Guangyou Zhaoping Huangyao Ancient Town Travel Guide
3000 RMB to Dream Back a Millennium! A 3-Day 2-Night Slow Life Guide to Huangyao Ancient Town, Hezhou, Guangxi, All-Inclusive for Food, Accommodation, and Transportation!
Blogger’s Opening: Hey, I’m This time, I’m taking you to escape the crowds with a 3000 RMB budget (2 people traveling together, 1500 RMB per person!), diving into the fairyland forgotten by time in Hezhou, Guangxi — Huangyao Ancient Town. Here, there’s no extreme commercialization, only bluestone slabs, ancient banyan trees, the aroma of fermented black beans, and a life so slow it makes you jealous. Save this guide to experience the “local” flavor!
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【Budget Plan】(Total for 2 people, budget-conscious version)
· Transportation: 1000 RMB (33%, flexible depending on departure city)
· Accommodation: 600 RMB (20%, 2 nights in boutique homestays)
· Food & Drink: 800 RMB (27%, from morning till night)
· Tickets + Experiences: 400 RMB (13%, core experiences included)
· Miscellaneous: 200 RMB (7%, souvenirs)
· Total: 3000 RMB (Perfect control!)
Mnemonic: Transportation is the biggest part, accommodation seeks uniqueness, food is the soul, tickets save smartly.
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【Preparation Before the Trip】
1. Transportation Booking:
· High-speed rail is the first choice! Confirm your destination as "Hezhou Station." From nearby cities like Guangzhou or Shenzhen, round-trip tickets cost about 1000 RMB for 2 people. Book in advance!
· Hezhou Station → Huangyao: After exiting the station, you have two options:
· Tourist shuttle bus: Highly recommended! Direct to the ancient town entrance, about 1 hour ride, 30 RMB per person.
· Carpool/taxi: About 40-50 RMB per person, faster but a bit more expensive.
2. Accommodation Booking:
· Be sure to book a homestay inside the ancient town! Opening your window to the view and listening to flowing water at night is the true immersive experience.
· On booking platforms, filter for “Huangyao Ancient Town” homestays with ratings above 4.8, choose rooms with balconies or scenic windows, and keep the price around 300 RMB per night. We stayed at "Occasionally Boutique Inn," the owner is nice, and the rooftop view is amazing! 2 nights total 600 RMB.
3. Gear: Non-slip shoes! (Warning: stone slab roads), Hanfu or plain dresses (photo magic), mosquito repellent (must-have in the forest), power bank, and a relaxed heart.
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【3-Day Slow Life Itinerary】
Day 1: Entering the Painting · Lost in the Bluestone Alleys
· Morning/Noon: Arrival and Check-in
· Take the high-speed train to Hezhou Station, then transfer to the shuttle bus straight to Huangyao. Have lunch on the way (bring your own snacks or eat simple noodles at the bus station, budget 50 RMB).
· Upon arrival at the ancient town ticket office, ask your homestay owner to pick you up in advance! Many owners can take you through “secret paths” to enter without tickets (shh, it’s a public secret but depends on the homestay location and owner’s connections).
· Check in, have a cup of tea in the homestay courtyard, and feel the slower pace.
· Afternoon: First Exploration of the Ancient Town Maze (Tickets: if needed, about 150 RMB for 2 people)
· Drop your luggage and start wandering aimlessly. The charm of Huangyao lies in “getting lost”!
· Must-visit spots (just follow the route):
· Dailong Bridge: The cover photo of the ancient town! Stand on the bridge to watch the sunset and fishing lights, absolutely stunning.
· Longclaw Banyan & Stone Jumping Bridge: Over 800 years old banyan tree with intertwined roots, full of life. The nearby stone jumping bridge is a joyful water play spot.
· Guo Family Mansion & Sima Residence: See the ancient mansions from the Ming and Qing dynasties, feel the wealth and architectural wisdom of the time.
