Qingyan Ancient Town is one of the top four ancient towns in Guizhou, China. It sits in the southern suburbs of Guiyang City and has a history of over 600 years. Inside the ancient town, you’ll see its meticulous layout as an important military town during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Over time, it has also become a cultural and historical site that preserves local traditions.
Fast Facts about Qingyan Ancient Town
- Location: Qingyan Town, Huaxi District, Guiyang City, Guizhou
- Hours: all day
- Tickets: CNY 10
- Recommended Visit Time: half a day
- Best Time to Visit: March to November
- Suited to: anyone interested in history, culture, and architecture
What to See and Do in Qingyan Ancient Town
1. Dingguang Gate
Dingguang Gate is the south gate of Qingyan Ancient Town. It once served as the town’s defense station, its most important military fortress. It was built in 1660, and now it is a landmark of the ancient town and is praised for being its most magnificent structure.
2. Zhao LiLun Hundred-Year Archway
There are eight archways in total in Qingyan Ancient Town. Zhao Lilun Hundred-Year Archway is another landmark of the town and is only a few steps away from Dingguang Gate. It was built by Emperor Daoguang of Qing Dynasty to congratulate Zhao Lilun, a wealthy businessman from Qingyan, on his 100th birthday.
The archway consists of four stone pillars. The stone lions carved on them are unusual in their postures. The uniqueness of the archway has been praised by the great artist Liu Haisu as “a rare artistic masterpiece.” It has become popular among photographers who travel to Guiyang in Guizhou.
3. Bei Street
Bei Street is the most iconic lane in Qingyan Ancient Town. After hundreds of years, the stone slabs on the pavement are worn and flat, bringing a unique sense of time to the narrow and quiet street.
4. Wanshou Palace
Wanshou Palace was built in the Qing Dynasty, year 1798, was later transformed into a Taoist temple. The palace courtyard consists of the main hall, the side hall, the west chamber, the theater, and the living area. The theater is the most worth seeing with exquisite wood carvings. On its wooden beams, there are carvings of famous scenes and characters like “Hongmen Banquet.”
5. Zhuangyuan Mansion
Zhuangyuan Mansion is the former residence of Zhao Yijiong, the first Zhuangyuan (the scholar who achieves the highest score in the imperial examination) in Guizhou. Zhao has been a famous historical figure in Qingyan Ancient Town. His mansion now displays artifacts from Zhao’s lifetime, artifacts about imperial examinations, and Qingyan Town historical artifacts.
6. Try Guizhou Street Foods
Trying the local street foods is an indispensable part of your Guizhou tour. In Qingyan Ancient Town, you’ll find the famous Qingyan pigs’ trotters. It’s been a well-known local street food since Qing Dynasty because it’s said that the zhuangyuan Zhao frequented the market in search of them. Qingyan tofu balls and Qingyan rice tofus are popular snacks as well.
√Related reading: 10 Most Famous Ancient Towns in China
How to Get to Qingyan Ancient Town
By Flight: Fly into Guiyang Longdongbao International Airport, which is about 40 km (24.9 miles) from Qingyan Ancient Town. You can take the airport shuttle bus Line 5 there.
By Train: Guiyang has a few railway stations, Longdongbao Railway Station, Guiyang North Railway Station, and Guiyang Railway Station.
By Bus: Take buses 203 or 210 to Qingyan Ancient Town. Or you can take a coach from Guiyang Coach Station at No.32 West Yan’an Road.
By Car: A taxi from downtown Guiyang to Qingyan Ancient Town costs around CNY 80-100.
Attractions Nearby Qingyan Ancient Town
- Jiaxiu Tower is an iconic landmark in the center of Guiyang City. It’s a wooden structure that dates all the way back to the Ming Dynasty.
- Huangguoshu Waterfall is about 130 km (81 miles) from Qingyan Ancient Town. It is the largest waterfall in Asia.
