[2025 Zhenyuan Attraction] Travel Guide for Shiping Mountain Scenic Area (Updated Apr)

#chinatrip #guizhou #zhenyuan Just north of the ancient town lies the Shiping Mountain Scenic Area, where I decided to start my hike from the southern gate. After purchasing a ticket, I followed the single trail that steadily ascended toward a charming pavilion. A bit further uphill, I encountered the Prefecture City Wall, a remarkable structure dating back to the Zhengde period of the Ming Dynasty. The raw and untouched environment added to the experience, with the historic wall stretching roughly 2 kilometers. The view of Zhenyuan from the top was absolutely perfect, offering a breathtaking panorama that made the effort worthwhile. The hike itself wasn’t too strenuous, but I was glad I came prepared with plenty of water, sunscreen, and insect repellent. What made it even more special was the lack of crowds, creating a peaceful atmosphere ideal for capturing photos. For history enthusiasts and nature lovers, this quiet trail is truly a hidden gem.

Zhenyuan Ancient Town, a thousand-year-old town gently embraced by time, is located in Zhenyuan County, Qiandongnan, Guizhou. Surrounded by mountains, the Wuyang River meanders through the town like a green silk ribbon, earning it the nickname "Venice of the East" 🌟. Its history dates back to the Han Dynasty, and after more than 2,000 years, it still retains its ancient charm and tranquility, making it an unforgettable destination.🌟 --- ### 🚅**Transportation Guide**: - **Train**: From Guiyang, it takes about 4 hours to reach Zhenyuan Station; from Kaili, it only takes 1.5 hours. After arriving at the train station, take Bus No. 1 directly to the ancient town for just 2 yuan💵. - **Bus**: Zhenyuan Bus Station has buses to various destinations, offering convenient and efficient travel🚌. - **Car**: The entire journey is on the expressway with excellent road conditions. Parking is generally 30 yuan/day, allowing for easy and enjoyable travel🚗. --- ### 🏠**Accommodation Recommendations**: - **Wuyang Riverside**: Stay by the Wuyang River and enjoy the beautiful river views🌊. Choose from Heba Street, Minzhu Street, Xinglong Street, or Zhouda Street. Heba Street offers the most charming river-view rooms and is surrounded by numerous restaurants, making it the best choice for accommodation🏡. - **Unique B&Bs**: The ancient town has many unique B&Bs with reasonable prices and traditional settings, perfect for travelers who want to experience the local culture. --- ### 📸**Must-See & Photo Spots**: 1. **Qinglong Cave**: - Known as the "Hanging Temple of Southwest China," it consists of multiple ancient buildings facing the Wushui River and backed by cliffs. It is one of the largest ancient building complexes in Guizhou Province🏯. - **Daheguan Wharf** is the best location to admire Qinglong Cave, offering picturesque and breathtaking views🖼️. 2. **Shiping Mountain**: - Majestic and steep, it gets its name from its resemblance to a giant screen🏔️. Climb to the top for a panoramic view of Zhenyuan Ancient Town, especially stunning at night when the lights twinkle below🌃. - **Suggestion**: Hike in the early morning or evening to avoid the midday sun and enjoy the sunrise or sunset. 3. **Zhusheng Bridge**: - A landmark ancient building in Zhenyuan, originally named "Xiqiao," later renamed "Zhusheng Bridge" in honor of Emperor Kangxi's birthday🌉. - This bridge was a must-pass for scholars from Yunnan and Guizhou traveling to Beijing for the imperial examinations. The night view is particularly enchanting, with colorful lights reflected on the river surface🌈. 4. **Wuyang River Night View**: - At night, the banks of the Wuyang River are brilliantly lit, and the river reflects the lights of the ancient town, creating a scene like a painting. - **Suggestion**: Take a boat tour at night on the Wuyang River to experience the romance and tranquility of the ancient town. --- ### 🍽️**Food Guide**: 1. **Red Bean Douhua**: A warm and sweet dessert that's not too rich, perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth🍰. 2. **Potato Balls**: Crispy on the outside, tender tofu inside, served with chili powder for a spicy and delicious treat🍟. 3. **Hand-Torn Tofu**: Deep-fried until golden, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, a Zhenyuan Ancient Town specialty🍖. 4. **Chilled Bayberry Juice**: Refreshing and sweet, a must-have summer drink🥤. 5. **Fried Bracken Starch**: Bracken starch is a local specialty, fried until crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, with an enticing aroma🥟. 6. **Sour Soup Fish**: A Guizhou specialty, sour and spicy, with tender fish, definitely worth trying🐟. --- ### 🏷️**Other Tips**: - **Best Time to Visit**: Spring and autumn (March-May, September-November) offer pleasant weather, ideal for outdoor activities. - **Clothing Suggestions**: The ancient town has many stone-paved roads, so comfortable flat shoes are recommended for easy walking. - **Sun Protection and Mosquito Repellent**: The summer sun is strong, so remember to bring sunscreen and mosquito repellent. - **Cultural Experiences**: Participate in local Miao and Dong ethnic minority cultural activities to experience their unique customs. --- Zhenyuan Ancient Town not only boasts a rich history and culture but also offers unique natural scenery and culinary experiences. Whether strolling through the ancient streets and alleys or taking a boat trip on the Wuyang River, you'll be captivated by the charm of this thousand-year-old town. We hope you have an unforgettable time here!😊

