Two-Day Tour of Hezhou

Explore natural landscapes including exotic stone forests, karst caves and dense forests.

First head to Hezhou Jade Stone Forest, a rare scenic area featuring stone pillars and stalagmites made of white marble. It boasts fantastic natural sights such as the Thousand-Year Camel, Sky Corridor and Narrow Gap.

Then proceed to Gupo Mountain National Forest Park, a natural habitat for diverse flora and fauna. The park is crisscrossed by gullies with gurgling streams all year round. It is home to numerous renowned waterfalls, namely Dynamic Horse Waterfall, Fairy Maiden Waterfall, Arhat Waterfall, Galaxy Waterfall, Two Millimeters Waterfall, Mother-and-Son Waterfall and Mandarin Duck Waterfall.

Dining: It is advisable to bring dry food for the mountain trip, as there are few restaurants inside the scenic area. Many small local shops stand nearby, serving delicious free-range chicken, fresh fish and homemade tofu.

Accommodation: Gupo Mountain Forest Hotel is located within the park. A standard single room costs 60 yuan per day, and a double room 70 yuan per day. Tent camping is also available. Cross the suspension bridge outside the park to reach Plum Garden Villa, where wooden cabins among plum groves are priced at around 100 yuan per room.

Tips: Wear warm clothes and sports shoes for mountain hiking.

After breakfast, visit Huangyao Ancient Town. Featuring typical karst landforms, the town is dotted with grotesque peaks, towering ancient trees, deep caves and winding clear streams. It is famous for six abundance: numerous mountains, waters and caves, pavilions and towers, temples, ancestral halls, ancient trees, as well as scroll couplets and horizontal plaques.

You can also see calligraphy works left by Han Yu and Liu Zongbiao, and former residences of celebrities including He Xiangning and Gao Shiqi. The scenery of small bridges, flowing streams and cottages is a signature view of Huangyao.

In the afternoon, tour Ziyun Cave, a mysterious and enchanting fairyland of concentrated natural wonders. The cave is adorned with a great variety of stalactites, stalagmites and stone curtains shaped by nature’s craftsmanship.

Dining: Huangyao tofu is a local specialty. Do try both plain tofu and stuffed tofu. Fresh oyster mushrooms and straw mushrooms here taste sweet and crisp, and grass carp and common carp are sold at the local market.

However, restaurants in the ancient town are limited and mainly serve stir-fried dishes; clay pot dishes typical of Cantonese cuisine are hard to find. Dishes at Ancient Town Restaurant taste relatively good, while the restaurants and hotels diagonally opposite are quieter, buying fresh ingredients from the market after orders are placed yet charging lower prices.

Opposite the square lies a congee shop offering chicken, frog and eel congee for 10 yuan per pot, open until late at night. Rice noodles and wontons are sold on the streets all daytime at 1 yuan for a large bowl. Glutinous rice balls at the market are big and plump, with five or six pieces for just 1 yuan. You can also taste local oil tea. If you plan to dine at a local farmer’s home, it is polite to bring small gifts or fruits as a token of appreciation.

Accommodation: A wide selection of hostels and inns are available inside and outside Huangyao Ancient Town. Staying within the scenic area is recommended. There are various distinctive folk-style inns, such as Boke Inn, Shuxinyi Inn, Xiaoyao Inn, Ouranjian Bar, Guyaju, Ancient Town Homestay, Hexing Inn and Jinde Villa, which can be booked via rural travel websites.

Market Hotel is the tallest building in Huangyao. Its rooftop on the 6th floor commands a panoramic view of the ancient town and is an ideal spot to watch the sunrise in the morning.