[2025 Pingnan Attraction] Travel Guide for Yuanyangxi (Updated Jul)

Hidden in Ningde is a secluded fairyland—Pingnan, the last untouched paradise in Fujian. With ancient villages, crystal-clear streams, and terraced fields, every shot you take is postcard-perfect 📸 🚶‍♀️2-day, 1-night highlights itinerary: DAY1: 📍Longtan Ancient Town (Xiling Township, Pingnan County): Preserves a complete cluster of Ming and Qing dynasty architecture, with bluestone paths, horse-head walls, and ancient stages exuding historical charm. 🍴Recommended restaurant: Ancient Town Winery (inside Longtan Village), must-try: local chicken stewed with yellow wine lees. 📍Siping Village (Luxia Township, Pingnan County): "Fujian's most beautiful terraced fields"—sea of rapeseed flowers in spring and golden rice waves in autumn. Wear light-colored clothes for photos 📷. 📍Baishuiyang Scenic Area (Shuangxi Town, Pingnan County): The "world's first wonder" water square. Remember to bring sandals for water play 🌊. DAY2: 📍Yuanyangxi (Mandarin Duck Stream, Shuangxi Town, Pingnan County): A national nature reserve. May-October is the best season to spot mandarin ducks. 📍Jitou Village (Tangkou Township, Pingnan County): A millennia-old village with well-preserved Ming and Qing residences, the oldest dating back over 600 years. 🥢Lunch recommendation: Tangkou Flavors Restaurant (Central Street, Tangkou Township), must-try: red yeast rice fish and river snail pot. 💡Practical tips: 1️⃣Pingnan's attractions are scattered. Recommended to drive 🚗 or hire a car. Travel time from county town to sites ranges 40-90 minutes. 2️⃣Longtan Ancient Town hosts traditional opera performances every Wednesday afternoon. 3️⃣Visit Baishuiyang after 3 PM for comfortable water temperature and ideal lighting for photos 📷. 4️⃣Bring sunscreen spray in summer—no shade by the streams. 🏡Accommodation suggestions: Top choice: Stay in Longtan Ancient Town's B&Bs to experience night views and convenient access. For sunrise 🌅 and sea of clouds, opt for Siping Village.

Detailed travel guide for Ningde, ❤️ covering natural landscapes, cultural customs, local delicacies, and practical tips to help you plan an unforgettable mountain and sea journey: --- **1. Must-Visit Attractions Recommended** **Natural Wonders** 1. **Mount Taimu (5A Scenic Area)** ❤️- **Features**: Granite peak forest, sea of clouds sunrise, hanging temple, known as the "Sea Fairyland." -💖 **Activities**: Climb the Sea View Terrace to overlook the East China Sea, visit the Tang Dynasty Guoxing Temple, walk the One Line Sky plank road. -💖 **Tickets**: 130 RMB (combined ticket), recommend reserving 1 day. 2. **Baishuijiang·Mandarin Duck Creek (5A Scenic Area)** -❄️**Features**: Globally rare shallow water plaza (water only ankle-deep), perfect for barefoot water play in summer. -💕 **Highlights**: Thousands of mandarin ducks can be seen in winter, ideal for family trips. 3. **Xiapu Tidal Flats (China’s Most Beautiful Tidal Flats)** - 🌨**Photography Paradise**: Sunrise at Beiqi tidal flats, sunset at Dongbi Village, fishing boat silhouettes at Shajiang S Bay. -🎀 **Experience**: Oyster harvest season from April to June, you can go out to sea with boats for fishing. 