Zhenyuan two days and one night Day 1: Exploring the Ancient Town and Miao Costume Experience Morning: Arrive at Zhenyuan Ancient Town • Transportation: Depart from Guiyang and take the high-speed train to Zhenyuan Station. The journey takes approximately 1.5 hrs. • Accommodation: After arriving, check in to an inn in the ancient town. We recommend "Mengqi Xiaozhu Inn" or "Zhenyuan Escort · Li Xunhuan Inn," both conveniently located and offering beautiful views of the Wuyang River. • Breakfast: Enjoy a local breakfast near the inn, such as Sand Pot Sour Soup Noodles. Morning: Qinglongdong and Miao Costume Experience • Qinglongdong: Visit Qinglongdong in the morning. This is a large complex of Ming and Qing Dynasty religious buildings, known as the "Hanging Temple of Southwest China," perfect for taking photos. • Miao Costume Experience: Rent a set of Miao costumes (approx. CNY 100–200/set) at a Miao costume rental shop near Qinglongdong or in the ancient town to experience Miao culture. Lunch: Ancient Town Cuisine • Lunch: Savor Zhenyuan specialties, such as Sour Soup Fish, Rice Tofu, and Fried Rice Cakes. Afternoon: Strolling Through the Ancient Town • Ancient Alleys: Wander along the bluestone streets of the ancient town, experience the unique layout of "crooked doors and slanted paths," and immerse yourself in the historical charm of the ancient town. • Zhusheng Bridge: Take photos at Zhusheng Bridge, one of the town's landmarks. Evening: Night Views and Nightlife • Night Views: Enjoy the dazzling night view of the ancient town by the Wuyang River in the evening. It's very romantic. • Nightlife: Relax at a riverside bar or teahouse. ---- Day 2: Nature and Culture Tour Morning: Shiping Mountain and Tiexi • Shiping Mountain: Visit Shiping Mountain Scenic Area in the morning (CNY 30/person). Climb the mountain for a panoramic view of the ancient town, a perfect photo spot. • Tiexi: Explore Tiexi, the mysterious place described by Wu Jingzi in his novel *The Scholars* as "Dragon God's Sister's Wedding." Lunch: Lunch and Rest • Lunch: Enjoy a local lunch in the ancient town, such as Miao Fried Spicy Crab and Changwang Noodles. Afternoon: Heping Village and Zhou Dawen's Former Residence • Heping Village: Visit the Second Prisoner Camp of the Ministry of Military Affairs and Political Affairs of the National Government during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and experience the town's culture of tolerance. • Zhou Dawen's Former Residence: Visit Zhou Dawen's Former Residence to learn about local history and culture. Evening: Return Trip • Return Trip: Depending on your return time, you can stroll around the ancient town and buy some local souvenirs, such as Miao silver jewelry.

