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As someone with a fondness for ancient towns, visiting them has become a passion of mine when traveling. Perhaps because I'm from the Jiangnan region, I'm used to seeing ancient towns with small bridges, flowing water, and houses. But ancient towns like Qingyan really captivate me. I love their cultural heritage, their tranquility, and their lively atmosphere.
So, when you visit Guizhou, a visit to the famous Qingyan Ancient Town is a must. Take a moment to relax, stroll through the ancient town, and experience its unique charm while also exploring popular check-in spots. Today, I want to recommend this ancient town to everyone who has visited Guizhou, or is about to visit.
Qingyan Ancient Town is currently Guiyang's only national 5A-level tourist attraction. Founded during the Ming Dynasty (as part of the central government's efforts to control the southwestern border), it boasts a wealth of well-preserved Ming and Qing dynasty architecture and served as a filming location for the famous film "The Gun." A strategic point connecting Guiyang to Yunnan and Guangxi, it is named after its cyan-colored rocks and is one of Guizhou's four ancient towns (the others being Zhenyuan, Bing'an, and Longli). With a rich history and rich regional cultural character, Qingyan Ancient Town is well worth a visit.
Qingyan Ancient Towncheck the details
Qingyan Ancient Town, located in Huaxi District, Guiyang City, Guizhou Province, is Guiyang's first national 5A-level tourist attraction. Originally built during the Ming Dynasty, it boasts a wealth of well-preserved ancient buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties. It is considered one of Guizhou's four great ancient towns, along with Zhenyuan, Bing'an, and Longli. Nestled within the mountainside, its walls are built of massive stones on the cliffs, with four gates located in the east, west, south, and north. The town's architectural masterpieces, featuring exquisite stone and wood carvings, are a major attraction.
Recommended months: March to October
3211 recommendations, 3553 visits
Tips:
Why is it called Qingyan Ancient Town?
As the name suggests, Qingyan Ancient Town is built of blue-gray stone, hence the name. Some also call it Stone City. In this ancient town, the city gates, walls, and even the houses and other buildings are built with huge stones. Therefore, the names of various buildings here all contain the word "stone", such as Stone City Gate, Stone Street, Stone Lane, Stone Archway... It is no exaggeration to say that this is a "stone art world".
Qingyan Ancient Town is located 15 kilometers south of Huaxi District and approximately 29 kilometers from downtown Guiyang. Guiyang currently has two dedicated tourist lines to Qingyan Ancient Town: Guiyang Station and Guiyang North Station.
① Stops along the way: Railway Station, Kongzhao, Hongyang Factory, Provincial Party School, Qingyan Ancient Town (Tourism Distribution Center)
②Price: 10 yuan/person
③Departure time:
From the railway station to Qingyan Ancient Town, the first bus is at 09:00 and the last bus is at 17:30 (every hour).
From Qingyan Ancient Town to the railway station, the first bus leaves at 10:30 and the last bus leaves at 19:00 (every hour).
① Stops along the way: Guiyang North Railway Station, Gaicha, Jiaxiu South Road (North), Huaxi Pingqiao, Huaxi Administrative Center, Daxingguo Temple, Qingyan Ancient Town (Tourism Distribution Center)
②Price: 10 yuan/person
③Departure time:
From Guiyang North Station to Qingyan Ancient Town, the first bus departs at 09:00 and the last bus departs at 17:30 (every hour).
From Qingyan Ancient Town to Guiyang North Station, the first bus leaves at 10:30 and the last bus leaves at 19:00 (every hour).
There is an airport bus available from Guiyang Airport to Qingyan Ancient Town (Airport Line 5), 20 yuan per person, with departure times at 09:00, 12:00, 15:00, and 18:00. The return bus pick-up location is the parking lot at the west gate of the scenic area.
In addition to the above three methods, you can also go to Huaguoyuan Twin Towers Station and take bus No. 210, get off at Qingyanbao Station after 24 stops (it takes about 2 hours), or go to Huaxi Bus Station, where there is a special minibus to Qingyan Ancient Town, operating hours: 07:00-22:00, fare 4 yuan per person.
You can choose the method above based on the proximity. If you find public transportation troublesome, you can also take a taxi directly from the city. The cost is 80-100 yuan and it takes about 1 hour.
Qingyan Ancient Town boasts a history of over 600 years. Though not as famous as Lijiang or Fenghuang, it once housed many famous people, including Zhou Enlai's father and Deng Yingchao's mother, who left their mark on life. Consequently, Qingyan Ancient Town boasts numerous former residences of famous figures, and you might even stumble upon the place where Zhou Enlai's father once lived.
Entering Qingyan, you'll discover four gates encircling the town: east, west, south, and north. Numerous stone archways stand tall within the town, bearing the marks of time. Three remain well-preserved, two of which are over a century old: Zhao Caizhang's Centenary Archway (101 years old) and Zhao Lilun's Centenary Archway (102 years old). Interested visitors are encouraged to visit and check them out.
Tips:
The ticket to the ancient town is 10 yuan, and the pass is 80 yuan, which allows you to see all the attractions in the area. Foreign tourists or people over 60 years old can enjoy a half-price discount of only 40 yuan.