4. **Yushan Island (One of China’s Top Ten Most Beautiful Islands)** - ❤️**Features**: Ten thousand mu of grasslands adjacent to Tianhu Lake, camping and stargazing, island cycling. - ❤️**Transportation**: Take a boat from Sansha Wharf, ticket about 200 RMB. **Cultural Ancient Towns** 5. **Huotong Ancient Town (Historic Cultural Town)** -😍**Intangible Cultural Heritage Experience**: Huotong lion dance performance, stroll along Ming and Qing dynasty streets💕, taste Guangbing flatbread. - **Highlights**: Traditional folk activities during the Lantern Festival on the second day of the second lunar month. 6. **Pingnan Ancient Villages** - ❤️**Artistic Check-in**: Shuangxi Ancient Town (century-old oil painting village), Xiadi Village (home of the Vanguard Bookstore). 7. **Zhouning Liyu Creek** - ❤️**Features**: Thousands of colorful carp swimming with people, winter plum blossoms by the creek, suitable for family trips. --- **2. Specialty Food Recommendations** 1. **💖 Ningde Large Yellow Croaker** - **How to Eat**: Steamed to retain tenderness, or pan-fried yellow croaker jerky, recommended at Xiapu seafood stalls. 2. **Fuding Pork Slices** -❤️ **Features**: Mixture of starch and lean meat, smooth texture, paired with hot and sour soup. -❤️ **Recommended Restaurant**: Fuding "Anai Pork Slices." 3. **She Ethnic Black Rice** ❤️ **Intangible Cultural Heritage Food**: Glutinous rice dyed with Wuren tree leaves, fragrant and soft. 4. **Gutian Guangbing Flatbread** -❤️ **Historic Snack**: Crispy outside, soft inside, can be stuffed with braised pork, best with Fuding white tea. 5. **Xiapu Minnan Porridge** ❤️ **Breakfast Must-Try**: Made with seafood and sweet potato starch, capturing the fresh taste of the sea. --- **3. Accommodation Suggestions** 1.💖 **Xiapu Shijian Sea Homestay**: Cliff sea view rooms, perfect for photography lovers. 2. *🎀* **Yushan Island Tent Camp**: Stargazing at night, experience island wilderness. 3. 🎀 **Huotong Ancient Town Inn**: Ming and Qing style, feel the charm of a thousand-year-old town. --- **4. Transportation Guide** 1. **❄️ Major Transportation** - **High-speed Rail**: Ningde Station direct to Fuzhou (0.5 hours), Xiamen (2 hours). -🎀 **Airplane**: Nearest airport is Fuzhou Changle Airport, then take a 1.5-hour bus to Ningde. 2. **City Transportation** 💖- **Self-driving**: Attractions are scattered, renting a car is more flexible (about 300 RMB/day). 💖- **Bus**: City attractions accessible by bus, mountain areas recommend chartering a car. --- **5. Suggested Itinerary (3 Days 2 Nights)** - 😍**Day 1**: Mount Taimu (hiking and sea viewing) → Xiapu Dongbi Village (sunset) → Seafood feast. -🎀 **Day 2**: Yushan Island (grasslands + Tianhu Lake) → Xiapu Beiqi Tidal Flats (photography). - ❤️**Day 3**: Huotong Ancient Town (intangible cultural heritage experience) → Zhouning Liyu Creek (family trip). --- **6. Practical Tips** ❤️ 1. **Best Season**: April to October (Xiapu tidal flats have the most beautiful light and shadow, summer is perfect for Baishuijiang water play). 2❤️. **Photography Gear**: Tripod, wide-angle lens, check tide times for tidal flat shooting. 3.❤️ **Avoid Pitfalls**: Xiapu sea fishing prices can be overpriced, recommend negotiating in advance. The beauty of Ningde, ❤️ lies in the grandeur of mountain and sea integration and the accumulation of millennia of culture. Whether it’s the sea of clouds at Mount Taimu, ❤️ or the light and shadow of Xiapu tidal flats, it’s worth slowing down to savor!