#favouriteitinerary Shiping Mountain offers panoramic views of the ancient town below. Its rugged terrain and towering rock formations create a breathtaking and awe-inspiring landscape. Personal Opinion: In my opinion, Shiping Mountain provides a truly majestic experience. The combination of dramatic cliffs and stunning vistas makes it a must-visit for nature lovers and adventure seekers alike.

|View the ancient Qinglong Cave complex from a distance. On Shiping Mountain and across the Zhusheng Bridge, you can view the ancient Qinglong Cave complex from a distance. There is a fee to visit, the ticket is HKD60, and it is closed on Mondays. The Qinglong Cave ancient building complex was built in the 21st year of Hongwu in the Ming Dynasty (1388) and has a history of more than 600 years. The entire ancient building complex is built on the mountain, backed by the mountain and the river, leaning on the cliff, caves and walls, volleying in the sky, intrigues, and well-proportioned. It is a complex of Buddhist, Taoist, Confucian and secular ancient buildings that integrates Buddhist scripture halls, Taoist temples, Confucian academies, guild halls, etc. It cleverly combines Central Plains architecture with Miao and Dong stilted buildings and stilt-style buildings. It has the "Guizhou Ancient Architecture Museum" called. These ancient buildings were adapted to the mountains and their locations, using various techniques such as "hanging", "borrowing", "attaching", "embedding", and "building" to build Zhongyuan Cave, Ziyang Cave, Qingdong Cave, etc. on a section of cliff. The attic caves such as Dragon Cave and Wanshou Palace are known as the "Southern Hanging Temple" and are even said to be "the three major hanging temples in China". Due to its bold concept and exquisite layout, Qinglong Cave was listed as the third batch of national key cultural relics protection units in 1988.

Enjoyed the slow pace of life for two days, it was simply the life I longed for~ ✨Visit the ancient city wall of Zhenyuan, touch the traces of history, and stand on the city wall Go up and have a panoramic view of the whole ancient town and the beautiful scenery of Wuyang River. Try local specialties in restaurants in the ancient town, such as fish in sour soup, aged dishes, Fried cakes, etc., each bite has a unique flavor ✨Wander along both sides of Wuyang River and enjoy the picturesque river scenery and ancient bridges. As a landmark building, the Consecrated Bridge has a majestic three-story pavilion on the bridge. It is very beautiful to take pictures here. You can also go for a walk by the river under the bridge and feel the peaceful atmosphere. Then visit the Qinglong Cave Ancient Building Group. This group of Ming and Qing religious buildings built on the mountain combines Buddhism, Taoism and Confucian culture with carved beams and painted buildings. It has a unique style and is worth seeing. ✨In the evening, taste the delicacies of Zhenyuan Night Market, grilled fish, barbecue, etc. are full of aroma. Take a night tour of Wuyang River. Zhenyuan is brilliantly lit at night, and the lights are reflected on the river, which is beautiful. Take a cruise and experience a different style. ✨Get up early and go to Shiping Mountain to watch the sunrise. The mountain overlooks the entire Zhenyuan Ancient Town. At sunrise, the sun shines on the ancient town, which is extremely spectacular. After going down the mountain, browse the small shops in the ancient town and buy Miao silver jewelry, handicrafts and other special souvenirs. 💕Taste the local food again to bring the journey to a successful end. 💕Book your hotel in advance to avoid the embarrassment of not having a room during the peak tourist season. 💕Pay attention to the weather conditions and take sun protection and rain protection measures. 💕Respect local customs and religious beliefs. 💕When tasting delicious food, try several restaurants to find the one that best suits your taste!