The streets of the entire ancient town are lined with old buildings on both sides, and the residents of the town also maintain their own pace of life. The entire ancient town is simple and quiet, full of the breath of life.
Here are some recommended photo spots for you~
Back Street is Qingyan's most distinctive stone alley, lined with layers of stone walls, making it a perfect photo spot. The filming location for "Searching for the Gun" was here, but perhaps due to the increasing number of people there, the stone slabs are now particularly smooth.
The courtyard walls are built with layers of stone, and the road is narrow and quiet.
The ancient town has four city gates in the east, south, west and north. You can climb up the city wall and overlook the scenery of the town.
Wenchang Pavilion was built during the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty and renovated during the Qianlong reign. Built of brick and wood, it sits against the mountainside and features an octagonal structure with double-story towers. In ancient times, it was a popular spot for scholars to study, gather, and worship the Emperor Wenchang.
In this small town, Buddhism, Taoism, Catholicism and Christianity coexist, and a Christian church and a Catholic church are also preserved.
Wanshou Palace was built during the reign of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty and rebuilt in the third year of Emperor Jiaqing's reign (1798). It was not originally a Taoist temple, but the Jiangxi Guild Hall, a place for merchants traveling from south to north. It was later transformed into a Taoist temple.
If you are not interested in religion, you can take a check-in photo at the door. After all, the architectural style is unique.
In addition to the above check-in spots, every street and alley in Qingyan Ancient Town will allow you to discover different beauties. Be sure to calm down and look for them.
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￥3180 from 16296 people have registered Register nowQingyan Ancient Town boasts a rich history and unique local culture, as well as a wide variety of mouth-watering delicacies. Here's a list of the top 10 Qingyan delicacies to salivate over!
1. Qingyan Braised Pork Trotters: The pig's trotters are salty, fragrant, soft and delicious.
Recommendation index: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Recommended reason: The salty and sticky taste that carnivores cannot miss.
2. Cake porridge: fragrant, refreshing, sweet but not greasy.
Recommendation index: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Recommended reason: The hot and fragrant dish is full of flavor, the sweet cake is crumbly, and the soft dish leaves a lingering aftertaste.
3. Rose ice jelly: The rose fragrance is a good medicine for prolonging life in summer.
Recommendation index: ⭐⭐⭐half
Recommended reason: It has a more rose scent than ordinary ice jelly.
4. Chicken Chili Corner: Cut the chicken into small pieces and stir-fry it with chili peppers and various ingredients.
Recommendation index: ⭐⭐⭐half
Recommended reason: It is spicy and fragrant enough, and has no bones or very few bones, but it is a bit oily.
5. Rice tofu: a traditional refreshing summer snack in Guizhou.
Recommendation index: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Recommended reason: The texture is dense yet tender and delicate, making you want to eat it.
6. Rose candy: sweet and delicious, crispy and not sticky.
Recommendation index: ⭐⭐⭐
Recommended reason: Recommended to you who love sweets.
(Picture from the Internet)
7. Bayberry soup: icy cool, sour and sweet.
Recommendation index: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Recommended reason: This drink is worth drinking, a must-have for cooling off in the summer, and you absolutely cannot miss it!
8. Mung bean soup: refreshing and relieves heat.
9. Potato cakes: fragrant and soft.
Recommendation index: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Recommended reason: Not all potatoes are produced in the plateau area, and the taste is definitely different.
10. Sour radish: beautiful color, sweet but not cloying.
Recommendation index: ⭐⭐⭐
Recommended reason: Crisp texture and very juicy!
(Picture from Dianping)
The above is recommended to you who love food. After all, only love and food cannot be let down~
Tips:
①Everyone has different tastes, so the serial number does not represent the order~
Guizhou cuisine is known for its spicy and sour flavors. If you can't handle spicy food, you can contact the restaurant in advance.
The Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau suffers from a common problem: year-round fog, low sunshine, and high humidity. Even the weather forecast is unpredictable. Therefore, if you're visiting Guizhou, especially Qingyan, it's recommended to visit in spring or autumn to avoid the rainy season and the harsh cold.
①The weather is changeable, so it is recommended to bring an umbrella with you.
② The Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau has strong ultraviolet rays, so it is recommended to take good sun protection and shade.
③If it rains, don’t be discouraged, it may rain quickly.
④The temperature difference between morning and evening is large, so it is recommended to bring a coat and add or remove clothes in time.
Recommended number of days for visiting: 2 days!
You can choose to take a two-day, one-night tour of Qingyan Ancient Town. This way, you won't be too rushed or tired, and you can also get a deeper understanding of the local culture and customs. In addition, Qingyan Ancient Town at night has a unique flavor.
Tips:
①Most accommodations in the ancient town are inns, and you can choose according to your own situation.
②Accommodation conditions in the southwest region are limited, so it is recommended that everyone treat it with a normal attitude.
③For environmental protection, it is recommended that you bring your own toiletries.
The ancient towns in the mountains are naturally distinct from those in the Jiangnan region. If the Jiangnan ancient towns are a young maiden, then Qingyan Ancient Town is a simple, unadorned young woman. Ancient city walls, elegant streets, calm your mind and walk slowly. Don't race against time, just calm your heart.