🌟 Ningde Travel Guide: A Secret Journey Through the Mountains and Seas of Eastern Fujian 🌟 🏞️ Attraction Recommendations - **Xiapu Beqi Mudflats** 🌊 Known as "China's Most Beautiful Mudflats," Beqi Mudflats feature unique tiger-stripe patterns. At low tide, the textures emerge under sunlight, creating a mesmerizing interplay of golden lines and winding water channels. Highlights: Silhouettes of fishing poles and boats, sunrise and sunset—a paradise for photography enthusiasts. Transportation: Direct buses from Fuzhou and Xiamen to Xiapu. From Xiapu County, rent a car or take local transport to Beqi Village. - **Fuding Taimu Mountain** 🏔️ A national 5A-level scenic area famed for its bizarre peaks, peculiar rocks, and sea of clouds at sunrise. The mountain's diverse rock formations paint a majestic landscape. Opening Hours: 08:00-17:00 Ticket: 100 RMB (80 RMB in low season). - **Yuanyangxi (Mandarin Duck Stream)** 🌳 The top family-friendly attraction in Ningde, a hidden gem in the deep mountains perfect for family outings. Highlights: Crystal-clear streams, dense forests, and mandarin duck habitats—a perfect blend of natural scenery and ecological experiences. - **Pingnan Baishuiyang** 🌊 A rare shallow-water plaza covering 80,000 square meters with ankle-deep water, ideal for family water play. Opening Hours: 08:00-17:00 Ticket: 100 RMB. - **Gutian Conference Site** 🏛️ A significant historical site of the Chinese revolution, witnessing early pivotal meetings of the Communist Party of China. Opening Hours: 08:00-16:30 Ticket: Free. 🍔 Food Recommendations - **Silver-Threaded Yellow Croaker** 🐟 Ningde is China's hometown of yellow croaker. This traditional dish features one tail fried into a dragon shape and the other minced into silky threads, arranged as "golden dragon spitting silk." - **Ningde Fish Balls** 🍥 Famous for their translucent, springy texture, stuffed with fresh meat and dried tofu for a rich, savory flavor. - **She Ethnic Black Rice** 🌾 A She ethnic specialty—glutinous rice steamed with dye from blackberry lily leaves, offering a fragrant taste and health benefits like boosting energy and strengthening bones. - **Steamed Crab with Taro** 🦀 A fusion of green crab and Fuding taro, featuring tender crab meat and crispy-yet-soft taro infused with sweet crab essence. - **Fuding Meat Slices** 🍖 A traditional Fuding snack made from lean meat and starch, spicy and savory—a staple on local dining tables. - **Clear Broth Noodles** 🍜 A breakfast must-have in Ningde, with smooth noodles, light sweet broth, scallions, and cilantro—simple yet unforgettable. 🚌 Transportation Guide - Public Transit: Ningde has a well-developed bus system to major attractions. - Self-Drive: The best way to explore Ningde, with convenient parking near scenic spots. 📸 Photography Tips - Best Spots: Xiapu Beqi Mudflats, Taimu Mountain, Baishuiyang, Yuanyangxi. - Best Time: Early morning and dusk for soft light, ideal for landscapes and mudflat scenes. 🌟 Ningde, a hidden gem between mountains and seas in Eastern Fujian, offers breathtaking natural beauty and rich culinary delights. Come here to experience the charm of Eastern Fujian and enjoy an unforgettable journey! 🌟