📍Address of scenic spot: Zhenyuan Ancient Town 🚗Transportation to scenic spot: Self-driving tour 👍️Must-visit scenic spot: Free tour of the ancient town, some scenic spots require separate tickets Qinglong Cave 60 yuan/person, Shiping Mountain 35 yuan/person 🎟️Ticket related: Some are free 💗Other tips: Special food: rice tofu, yellow cake, corn cake, jelly, sour plum soup Snack shop Old Street Noodle House (near Xindaqiao) Yaoji Tofu Pudding (in Fuxing Lane, it is recommended to go during the day.) Five-stuffed buns (for breakfast) Yuanjia Tofu Brain (old store) in Fuxing Lane, Xinglong Pedestrian Street, opposite to Fujia Courtyard, it is recommended to go during the day, the road is dark and difficult to find at night.

During the past two years of traveling, I have visited ancient towns large and small, but only Zhenyuan Ancient Town left me with beautiful memories. This thousand-year-old ancient town that I have been longing for is my favorite place I have visited this summer! It's really comfortable. First of all, the ancient town does not charge admission and there are not many people. Walking along the stone road by the river, you can see rows of ancient buildings with blue bricks and black tiles. It is even more comfortable to feel the river breeze at night. 🚄 Transportation Guide Depart from Zhaoxing Dong Village: There are direct buses between scenic spots, and transportation is convenient. 📝 Game guide sharing 1. Ticket information: The ancient town itself does not charge admission, but some attractions such as Qinglong Cave (60 yuan) and Shiping Mountain (30 yuan) require separate tickets. 2. Night tour recommendation: Take a night cruise, with bright lights on both sides and a comfortable river breeze, which is a special way to experience Zhenyuan Ancient Town. 3. Accommodation options: There are many homestays on both sides of the strait, with affordable prices ranging from 100 to 200 yuan. The Wuyang River is just outside the window, and the scenery is beautiful. 4. Food recommendations: Tofu noodles, tofu dumplings, etc. are the specialties of Zhenyuan Ancient Town.

Zhenyuan Ancient Town is really much better than Miao Village😭 Not a scam at all. Can you please not just go to Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village? In fact, as a local, I prefer Zhenyuan Ancient Town. The fried rice cake for 1 yuan, the spicy hot pot for 2 yuan, the spicy tofu pudding for 5 yuan, the mixed noodles for 8 yuan, and the Sansui duck that can feed 5 people for 138 yuan are all a combination of full romance and the atmosphere of life. I really like the slow life and slow pace of this place ❤ Let me tell you why I like it! Why Amway? Because it has no publicity, no marketing, but you can feel the small town life here. 🚗Take the train from Guiyang🚞4h to Zhenyuan Ancient City. The ticket is 45 yuan. You can take the bus from the train station to the ancient city for 2 yuan. 🏨Accommodation recommendation: You can book a riverside inn near Zhusheng Bridge or Xinda Bridge, because there are only these two bridges across the river connecting the ancient city, which is relatively convenient to go anywhere 🎫: There is no entrance fee to Zhenyuan Ancient City. If you drive, you can directly navigate to Qinglongdong Parking Lot, and you can avoid the 20 yuan shuttle bus fee. Qinglongdong Parking Lot is near Zhusheng Bridge 👉Attractions in Zhenyuan Ancient City Shiping Mountain⛰️ Qinglong Cave🐉 Wuyang River Rafting🌊 The rest are some small alleys on the main street 1️⃣Shiping Mountain⛰️: It is a separate scenic spot at the end of Zhusheng Bridge. It costs 35 yuan for a ticket to go up, but you can climb up at around 5:30 in the afternoon and just see the sunset. Then wait a little longer. At 6:40, the ancient city lights up. The night view at Shiping Mountain is really beautiful. I have liked the photos I took for the first time for a long time. 2️⃣ Qinglong Cave: It is a national cultural relic protection unit, which has attics, temples, and caves. If you like this, you can buy tickets separately, which is also 58 yuan. 3️⃣Wuyang River: If you come in summer, you must experience the rafting in Zhenyuan. It is really super exciting, higher than river rafting. It is the longest and most exciting rafting route in Guizhou. Don't go if you are timid. 4️⃣Then there is another photo spot, which is the third picture. I really like taking photos of the back. My partner and I took one each. We walked 50 meters from the bridge head, turned on the lights and looked back. 👀 This is the angle 5️⃣The second is the main street. Fuxing Alley and Sifangjing Alley are two alleys with a retro feel when they are lit up during the day and at night. 6️⃣There is also a private check-in point, which many people don’t know is the third picture. It is the place where you can see the little stars on Shiping Mountain. You need to cross the river to the other side and go to the row of bars along the river. There is a bar called Egg Under the Red Flag. Fifty meters to the left is a place for panoramic check-in. I feel like I can’t express my love for Zhenyuan in one article. I’ll update the food guide of Zhenyuan in the next article…

