Huangyao Ancient Town: A Guangxi Old Town on the River

A Town That Kept Its Shape

Huangyao, in Guangxi's Zhaoping county, is a Ming and Qing town that has kept its plan: a grid of stone lanes worn smooth by feet, a river bend with old bridges, courtyard houses with carved eaves, and temples at the street corners. It is smaller and far less visited than the old towns of Yunnan or Guangdong, which is its main attraction.

Walking the Lanes

The town rewards aimlessness. Start at the main gate and follow the lanes uphill to the temple terraces for a view over the roofs, then down to the river and across the stone bridges. Signage is limited and in Chinese, which keeps the tour groups concentrated in a few spots — walk ten minutes from the main entrance and you will have the lanes to yourself.

River, Rice and Countryside

Huangyao sits in farmland, and the surrounding countryside is walkable: rice fields, vegetable plots, water buffalo, and small villages connected by stone paths. Cycling and short hikes are the way to see it, and the light in the early morning and late afternoon is the reason photographers rate the area.

Practical Notes

Spring and autumn are the best seasons; summer is hot and wet, and winter is cool and quiet. The town is reached by road from Guilin (about three hours) or by bus from Hezhou and Zhaoping, and most visitors stay a night — which is when the town is at its best, after the day-trippers leave.

Frequently Asked Questions