Fujian Ningde Mandarin Duck Creek Recommended to drive, 2 hours from Fuzhou (search for Baizhangji Scenic Area in Mandarin Duck Creek, parking available at the entrance) A perfect summer retreat to escape the heat - Fuzhou is way too hot! Gather some friends and go this weekend Weather: Best to go after rain when the waterfall is at its fullest Ticket🎫: Weekdays ¥79, Weekends/Holidays ¥99 Opening hours: 08:00-16:00 Includes Mandarin Duck Creek Grand Canyon ticket + Baizhangji Cave Elevator (round trip) + designated waterfall coffee drink Parking🚗: ¥10 at the parking lot Lots of wild macaques - super cute! Recommended route: If you just want to check out the waterfall coffee, you can take the elevator directly - very quick and effortless. Route: Staff will guide you - enter the scenic area, walk a bit, turn right at the small —— Speaker Waterfall (not the end point, keep going - a hidden gem with few people and great views) —— Small Sky Pond —— Take the elevator (staff will operate it for you) - you'll see the waterfall coffee right after exiting - Baizhangji Waterfall Ended up eating at the popular A'niang Noodle House - just navigate there directly, really good food! ⛩️Check out Fujian Ningde·Baishuiyang Originating from Baishuiyang, love blossoms at Mandarin Duck Creek - experience the joy of water play 🥰

Transportation 👉 External Transport: You can first fly to Fuzhou Changle International Airport✈️, then take a shuttle bus to Pingnan🚌, or take a high-speed train to Ningde Station🚄 and transfer to a bus to Pingnan🚗. ⛳ Local Transport: Taxis are convenient in the county town🚕, with a starting fare of 7-9 yuan. To visit surrounding attractions, take a bus from Pingnan Bus Station🚌 or opt for carpooling🚕. Attractions 🤗✨ Baishuiyang Scenic Area: The world's only "shallow water square" with a flat riverbed, where you can walk barefoot, experience natural water slides, and enjoy water sports in summer. ⛳🌺 Yuanyangxi (Mandarin Duck Stream): China's only mandarin duck reserve, featuring the Lingyun Plank Walk, Xiaohukou Waterfall, and Baizhangji Waterfall. You can also take a cave ladder straight to the mountaintop. 😊😇 Longtan Ancient Town: A place rich in artistic vibes, with libraries, art galleries, and a wine museum. At night, enjoy folk songs and taste Huizelong aged wine in cozy taverns. 👀👍 Shuangxi Ancient Town: With a history of over 1,000 years, it boasts well-preserved ancient architecture and streets. Stroll through Ming and Qing-era lanes, explore merchant culture, and try intangible heritage paper-cutting. 😁🤓 Qiansheng Bridge: A masterpiece of Southern Song Dynasty wooden arch bridges. The stone tablet at the bridgehead records its millennium-long history—standing here feels like stepping back in time. Food 🥰 Rice-Roasted Rabbit: Crispy skin with a rice aroma🍙, blending smoky flavors with tender rabbit meat. Try it at the "Country Kitchen" specialty store in town, or take vacuum-packed portions as souvenirs. 🥞 Huangguo (Yellow Rice Cake): Chewy and sticky, best dipped in red yeast sauce. Try pan-fried versions at "Huangguo Family" for a crispy outside and soft inside. 🍝 Yuanyang Noodles: Made from bitter acorn fruit. At "Little Bridge Homestead" in Longtan Village, they're stewed with fish mint and pork ribs—perfect for cooling down in summer. 🍺🍸 Huizelong Aged Wine: Visit the Huangjiu (Yellow Wine) Workshop in Beiqian Village to savor warm wine paired with red yeast loach noodles—a match made in heaven. Accommodation 🥳🤗 Pingnan County Town: Convenient transportation with plenty of affordable dining and lodging options, such as Atour Hotel, ensuring quality stays. ✌️☺️ Longtan Village: Offers many homestays with good commercial amenities, but book 1 month in advance during peak season. For example, Xiaoshitan Homestay provides stunning views of streams and persimmon trees. Tips 👀 Attractions are scattered, so driving🚗 is recommended. If using public transport🚌, ask your homestay host about charter services in advance. 🎉 For the best photos of covered bridges, visit at 7-9 AM✌️ when the light is perfect. At Baishuiyang, wear bright swimsuits and use drones for breathtaking aerial shots.

