan Ancient Town is relatively small in area, with relatively concentrated accommodation and a variety of accommodation options.

If you want to appreciate the characteristics of the ancient town, it is best to choose an inn by the river, where the lights are dim at night.

There are three special dishes in Zhenyuan Ancient Town: Daocai Pork, Tiexi Braised Goose Meat and Smoked Pork Feet. If there are few people, you can only order Daocai Pork. The portions of Tiexi Braised Goose Meat and Smoked Pork Feet are too large for 5-6 people to finish. The local famous sour soup fish tastes pretty good.

After yesterday's trip to Fanjing Mountain, even the most famous places may become unworthy of mention. This is probably what Zhenyuan Ancient Town means at this moment. If someone tricks you into thinking that the night view of Zhenyuan Ancient Town is beautiful, then I want to tell you that it is far inferior to the ancient towns in Jiangsu and Zhejiang. I have always had a complex about ancient towns, and I like all ancient buildings, but Zhenyuan Ancient Town is really a place where you don't need to live.

The whole ancient town is not big, but it is very commercialized. It has been covered by merchants from all over the country. You can even see buildings with Hui-style horse-head walls, which shows that Hui merchants are all over the world! Of course, you can also see the local stilt houses.

The night view of Zhenyuan is quite good. The buildings on both sides of the street are different colors, one is white and the other is yellow, forming a bright color, which is very beautiful at night.

Walking on the ancient bridge, looking at another modern bridge in the distance, it looks like a mask, very charming. It has the characteristics of an ancient town, the haziness of a water town, and modern lights.

In Zhenyuan, even the buses in the ancient town have their own ancient flavor, with bluestone roads that have spanned thousands of years.

Zhenyuan Ancient Town is a famous town in Zhenyuan County, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou Province. It is located on the bank of Wuyang River and surrounded by mountains. The river meanders through the city in an "S" shape. The north bank is the old prefectural city, and the south bank is the old acropolis. From a distance, it looks like a Tai Chi diagram. Both cities were built in the Ming Dynasty, and some city walls and gates still exist. There are many ancient buildings, traditional houses, and historical docks inside and outside the city. The county borders Xinhuang, Hunan in the east, Sansui and Jianhe in the south, Shibing in the west, and Shiqian in Cengong and Tongren in the north. It is known as the "key to Yunnan and Chu, and the gateway to eastern Guizhou". Zhenyuan has a long history. It has a history of 2,281 years since the establishment of the county in the 30th year of King Zhao of Qin (277 BC). It was the seat of Dao and Fu for more than 700 years in the Yuan and Qing dynasties.

Now it is very commercialized. There are shops and inns on both sides of the street. All the buildings are based on the architectural features of the Miao and Dong ethnic groups. They are decorated with ethnic characteristics and attract many students to come here for sketching.