Mount Gusao and Other Hidden Gems in Hezhou - Perfect for Weekend Trips from Guangzhou

🌈Hezhou is located in the northeastern part of Guangxi, adjacent to Guangdong and Hunan provinces. It's an ancient Lingnan city with a long history, famous for its karst landscapes, ancient towns, and Yao ethnic culture. Here's a detailed travel guide to help you explore this hidden gem!

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1⃣️Must-Visit Attractions
📍Huangyao Ancient Town
- Features: A thousand-year-old Ming and Qing dynasty town with cobblestone streets, ancient residences, ancestral halls, and small bridges over flowing streams. The atmosphere is especially beautiful at night when lanterns are lit.
- ✨Highlights: Dragon Bridge, Guo Family Mansion, Immortal Ancient Well, Stone Jumping Bridge.
- Tips: Consider staying overnight; take photos in the early morning when there are fewer people. Try the douci noodles and Huangyao stuffed tofu.

2. 📍Mount Gusao National Forest Park
- Features: Natural oxygen bar with waterfalls, tea gardens, and Xianggu Stockade (filming location for the TV drama "Tea from Hometown").
- Activities: Hiking to the summit (about 4 hours) or taking a sightseeing car; river rafting in summer.
- Tips: Temperature varies greatly at the summit, so bring a jacket; many monkeys in the park, don't feed them.

3.📍 Jade Stone Forest
- Features: Rare white marble stone forest landscape, with strange rocks forming a natural maze.
-*Activities*: Walk through the narrow paths between rocks, climb "One Line Sky" for panoramic views.

4. 📍Purple Cloud Wonderland
- Features: Cave landscape with stalactites that look dreamlike under the lights; a great summer retreat.

5. Xiushui Zhuangyuan Village
- Features: An ancient village that produced multiple top imperial scholars, preserving Ming and Qing architecture, ideal for cultural photography.

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2⃣️Unique Experiences
- Chashan Village (first village on the ancient Xiao-He route): Experience Yao ethnic oil tea and shuttle cake, walk the ancient path to feel the history.
- Fuchuan Yao Autonomous County: Visit wind-rain bridges and Yao villages; participate in the Panwang Festival on the 16th day of the 10th lunar month.
- Zhongshan Hundred-Mile Ink Painting Gallery: Drive or cycle through karst landscapes that look like traditional Chinese paintings.

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3⃣️Food Recommendations
- Must-Try Snacks🍝:
- Hezhou Sour Beef Intestines (tangy and spicy beef offal)
- Fenjiao (triangular rice flour wraps with fillings)
- Oil Tea (Yao specialty, slightly bitter with a sweet aftertaste)
- Huangyao Douci Feast (pork ribs steamed with douci, douci fish)
- ✅Recommended Restaurants:
- "Ancient Well Farm" in Huangyao Ancient Town
- "Old Brand Fat Aunt Beef Restaurant" in downtown Hezhou

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4⃣️Transportation Guide
- High-Speed Rail🚅: Direct trains to Hezhou Station from Guangzhou/Nanning/Guilin, then bus to Huangyao (about 1 hour).
- ❤️Self-driving: About 2 hours from Guilin to Hezhou with beautiful scenery along the way.
- ❤️Within the city: Attractions are scattered, recommended to hire a car or rent one (about 200-300 yuan/day).

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5⃣️Itinerary Suggestions
-🌑🌈2 Days 1 Night:
- Day 1: Huangyao Ancient Town (stay overnight in the ancient town)
- Day 2: Mount Gusao or Jade Stone Forest
- 🌈3 Days 2 Nights:
- Add Purple Cloud Wonderland, Xiushui Zhuangyuan Village, or Fuchuan Yao Village.

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6⃣️Notes
-✅ Best seasons: Spring and autumn (March-May, September-November); in summer, be prepared for mosquitoes and sun protection.
- ✅Huangyao Ancient Town entrance fee is about 70 yuan; buying tickets online in advance may offer discounts.
- ✅Respect Yao customs; don't photograph villagers without permission.

🌈Hezhou has a slow pace of life and low cost, perfect for travelers who appreciate nature and culture. Avoid holidays to better enjoy the peaceful mountain and water scenery‼️