✨✨Fujian Longtan Ancient Town: An "Artistic Jiangnan" Hidden in the Mountains✨✨ ### 🌟 **Ancient Town Overview** Located in Beicun, Changqiao Town, Pingnan County, Ningde City, Fujian Longtan Ancient Town is about 30 km away from the county seat. It is an ancient village that was first built in the Song Dynasty and prospered in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. With the traditional wooden structure dwellings in eastern Fujian as its core, the ancient houses are well-preserved, integrating natural landscapes and cultural customs. In recent years, it has been revitalized through artistic transformation and has become the Fujian version of "Meet Yourself." --- ### 🏞️ **Must-Visit Experiences** 1. **Ancient Houses and Artistic Spaces** - **Ancient Residential Clusters**: Stroll along the bluestone paths, explore the ancient houses of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and admire the carved doors and windows and the upturned eaves, which show the architectural features of eastern Fujian. Some old houses have been transformed into homestays, bookstores, and cafes, such as the "Avant-Garde Bookstore" in the rice fields, which is full of artistic atmosphere. - **Longtan Canyon**: The canyon has waterfalls and clear pools. You can go upstream in summer, and the forests are colorful in autumn. It is a secret place for hiking enthusiasts. 2. **Art and Handcrafts** - **Intangible Cultural Heritage Experience**: Participate in traditional Lei Cha making, blue calico tie-dyeing, or make bamboo weaving handicrafts by hand to experience the local culture. - **Artistic Market**: There are often handicraft markets on weekends, selling local specialties such as Qiuju Guo and bamboo crafts. You can also meet resident artists. 3. **Surrounding Natural Wonders** - **Baishuiyang Scenic Area** (about 1 hour by car): The world's largest shallow water square, where you can play in the water and escape the summer heat in summer, and enjoy the colorful mountain scenery in autumn. - **Mandarin Duck Stream**: Hike through the plank road, check in at Baizhangji Waterfall, take the cave ladder to overlook the canyon, and encounter macaque monkeys. --- ### 🍜 **Longtan Cuisine** - **Old-fashioned Snacks**: ✔️ **Taro Noodles**: Q-bomb taro flour with the aroma of lard is a unique dish in Pingnan. ✔️ **Qiuju Guo**: A pastry made of chrysanthemum and glutinous rice, fragrant and soft, fried and eaten fresh. ✔️ **Rice Roasted Rabbit**: Smoked and roasted rabbit meat is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, a must-have for locals to drink. - **Cafes and Tea Houses**: Many cafes in the ancient town offer hand-drip coffee and tea. It is recommended to sit by the window and enjoy the rice field scenery while sipping tea. --- ### 📜 **Useful Tips** 1. **Transportation Guide** - **Self-driving**: About 2 hours from Fuzhou and about 4 hours from Quanzhou. Navigate to "Pingnan Longtan Ancient Town." The roads in the village are narrow, so it is recommended to park outside and walk in. - **Public Transportation**: Take the high-speed train to Pingnan Station and then take a taxi for about 30 minutes, or take a bus directly from Ningde City. 2. **Accommodation Recommendations** - **Senke Xiasi Homestay**: An artistic homestay by the rice fields, with mountains visible through the windows, and the night is as quiet as a painting. - **Longtan Inn**: Renovated from an ancient house, it is cost-effective and provides Hanfu rental and local cultural tours. 3. **Itinerary Suggestions** - **One-day Tour**: Visit the ancient houses in the morning + handicraft experience, explore Longtan Canyon in the afternoon, and enjoy the sunset at the cafe in the evening. - **In-depth Tour**: Combine Baishuiyang and Mandarin Duck Stream, arrange 2–3 days to experience the dual shock of nature and culture. 4. **Photo Tips** - **Best Spots**: Avant-Garde Bookstore rice field window view, the depth composition of the ancient village stone road, and the ancient house eaves in the morning mist. - **Outfit Suggestions**: Plain cotton and linen long skirts or Hanfu are more in line with the atmosphere of the ancient town. --- ### 🌸 **Seasonal Limited** - **Spring and Summer** (March–August): The rice fields are green, hydrangeas bloom all over the ancient village, and it is the right time to play in the water in Baishuiyang. - **Autumn and Winter** (September–December): The rice fields are golden, Qiuju Guo is fragrant, and the red leaves in the canyon are like fire, suitable for a quiet and slow tour. 🌾 Sitting on the veranda of the ancient house, listening to the wind blowing through the rice waves At this moment, I understand what it means to have "long years in the mountains, and a distant heart is naturally biased."

