2025 Guangchang Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in May)

If you're seeking a tranquil and elegant destination, the China Lotus Scenic Area is undoubtedly an ideal choice. Upon entering the area, the fragrance of lotus fills the air, and the vast expanse of green leaves stretches endlessly. The boundless lotus ponds resemble a green carpet adorned with sparkling pearls. During midsummer, pink and white lotuses bloom in full glory, resembling fairies dancing gracefully on the water, creating a breathtaking scene. Strolling along the lakeside paths, a gentle breeze caresses your face, and the swaying lotus leaves bring a sense of serenity. Surrounded by mountains and waters, the picturesque scenery feels like stepping into a traditional ink painting of Jiangnan. The scenic area also boasts a rich lotus culture. The imagery of lotus can be found everywhere, from the intricately carved railings to the painted buildings. Towering ancient trees and melodious bird songs add a touch of natural charm. China Lotus Scenic Area offers not only stunning lotus landscapes but also a profound cultural atmosphere. Visiting here feels like stepping into a refreshing landscape painting, making it a destination worth savoring.

As spring blossoms and summer approaches, the thousand-acre lotus sea in Yaoxi Village, located in the China Lotus Scenic Area of Yiqian Town, Guangchang County, is in full bloom. It's a picturesque scene, a true summer "top stream." Come to Yaoxi to admire the lotus flowers and embrace the romance of the entire summer. Endless green lotus leaves stretch to the sky, and the sun-kissed lotus flowers are uniquely red. Experience the unsullied charm of the lotus flower, emerging pristine from the mud!

In 2022, the Long March National Cultural Park (Ganzhu Section) was established in Luo Family Village. Centered around the former residence of Magistrate Luo (the former headquarters of the Red Ninth Army), the park features a Red Army Long March Battle Education Base and Red Army Square. The village is home to many ancient dwellings, including the largest, the former residence of Magistrate Luo, as well as several ancestral halls and ancient dwellings of the Luo family. The local government has used the ancient buildings in Luo Family Village to recreate the vivid scenes of the Fifth Counter-Encirclement Campaign before the Long March. The village is one of the sixth batch of Chinese Traditional Villages.

The former site of the Red Ninth Army Command is located in the Luoyushan Villa in Luojia Village, Ganzhu Town, Guangchang County, Fuzhou City, Jiangxi Province. The building was built in the 10th year of the Tongzhi period of the Qing Dynasty (1871). The owner of the house was Luo Wei, courtesy name Yushan, a native of Luojiapu, Ganzhu Town, Guangchang County. He was a successful candidate in the imperial examinations in the 9th year of the Xianfeng period of the Qing Dynasty (1859), and served as the magistrate of Qingyuan County, Guangdong Province from the 8th to the 13th year of the Tongzhi period (1869 to 1874). The building of the former site has an irregular shape, facing south, with fireproof gables, and covers an area of 600 square meters. There is a main gate to enter the site, and inside the gate is a courtyard. The main building is on the right side of the courtyard. There are screen walls on both sides of the eight-character gate, and stone lions in front of the screen walls. There is a stone plaque on the lintel of the main gate, with the words "Shi Ke Di" (世科第) engraved on it, meaning that generations can pass the imperial examinations. The stone plaque is surrounded by carved patterns of stories. There are brick carvings of figures, flowers, and geometric patterns on the eaves on both sides of the main gate. The carvings are exquisite. The main building has two halls, and there are several rooms behind the halls on both sides. In March and April 1934, the command of the Ninth Army of the First Red Army, led by Luo Binghui and Cai Shufan, was stationed in the villa of Magistrate Luo, commanding the Red Army to carry out the fifth counter-encirclement and suppression battle, and stopping the attack of five divisions of the Hexi Column of the Kuomintang. The villagers of Luojiapu actively cooperated with the Red Army in the anti-encirclement and suppression struggle, and made important contributions to the defense of Guangchang, the northern gate of the Central Soviet Area. To this day, more than 30 slogans written by the Red Army in ink are still preserved on the walls and screen walls of the halls and rooms. It is a key cultural relic protection unit in Jiangxi Province.