Zhenyuan Ancient Town is called the Oriental Venice. Zhenyuan is located in Zhenyuan County, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou Province, where the river meanders in an "S" shape through the town. The north bank is the prefectural city, and the south bank is the defensive city. Both cities were built during the Ming Dynasty, and some parts of the city walls and gates still exist. There are many ancient buildings, traditional residences, and historical docks both inside and outside the city. Zhenyuan boasts one hall, two nunneries, two institutes, four bridges, four caves, six passes, six offices, eight temples, eight ancestral halls, eight pavilions, nine galleries, nine temples, and over 160 cultural relics and historic sites from the Ming and Qing dynasties, including ancient residences, alleys, and docks that are of great value for sightseeing and scientific research. According to records, ancient Zhenyuan was located at the junction of the 'Wuxi Barbarians' and the 'Baiyue people' in history. In the first year of Shaoding of the Song Dynasty (1226), it was named Zhenyuan Prefecture, and the name 'Zhenyuan' has been used ever since. Zhenyuan has a long history, dating back more than 2280 years to the 30th year of King Zhao of Qin (277 BC) when it was first established as a county. During the Yuan and Qing dynasties, it was the site of a Taoist prefecture for over 700 years. In Zhenyuan, you can climb the 'upright and vast like a screen' Shiping Mountain to overlook the entire ancient town, visit the 'Hanging Temple of the South' Qinglong Cave to see the ancient architectural complex that integrates Buddhist scripture halls, Taoist temples, Confucian academies, and guild halls, and explore the 'crooked doors and slanted paths' of the Sifang Well Alley, Stone Archway Alley, Fuxing Alley, and other ancient alleys to see the traditional residences. Ticket: Free (Separate admission fees for Shiping Mountain and Qinglong Cave).

You must go to the ancient town of Zhenyuan in Guizhou (free admission). Unlike the hustle and bustle of other Miao villages, Zhenyuan is a quiet Miao village. It is a free AAAAA scenic spot with a history of more than 2,300 years. You must go there with your loved ones, along the calm Wuyang River, and enjoy the tranquility of this border town. Recommended attractions: Climb Shiping Mountain, which was once the northern barrier of this border town. Take a look at Qinglong Cave, which is a wonderful example of the combination of Jiangnan Han architecture and southwestern ethnic minority mountain architecture culture. It is known as the "Southwest Hanging Temple" and is the largest ancient building complex in Guizhou Province. Check in at Zhusheng Bridge, an ancient bridge that has experienced more than 600 years of history. It was originally named "Xiqiao". Later, it was changed to "Zhusheng Bridge" because it was used to celebrate the birthday of Emperor Kangxi. Walk through the ancient streets in the city, where the ancient alleys are winding and secluded, the stone bridges and city walls are scattered, and the fishing fires on the spring river are poetic. Zhenyuan Ancient City