Yuanyangxi National Scenic Area is located in the northeast of Pingnan County, 30 kilometers away from the county seat, and at the junction of Pingnan, Zhouning, and Zhenghe counties. The total area is 78.8 square kilometers. It is currently the only mandarin duck bird sanctuary in my country. Yuanyang River is 14 kilometers long. It is surrounded by deep mountains and dense forests. It is quiet and clean. It is a good place for Yuanyang to inhabit. Every autumn, hundreds to thousands of mandarin ducks fly from the north to spend the winter. Mandarin ducks were discovered in the streams in this area more than a hundred years ago. Therefore, Pingnan enjoys the reputation of "the hometown of mandarin ducks" and "a resort for lovers". Yuanyang River is divided into five tourist areas: Baishuiyang, Yuanyang River, Chaxi, Shuizhuyang-Kaoxi, and Yuanyang Lake. Yuanyangxi Tourist Area is the central scenic spot of Yuanyangxi. It features wild animals such as mandarin ducks, monkeys and rare plants. It integrates streams, waterfalls, peaks, rocks, caves, pools, fog and other landscapes, making it a rare Comprehensive tourist area.

| A Great Place to Play in the Water in Summer. Fujian Ningde Pingnan's White Water Ocean is indeed an excellent place to escape the heat and a paradise for water activities, allowing people to fully enjoy the coolness and joy of summer! I strongly recommend you to experience it in person this summer! According to the on-site announcement, a grand water-splashing festival will be held from July 20 to August 20, creating an extremely lively atmosphere. It is the perfect choice to relieve stress and enjoy happiness! Travel Guide: Driving from Fuzhou to White Water Ocean takes about two and a half hours. The scenic area is open daily from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The ticket price is 120 yuan, and if purchased together with the Yuanyang Creek ticket, it is 160 yuan. Rafting and surfing are additional charges, with surfing at 90 yuan and rafting at 70 yuan (an additional 20 yuan deposit is required). Be sure to bring water play tools, such as water guns, to add fun. Prepare a set of clothes to change into, as you might get completely soaked! If conditions permit, it is recommended to bring your own food and water, as prices inside the scenic area are usually higher than outside.

Reverse travel during the Dragon Boat Festival! In this drizzly plum rain season, dive into the ancient villages, spent 2 days with friends in the village, where time passed very slowly, unexpectedly, the village is so beautiful even in the light rain (Of course, it is still recommended to visit when the weather is clear!) Sharing the itinerary of these two days and one night in Pingnan p1-6 Longtan Ancient Town p7-11 Xiadi Village p12-13 Siping Village p14-17 Yuanyangxi Waterfall Coffee 🏠Homestay: Senkedi Xiashan Homestay A super beautiful homestay, we booked a detached house Every window is as beautiful as a painting Xiadi Village is super quiet at night, really feels like a good rest The homestay also has a coffee house with cats and dogs And things here are cheap and good!! Travel sequence⬇️ From Quanzhou to Pingnan, a 3-hour and 42-minute drive It's really tiring, it's recommended to take the high-speed train, you can rent a car locally day1 Check into Xiadi Village➡️Visit Xianfeng Bookstore It takes about an hour to walk and take photos in Xiadi Village ➡️Longtan Ancient Town, 47 minutes drive from Xiadi Village The ancient town is well-developed, with more people, and there are hydrangeas at the door of 47 Tree Homestay! Great for taking photos～ ➡️Siping Village, 15 minutes drive from Longtan Ancient Town Each of the three villages has its own characteristics, and they are all not large in size, every corner is pretty photogenic! We didn't arrange much time, and reserved a day for Yuanyangxi. Otherwise, it would be enough to visit 2 villages in one day, just wander around leisurely, take deep breaths of oxygen, very healing! day2 Head to Yuanyangxi Scenic Area, a 50-minute drive Buy a combo ticket for the scenic area: ticket + elevator + coffee 99 yuan/person Maybe because of the bad weather, the waterfall coffee was a bit disappointing The waterfall is big, and it's blissful to breathe oxygen in the forest See you next time when the weather is clear～ Fuji and the ancient villages really match well! Took a lot of beautiful photos with good friends, casually snapping pictures How has such a hidden gem not been discovered yet!! Really don't need to leave the province to feel the windy places～ ps The food is all very average, it's recommended to bring your own snacks and instant noodles