Wenfeng Academy was built by Rao Bingji, a historian and educator in the Ming Dynasty in the sixth year of Chenghua (1470). The academy is backed by green mountains, facing Longxi, looking at Junfeng in the north and Jinzhang in the west. It covers an area of ​​5,032 square meters. Wenfeng Academy is a typical Gan style building, with high walls and deep courtyards, with raised eaves and corners. The academy is divided into three halls: upper, middle and lower. The middle is the teaching area, and the side is the living area. There are 5 courtyards. The layout of the whole building is simple, simple and elegant. Wenfeng Academy was one of the influential academies in Jiangxi during the Ming Dynasty. It educated students in a pragmatic way and believed that there were many ways to become talented. There were many scholars from all over the world. It reached its peak period from the late Ming Dynasty to the mid-Qing Dynasty, and many talents from Guangchang emerged. During the Central Soviet Area period, during the Guangchang Defense War, the headquarters of the Third Red Army Corps was located here. Army Commander Peng Dehuai and Political Commissar Yang Shangkun commanded the Red Army soldiers here in the fifth anti-"encirclement and suppression" campaign in the Central Revolutionary Base Area. During the Anti-Japanese War, educator Chen Heqin led the Shanghai National Infant Normal School to move here and run it for three years. On March 9, 2018, Wenfeng Academy was announced by the Jiangxi Provincial People's Government as the sixth batch of cultural relics protection units in Jiangxi Province.

🌸【Discover Beauty】Stroll through the water towns of Jiangnan and encounter the most beautiful lotus pond—an unforgettable journey to the Chinese lotus💕 Dear diary📝Today, I want to record a beautiful time in Guangchang County, Fuzhou City, Jiangxi Province, where one of China's beautiful traditional flowers, the lotus, blooms✨ In the early morning✈️, we drove from Shanghai to this beautiful place gifted by nature, with the poem "The endless green lotus leaves stretch to the horizon, and the lotus flowers bathed in sunlight are exceptionally red" echoing in our minds🖼️, full of anticipation for the beautiful scenery❤️. The scenery along the way is as captivating as a flowing painting, making it hard to take it all in😍. The sunlight shining through the clouds makes everything warm and bright☀️. After a few hours of travel, we finally arrived at our destination—the "Water Wonderland"—the Lotus Scenic Area👍. The vast and clear waters here reflect the beauty of the blue sky and white clouds like a giant mirror🙌. The air is filled with a faint lotus fragrance, intoxicating👃. Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and feel the freshness and tranquility of nature, bringing complete relaxation and purification to the soul😌. Upon entering the scenic area, the first thing that catches the eye is the blooming lotus fields, swaying gracefully like dancers dancing in the water🌹. There are many varieties of lotus here, with colorful pink, white, and yellow flowers, each one delicate and fragrant🌺. The gentle breeze brings waves of floral fragrance, refreshing and uplifting 😌. Walking along the winding wooden boardwalk, we saw lotus buds shyly hiding under the lotus leaves, revealing only a corner of their shy faces, endearing 😘. Occasionally, birds fly over the branches, singing melodious songs, adding a touch of vitality to this tranquil world🐦. In this poetic and picturesque scenery, taking a break to taste local delicacies and specialty farmhouse dishes is a unique experience, leaving a lasting impression and delighting the taste buds 🤤. In the evening, as the sun sets and the sunset glows red in the sky, the entire lake is bathed in a golden glow 🌄. The scene at this moment is like a magnificent oil painting, indescribably beautiful😲. As night falls, the surroundings become quieter, with only the occasional sound of frogs breaking the silence, making one feel more at peace and in harmony with nature 🌅. On this dreamlike night, we reluctantly bid farewell to this paradise, looking forward to meeting her again🙏. This trip not only allowed me to appreciate the wonders of nature but also to feel the beauty of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature. Let us cherish and protect this pure land so that future generations can also enjoy its beauty and charm 🔥. May everyone have an eye for discovering beauty, exploring every corner of life, and finding their own piece of the starry sky.

