Huangyao Ancient Town
黄姚古镇 · Zhaoping County, Hezhou, Guangxi, China
An old town ringed by karst peaks, where more than 300 Ming and Qing buildings, flagstone lanes and stone bridges over the streams survive intact — a place to stay a night and wander slowly.
Know before you go
- Talking loudly in temples and ancestral halls
- entering the inner courtyards of old houses without permission
This article is Not yet verified. Please check official announcements for prices, opening hours and dates.
Stories & people
Stories & people
History
From Song settlement to Qianlong heyday
According to records, people were already living around Huangyao in the Kaibao era of the Northern Song dynasty (968–977), and the town's name first appears in the Huangyou era (1049–1053). The town began to develop in the Wanli reign of the Ming dynasty and flourished as a trading centre in the Qianlong reign of the Qing dynasty, leaving the Ming and Qing buildings you see today.
Source: Wikipedia: Huangyao
Legend
How the town got its name
The town's name is said to come from Huang and Yao, the two most common local surnames. The names of its bridges, trees and wells also have their own stories passed down by word of mouth; the versions differ, so you may like to ask elderly locals about them.
Source: Wikipedia: Huangyao
History
Huangyao on screen
The 2006 film *The Painted Veil* was partly shot in Huangyao, and the 2001 television drama *Country Spirit* also used the old town as a location. Walking its flagstone lanes, you may well recognise scenes from the screen.
Source: Wikipedia: Huangyao
Culture
Culture & customs
Background
Huangyao Ancient Town lies in Huangyao Town, Zhaoping County, Hezhou, Guangxi. The old town is ringed by karst peaks, with streams running through it, many stone bridges and a web of flagstone lanes; more than 300 Ming and Qing buildings survive here, most of them two-storey houses of grey brick and black tiles, along with more than 30 temples, ancestral halls and pavilions. Huangyao grew up as a town of trade and clan settlement, and its Ming and Qing buildings are well preserved. Today the town has a population of about 50,000, of whom about 2,000 live in the old town, so its lanes are still full of everyday life.
Local customs
- Wander the flagstone streets and look at the Ming and Qing houses and shops
- take photos by the stone bridges, old banyans and streams
- taste Huangyao fermented black soybeans and other local snacks
- stay at an inn in town and see the old town in the early morning and at dusk.
Etiquette & taboos
Etiquette & taboos
Don’t DON'T
- Talking loudly in temples and ancestral halls
- entering the inner courtyards of old houses without permission
Locals appreciate DO
- Keep quiet at night
- dress modestly when entering temples and ancestral halls
- ask the owner's permission before photographing a home
Plan your visit
Practical info
Travel tips
- Flagstone lanes can be slippery in the rain, so wear non-slip shoes
- inn and restaurant prices in town are as posted by the shops
- in peak season it is best to book accommodation in advance.
- Take a high-speed train from Guangzhou South Station to Hezhou Station, then a taxi or shared car for about an hour to the old town
- by car, take the expressway to Zhaoping County and then local roads into town. The town is good to visit in all four seasons: spring and autumn have pleasant weather, summer brings frequent rain and full streams, and winter has fewer visitors and suits a slow visit.
Photos
Photos
Diego Robayo · CC BY-SA 2.0
tak.wing · CC BY-SA 2.0
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