· Snack time: If you see aunties selling mugwort rice cakes or taro cakes, don’t hesitate, buy and try! Soft, glutinous, and sweet. (Snack budget: 30 RMB)
· Evening: Taste of Huangyao
· Dinner: Find a riverside restaurant like "Gujing Farmhouse" or "Dream Huangyao." Must-order signature dishes: steamed pork ribs with fermented black beans, stuffed tofu, steamed Huangyao fish. Enjoy the breeze and lights, extremely cozy. (Dinner budget: 150 RMB)
· Night tour: The ancient town at night is a world of red lanterns, quieter and more charming than daytime. You can go to "Bar Street," find a quiet bar, listen to folk songs, and have a drink. (Drinks budget: 80 RMB)
Day 1 Expenses Summary: Transportation 530 (bus + transfer) + Accommodation 300 + Food 310 = 1140 RMB (Balance 1860 RMB)
Day 2: Deep Experience · Be a Local for a Day
· Morning: Early Morning Life and Cultural Documentary
· Get up early! 7 AM in Huangyao belongs to the locals. Watch aunties washing clothes by the river, elders smoking at doorsteps, smoke curling up — the ancient town without tourists shows its truest face. This is golden time for photography!
· Breakfast: Try a local breakfast shop, a bowl of hot water chestnut noodles or snail noodles to start your day energized. (Breakfast budget: 30 RMB)
· Morning: Deep Cultural Tour
· Visit the former site of the Guangxi Provincial Communist Party Committee to learn about the town’s red history.
· Find the old ancestral halls (Wu Clan Ancestral Hall, Mo Clan Ancestral Hall), the carvings and plaques on the lintels all tell stories.
· Noon: Taste Authentic Youcha (Oil Tea)
· Lunch try the northern Guangxi specialty — Gongcheng Youcha. A slightly bitter tea soup made by pounding tea leaves, ginger, and garlic, served with rice puffs and crispy nuts. It refreshes and awakens the mind; it might be an acquired taste but addictive! (Lunch budget: 100 RMB)
· Afternoon: DIY Experience and Leisure Time
· Experience: Find a small shop to try making handmade chili sauce or botanical dyeing (about 100 RMB for 2 people), take home a unique souvenir you made yourself.
· Afternoon tea: Find a favorite café or tea house (recommend "Gourd Café"), sit by the second-floor window, watch people passing by, daydream, read, write postcards — wasting time is the most serious thing to do here. (Afternoon tea budget: 80 RMB)
· Evening: Change the Flavor
· Dinner can be local barbecue or niuchang suan (a local spicy and sour hotpot with beef intestines), to switch things up. (Dinner budget: 120 RMB)
Day 2 Expenses Summary: Experience 100 + Food 330 = 430 RMB (Balance 1430 RMB)
Day 3: Farewell · Take a Piece of the Scenery
· Morning: Last Tour and Shopping
· Sleep in naturally, then walk your favorite alley again and take some more photos.
· Buy souvenirs:
· Huangyao’s three treasures: fermented black beans, polygonatum, and sour plums. Especially the fermented black beans, rich in aroma, look for old brands like "Yang Jin Ji." You can buy small packages of fermented black bean chili sauce, easy to carry.
· Various dried fruits: nine-processed yellow plum, preserved plums, etc.
· (Souvenir budget: 200 RMB)
· Lunch: Eat any specialty dish you missed or have a bowl of hearty rice noodles. (Lunch budget: 80 RMB)
· Afternoon: Return Trip
· Pack up, say goodbye to the homestay owner. Take the bus back to Hezhou high-speed rail station and head home.
Day 3 Expenses Summary: Food 80 + Souvenirs 200 + Return transportation 530 (bus + train) = 810 RMB (Balance 620 RMB!)
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【Final Account & Blogger’s Summary】
Total cost: 1140 (Day 1) + 430 (Day 2) + 810 (Day 3) = 2380 RMB! Surprise! Even saved 620 RMB from the budget, which can be used to upgrade one night’s accommodation or have a luxurious meal!
Blogger’s thoughts: This trip to Huangyao wasn’t about spending money, but time. We “wasted” time on all the beautiful things: walking, daydreaming, snacking, chatting with locals. With a 3000 RMB budget, you can live like a “rich person” here, enjoying the peace and tranquility that money can’t buy in the city.
Huangyao is like a jar of aged wine, plain at first glance, but only by calming down can you taste its mellow fragrance. If you’re tired of the fast pace, come here and let life “slow down” for three days.
Interactive topic: Who do you most want to come to Huangyao and daydream with? the person you think of!