Dian-Gui Self-Driving Tour (Part Ten)
Destination: Hepu. Starting from Bobai, we chose two stops along the way—General Xiang Hanping's Former Residence and Qumu Hakka Earth Walled Village. The entire route avoids highways and covers over 120 kilometers, with sightseeing and activities taking about half a day. Xiang Hanping, like Yu Hanmou, was a famous general of the Guangdong Army (you can look it up). His former residence is also listed as a cultural protection unit, but unfortunately, it has been dilapidated for a long time without renovation or public access. Despite this regret, the scenery along the way was quite nice. We saw various tropical crops such as dragon fruit, sugarcane, bananas, papayas, and sisal, accompanied by fresh flowers from time to time—favorites for us northern tourists. Qumu Hakka Earth Walled Village is about ten kilometers from here, relatively well preserved, with a few families still living inside. It is free to visit and rarely crowded, so it’s worth a look if you’re passing by.
Hepu belongs to Beihai City. Here you can find Huaiyuan Garden, Ancient Cape Scenic Area, Huiai Bridge, and Qilou Old Street. These four places are not far apart and are all located along the Ximen River from south to north, making them walkable. Huaiyuan Garden is a courtyard building combining Chinese and Western styles, built by a local wealthy merchant. It is a century-old cultural protection unit and open to the public for free. Inside, there are restaurants, tea houses, and antique shops operating, making it a great spot for taking photos with a Republic of China era vibe. The Ancient Cape Scenic Area has an entrance fee of about 15 yuan, with free admission for those over 60. Inside, there are the Cape Pavilion and Kuixing Pavilion. During the Song Dynasty, this area was coastal, hence the name Cape Pavilion. Due to changes over time, now only the Ximen River connects to the sea. The convenient sea transport via the Ximen River contributed to Hepu’s past prosperity, and the riverside Qilou Old Street remains as a relic of the once bustling merchant district. The shops and street vendors on the old street are all local daily life, with no tourism development, offering a truly authentic atmosphere full of local flavor. Huiai Bridge spans the Ximen River, connecting the east and west banks. It is now a cultural protection unit, occasionally visited by tourists for photos. Crossing the bridge leads to the Confucian Temple, and to the east is still the Qilou Old Street. Unfortunately, the Confucian Temple is dilapidated and not open to the public.
The Hepu Han Dynasty Culture Museum is built around a Han tomb cluster, featuring exhibition halls with artifacts and several Han tomb displays. To the south is the Maritime Silk Road Cultural Heritage Park, a great place for locals to relax.
Huaiyuan Garden, Huiai Bridge, Ancient Cape Scenic Area, Hepu Han Dynasty Culture Museum