Tongren Travel Guide
A hidden gem nestled among the Wuling Mountains, Tongren in Guizhou is the northeastern frontier of the province, connecting Hunan, Chongqing, and Hubei Provinces. Being ancient yet vibrant, the city is endowed with majestic mountains, stunning karst formations, diverse flora and fauna, well-preserved traditional ethnic customs, and rich historical and cultural heritage.
Most tourists add Tongren to their trip to Guizhou for the UNESCO-listed Mount Fanjingshan. While few may know that the city is also blessed with many tranquil ethnic villages, various rare and endangered flora and fauna, and charming karst geological parks and caves.
Please follow our Guizhou Tongren Travel Guide to discover more of its hidden treasures.
Chinese: 铜仁 tóng rén
Location: Northeast Guizhou
Population (urban area): 3,264,000
Why Visit Tongren in Guizhou?
- Spectacular Natural Scenery: It’s home to Mount Fanjingshan, which is known for its karst landscapes, ecological diversity, and profound Buddhist culture. It has become a destination receiving international recognition.
- Cultural Riches: Tongren is brimming with ethnic diversity. Visitors can get a chance to glimpse into festival celebrations and colorful artisan crafts in many ancient towns and tranquil ethnic villages.
- Mild Climate: The city enjoys a Central Asian tropical monsoon humid climate, featuring distinct seasons and cool summers. It experiences mild temperatures all year round.
- Natural Reserves & Outdoor Adventures:Tongren boasts many national nature reserves of lush greenery and unspoiled wilderness. And it attracts many outdoor adventurers with thrilling activities such as hiking, rock climbing, birdwatching, etc.
Top Tongren Tourist Attractions
Miao Wang City
A well-preserved ancient Miao frontier city with a history of over 600 years. A visit here will allow visitors to look into the maze of intricate alleyways, ancient watchtowers that once served as forward posts, and many Miao folk stunts.
Yamugou (Yamu Valley)
Adjacent to Fanjing Mountain, Yamugou had served as a summer retreat before the Tang Dynasty. Features not only the primitive canyon scenery but also rich Tujia heritage and activities, like song and dance performances, folk arts, and traditional wedding customs.
Tongren Ancient Town
With mountains as background and surrounded by waters on three sides, Tongren Ancient Town once was an important military fortress in the Ming Dynasty. It boasts many traditional wooden houses from the Ming and Qing dynasties, ancient streets, and many military relics.
Tongren Weather & Best Time to Visit
Tongren belongs to the mid-subtropical humid climate zone, with its weather largely influenced by the southwest monsoon. Its annual average temperature is around 18°C. In January, the coldest month of Tongren, the average temperatures range between 2 to 6°C. While in July, its hottest month, the average temperatures usually hover between 24 to 28°C.
The city sees most of its rainfall from April to August, which accounts for about 60% to 65% of the yearly precipitation (averaging between 1100 to 1400mm).
It rarely undergoes extreme hot summers or harsh winters. Given its mild climate, you can make a trip to Tongren all year round. And, spring and autumn are generally the best seasons to travle weather-wisely, marking the most comfortable periods for exploring the natural scenery and experiencing ethnic cultures.
Tongren Food
Similar to most Guizhou food, Tongren food is dominated by sour and spicy tastes. Local dishes and food are deeply influenced by the eating habits of Tujia and Miao ethnic groups.
Another feature of Tengren food is its culinary diversity, ranging from staple foods to snacks, and from meaty delights to vegetarian options. Most dishes are prepared with intricate and meticulous craftsmanship.
Some of the most popular food in Tongren include:
- Tongren Shefan: Made from wormwood, onions, garlic sprouts, diced cured meat, walnut, cured beans, peanuts and glutinous rice, and is usually served on festivals.
- Jiangkou Rice Tofu: Made by adding alkali to rice, and boiling it to the rice milk. After cooling down, the rice milk shows a tender yellow color and a smooth texture. To enjoy the rice tofu, you can add some spicy oil and vinegar chili sauce to enhance the flavor.
- Shiqian Green Bean Noodles: Made from green beans and rice. The green bean noodles should be made with multiple processes including soaking, grinding, and steaming. The final product is green and delicate in texture. It is often served as a breakfast with various condiments.
Recommended places for Tongren delicacies and snacks:
Food streets and markets are paradises to look into Tongren’s vibrant food culture and gastronomic delights. Lined up with a colorful array of food stalls, these bustling alleys are not only avenues for delicacies and snacks but also insights into locals’ daily lives and customs.
Popular food streets and markets in Tongren include Bijiang District Old Street, Wanshan District Snack Street, Tongren Old Street, and areas around Tongren Railway Station.
Tongren Transportation: How to Get to
By Air
You can arrive at Tongren by air through Tongren Fenghuang Airport (formerly named Tongren Daxing Airport). The airport now offers flights to/from Guiyang, Xingyi, Zunyi, and other major domestic cities like Beijing, Xian, Chengdu, and Shanghai. The distance from the airport to Tongren city center is about 22 kilometers and about 90 kilometers to Fanjing Mountain. You can reach either of them by taxi or airport bus.
By Train
To travel by high-speed train, you can arrive at Guiyang, Changsha, Chongqing, Wuhan, or Chengdu first. From these cities, there are frequent high-speed trains to Tongren South Station. Tongren South Station is about 60 kilometers to the city center, and about 86 kilometers to Fanjing Mountain. There are direct scenic area shuttle buses from Tongren South Station to Fanjing Mountain. The bus operates four times every day, with each journey lasting about 2 hours, and the ticket price is CNY 65 per person.
Best Guizhou Tours including Tongren
- 3 Days Guizhou Tour with Mt.Fanjingshan
- 6 Days Guizhou Tour of Guiyang Kaili Fanjingshan
7 Days Amazing Nature & Culture Tour of Zhangjiajie -Fenghuang – Mt.Fanjingshan
