Head to where the wind blows, a detailed guide to Huangyao Ancient Town in Guangxi

✨ Huangyao Ancient Town is truly a treasure trove of ancient villages. Departing from Guangzhou or Shenzhen, it's a 2-hour high-speed train ride one way, perfect for a spontaneous weekend getaway. 🎋 As an ancient village with a thousand years of history, Huangyao Ancient Town was also the setting for the movie 'The Painted Veil'. The entire village is surrounded by beautiful landscapes, with ancient trees and green brick and black tile roofs. The winding alleys and the healing sunlight that filters through the towering trees onto the bluestone paths create a relaxing and pristine atmosphere. ⭕️ Transportation (departing from Guangzhou/Shenzhen) 1⃣️ Self-driving: about 4 hours (parking fee 10/day) 2⃣️ High-speed train: about 2 hours to Hezhou Station, then take the ancient town shuttle bus (four trips a day, pay attention to departure times, one-way 30/person) or carpool (one-way 40/person) ⭕️ Accommodation: There are many accommodation options inside and outside the ancient town, with friendly pricing. Book according to your needs. It's recommended to choose a guesthouse inside the town with a viewing platform for an enhanced experience. ⭕️ Admission: 🎫 88/person, purchasing tickets in advance on ticketing platforms can offer discounts, and tickets are valid for 3 days. Security guards at each entrance check and verify tickets, with real-name face scanning for entry and exit. Guesthouses offer discounted tickets for their guests, 52/person. 👏🏻 Tip: On non-holidays, the town's security staff leave at 7 pm. ⭕️ Photo spots: 1⃣️ Dailong Bridge 2⃣️ Shitiao Bridge 3⃣️ Dragon Claw Banyan 4⃣️ Xingning Temple 5⃣️ Immortal's Well 6⃣️ Sima Residence 7⃣️ Watchtower ⭕️ Boat trips: You can take a boat tour from Dailong Bridge pier, 20/person, about a 30-minute round trip, offering another perspective to appreciate the town's karst natural scenery. ⭕️ Dining: There are many dining options inside and outside the ancient town, with little difference between them and moderate prices per person. The specialties are stuffed tofu and local fermented black beans in dishes, which I personally find a bit salty. If you prefer a lighter taste, you can communicate in advance to reduce the salt accordingly. ✨ The ancient town is well-preserved, but it is often criticized for its strong commercialization. This is a double-edged sword; the homogenous and mundane commercial form is indeed regrettable, but it also indicates that the town's commercial facilities are mature and life is convenient.