Two-Day One-Night Yongzhou Travel Guide｜Xiangnan in Liu Zongyuan's Writings

Yongzhou is not a well-known tourist destination. I discovered this hidden gem with its unknown history and beautiful scenery by chance during a two-day stopover on my way to Guilin.

Yongzhou is a place where history, culture, and natural landscapes blend together, as depicted in Liu Zongyuan's "Record of the Little Stone Pond." It boasts well-preserved ancient cities and temples, rustic traditional villages, and picturesque karst geological landscapes. If you're curious about this place, you can follow my two-day one-night Yongzhou travel guide.

Itinerary
Day 1: Lingling Ancient City—Liuzi Temple—Little Stone Pond—Wumiao Temple—Wenmiao Temple—Xiangling Mountain—Yongzhou Museum—Pingzhou Academy—Huilong Tower
Day 2: Zhou Family Courtyard—Ningyuan Wenmiao Temple—Jiuyi Mountain—Yunlongfang—Shanggan Tang Ancient Village

Attraction Highlights
Pingzhou Academy: Known for the "Spring Flood at Pingzhou," one of Yongzhou's eight scenic spots, featuring numerous famous poets' inscriptions.
Huilong Tower: A unique and photogenic tower with blue and white colors.
Wenmiao Temple + Wumiao Temple: Although under renovation, these sites record the traces of Yongzhou's history.
Lingling Ancient City + Liuzi Temple: A temple built to commemorate the Tang Dynasty writer Liu Zongyuan, featuring ancient architecture and cultural relics.
Jiuyi Mountain: The burial site of Emperor Shun, with a rich historical and cultural background. You can visit Emperor Shun's Mausoleum to learn about his legends and history.
Zhou Family Courtyard: A well-preserved ancient village from the Ming and Qing Dynasties with unique architectural styles. Stroll through the village to experience the charm of ancient architecture and the lifestyle of the past.
Shanggan Tang Ancient Village: A tranquil and beautiful ancient village with a long history. The ancient buildings and stone-paved roads reveal the passage of time.

Local Food Recommendations:
1. Yongzhou Blood Duck: Tender duck meat with duck blood, spicy and flavorful, perfect with rice.
2. Dong'an Chicken: Tender chicken with a sweet and sour taste, offering a unique flavor.
3. Ningyuan Stuffed Tofu: Tofu filled with meat, pan-fried until golden, then cooked, offering a rich texture and delicious broth.
4. Yongzhou Braised Rice Noodles: Smooth and chewy rice noodles with a savory broth and various seasonings, very tempting.

Practical Information
🚄 Transportation: Yongzhou has an airport for direct flights, or you can first reach Guilin and then take a train to Yongzhou. Once in Yongzhou, you can rent a car on the Trip.com platform to complete your two-day tour.
🏨 Accommodation: Yongzhou city is not large, offering a variety of accommodation options to suit different budgets.