Longxi Village, Luojia Village, and Yiqian Guanqiao Village in Ganzhu Town, Guangchang County, are ancient villages recently included in the list of traditional Chinese villages. They are only a 30-40 minute drive from the county town. Longxi Village Wenfeng Academy An administrative village in Ganzhu Town, northern Guangchang, is famous for discovering the only complete dinosaur fossil south of the Yangtze River. In 2004, another dinosaur fossil was discovered about 600 meters from the 1986 fossil site, attracting great attention from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The village also has the Yuan Dynasty stone arch Yue Long Bridge, the Ming Dynasty Wenfeng Academy, Wenfeng Dam, and the Qing Dynasty "Bangyan Residence," all of which are notable attractions. This was an important position in the 1934 Battle of Guangchang, with the former sites of the First and Third Red Army Corps headquarters, the Raojiabao Battle Site Group, and the Rao Fulin Martyrs Memorial Hall. Today, Longxi Village features well-preserved ancient buildings, high walls, deep courtyards, and interspersed blue bricks and black tiles. The clean and tidy walking paths are bustling with visitors. The village has received honors such as Provincial Red Village, Water Ecological Civilization Village, Forest Village, and Model Party Organization for Rural Revitalization. Luojia Village Ganzhu Town Market Located in Guangchang County, with the Xijiang River in front and Shuanglian Pass behind, it was established during the Southern Song Dynasty and has a history of over 700 years. The village produced 13 successful candidates in the imperial examinations during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Initially known as Lumaoke, it was renamed "Luojia Bao Ke" after the Luo family settled there. During the Kangxi and Qianlong periods, the village produced six generations of successful candidates in the imperial examinations, earning it the reputation of a family of scholars. Built in the tenth year of the Tongzhi reign (1871) by Luo Yushan, the magistrate of Qingyuan County, Guangdong, the Shike Residence faces south, with fireproof walls and covers an area of 600 square meters. The stone plaque above the entrance is inscribed with "Shike Residence," symbolizing generations of success in the imperial examinations. The plaque is surrounded by carved scenes of stories. The eaves on both sides of the main entrance feature brick carvings of figures, flowers, and geometric patterns, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship. The Shike Residence also served as the headquarters of the Red Ninth Army Corps. In March and April 1934, the headquarters of the Ninth Army Corps of the First Red Army, led by Luo Binghui and Cai Shupan, was stationed here, commanding the Red Army in the fifth anti-encirclement campaign, preventing the attack of five divisions of the Kuomintang Hexi Column. Many Red Army slogans are still preserved. Guanqiao Village Gaohunao Red Army Martyrs Monument Located in the southern part of Guangchang County, originally named Gaohunao Village, it is the "rear dragon" mountain of Guanqiao, with an altitude of 406 meters. It is named Gaohunao because it resembles the head of a crouching tiger. It controls the main route from Guangchang to Shicheng and Ruijin. This is the northern gate of the Central Soviet Area and one of the main battlefields of the fifth anti-encirclement campaign. It has the Gaohunao Red Army Martyrs Monument, the Guanqiao Village History Museum, and the Red Gaohunao Exhibition Hall. The famous Gaohunao Battle took place in Guanqiao Village. In the fierce battle of 1934, all the villagers, young and old, joined the fight, helping the Red Army dig trenches, deliver food, and carry the wounded, making significant sacrifices. The Gaohunao Battle won precious time for the strategic transfer of the Central Red Army. Overall, Longxi Village has a stronger "ancient" flavor, while the other two villages have a stronger "red" flavor.

In Fuzhou City, there is a Yaoxi Village, which is hailed as the 'Number One Lotus Village'. This place is definitely a treasure spot you shouldn't miss. Hurry up and avoid any pitfalls by liking and saving it in advance! The annual Lotus Festival is usually held around July 13th. If friends in or around Fuzhou City want to visit, you should pay close attention to this guide! Currently, the lotuses are still growing, so there aren't many to see if you come now. Moreover, the recent frequent rainy weather is not conducive to travel. Speaking of transportation, self-driving is the best choice. If you don't have a car, no worries, you can also take a high-speed train. After getting off at Nanfeng Station, there are direct buses to Guangchang County. Once you arrive at the Guangchang County Bus Station, you can transfer to reach Yiqian Town. Regarding accommodation, if you are looking for better conditions, consider staying in the county town, which is definitely better than Yiqian Town in terms of food and lodging. The recommended hotels in the county town are Emerald Intercontinental, Vienna, and Shangri-La. These three have tiered pricing, and I personally tested that none of them are too bad. Of course, there are also accommodation options in Yiqian Town, with Yilian Xiaozhu being the top recommendation. It's the only one in town, and although the overall environment is average, the rooms will definitely surprise you. Ps~ Moreover, staying in Yiqian Town has another advantage, which is that you can explore the ancient town. Those old and dilapidated buildings allow you to appreciate the charm of a century's history. The long-standing Yiqian ancient town will surely add a unique color to your journey.

Northbound from Shicheng, you will find the ancient town of Yiqian, which served as Jinjie Post during the Ming and Qing dynasties and was a major distribution center for the Fu River's waterborne materials. Many of the Ming and Qing residences that remain are dilapidated and in ruins, but some, like the Kui Bi Lian Hui and Feng Xian Si Xiao, are relatively intact. Exquisite wood carvings, brick carvings, and stone carvings can be seen everywhere, with rich themes and delicate craftsmanship, offering a glimpse into the grandeur of the Ming and Qing periods. (Recorded on February 12, 2024)

In the south of the Yangtze River, lotus can be picked, and the lotus leaves are vast. The entire village is embraced by thousands of acres of lotus. The best time to enjoy the flowers is at sunrise. There is an uncommercialized ancient town nearby, which was the starting point for business in ancient Jiangxi along the Belt and Road. During the Song Dynasty, the white lotus, sun-cured tobacco, and traditional Chinese medicine produced here were already sold overseas. No matter how many sentences I write, I think it's not as good as showing you the ten miles of lotus flowers.