Qingyan Ancient Town Scenic Area in Guiyang City is located in Qingyan Town, Huaxi District, Guiyang City, Guizhou Province. It is a national 5A-level tourist scenic area, with a total area of 3.8 square kilometers. Qingyan Ancient Town is one of the four major ancient towns in Guizhou. Its characteristic lies in the preservation of a large number of ancient buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties, such as temples, pavilions, and city walls. The buildings in the ancient town are mostly made of stone and wood, taking advantage of the terrain with ingenious layout. The perimeter of the ancient town's city wall is about 3 kilometers, about 8 meters high and about 5 meters thick, majestic and spectacular, which is one of the landmark buildings of the ancient town. In addition, the ancient residential buildings in the town have a unique architectural style, integrating the characteristics of Huizhou architecture and the architecture of local ethnic minorities, which is of great ornamental value.
History and Culture
Qingyan Ancient Town was first built in the 10th year of Hongwu in the Ming Dynasty (1377), originally a military stronghold, and an important garrison point of the Ming Dynasty. At that time, Qingyan Ancient Town played an important role in military defense and witnessed many historical events and wars.
Over time, Qingyan Ancient Town gradually transformed from a military stronghold into a commercial distribution center. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, merchants gathered here, and trade flourished, making it an important hub connecting Guizhou with the outside world. Places like Beijie Street in the ancient town have preserved many ancient shops and workshops, witnessing the commercial prosperity at that time.
Qingyan Ancient Town is also a place where multiple ethnic cultures blend. Ethnic groups such as the Han, Buyi, and Miao live here together. The cultures of various ethnic groups influence and integrate with each other, forming a unique regional culture. Buildings such as temples and ancestral halls in the ancient town reflect the beliefs and cultural traditions of different ethnic groups.
Main Attractions
City Gates of Qingyan Ancient Town
There are four city gates in Qingyan Ancient Town, namely the East Gate, South Gate, West Gate, and North Gate. Among them, Dingguang Gate is the South Gate of the ancient town. The city tower is tall and majestic, and the plaque above the city gate reads the three characters "Dingguang Gate". Dingguang Gate is an important gateway of the ancient town and was a key part of military defense in history. The stone road outside the city gate, polished by the passage of time, has witnessed the vicissitudes of the ancient town. The East Gate is called "Yingxiang Gate", the West Gate is called "Dingguang Gate", and the North Gate is called "Zhennv Gate". Each city gate has its own unique history and cultural connotation. Tourists can climb up the city gate to overlook the entire ancient town and feel the weight of history.
Beijie Street
Beijie Street is one of the most characteristic scenic spots in Qingyan Ancient Town. The street is narrow and long, with a total length of about 300 meters. The road surface is paved with bluestones, and the walls on both sides are stone walls built with layers of stone slabs. The surface of the stone walls is mottled, full of traces of time. The architectural style of Beijie Street is simple and elegant, with a strong historical charm, and it is a paradise for photography enthusiasts. Many film and television works have also been filmed here.
Zhao Lilun's Centenary Memorial Archway
Zhao Lilun's Centenary Memorial Archway was built during the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty to celebrate Zhao Lilun's 100th birthday. The archway has a unique shape and exquisite craftsmanship, with a structure of four columns, three bays, and three floors, about 9 meters high and about 9.5 meters wide. Exquisite patterns are carved on the archway, including lifelike figures and animals, etc., which have extremely high artistic value. These carvings not only show the superb stone carving skills at that time but also reflect the social culture and folk customs of that era.
Qingyan Academy
Qingyan Academy was first built during the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty and was the cultural and educational center of Qingyan at that time. The academy is located in a corner of the ancient town, with a quiet environment. The buildings in the academy are antique, including lecture halls, libraries, and other buildings. Qingyan Academy has cultivated many talents and played an important role in promoting the local cultural and educational development. Now, after renovation, the academy still retains a strong cultural atmosphere. Tourists can experience the ancient educational culture here and appreciate some ancient books and calligraphy and painting works.
Delicacies
Qingyan Braised Pig's Trotters
Qingyan Braised Pig's Trotters are one of the characteristic delicacies of Qingyan Ancient Town. High-quality pig's trotters are selected and braised with a variety of spices. The braised pig's trotters have a ruddy color, soft and glutinous meat, are fatty but not greasy, and taste delicious. When eating, they are served with a special dipping sauce, generally prepared with chili paste, ginger and garlic water, vinegar, etc., which has a unique flavor.
Rose-flavored Ice Jelly
Rose-flavored Ice Jelly is a popular dessert among tourists in Qingyan Ancient Town. Based on ice jelly, it is added with rose jam, brown sugar water, sesame seeds, crushed peanuts, raisins, and other ingredients. The ice jelly has a smooth and tender taste, and the rose jam has a rich aroma. With other ingredients, it has a rich and diverse taste, sweet but not greasy, and it is very refreshing and cooling in hot weather.
Champion Pig's Trotters
Champion Pig's Trotters are actually braised pig's trotters. It is said that Zhao Yijiong from Qingyan passed the imperial examination and became the champion in the 12th year of the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty (1886). When he returned to his hometown, the people of Qingyan welcomed him with braised pig's trotters, and since then, the braised pig's trotters have been called "Champion Pig's Trotters". Its production process is exquisite, and the braised pig's trotters have fragrant skin and soft meat, with an excellent taste, and are one of the must-try delicacies for tourists visiting Qingyan Ancient Town.
Chicken with Chili
Chicken with Chili is a traditional delicacy in Qingyan, stir-fried with chicken and chili peppers. Cut the chicken into small pieces and stir-fry it with chili peppers, ginger, garlic, etc. After a long time of cooking, the chicken is well-seasoned, and the aroma of the chili peppers is fully integrated into it. Chicken with Chili tastes spicy and delicious, and can be used as a side dish for rice or as a snack, which is deeply loved by the locals.
Entrance Tickets
Qingyan Ancient Town Scenic Area implements two charging methods: a comprehensive ticket and a first-entrance ticket. The price of the comprehensive ticket is 80 yuan per person, including the main scenic spots in the ancient town, such as Ciyun Temple, Zhao Gong's Special Shrine, and Wanshou Palace. The price of the first-entrance ticket is 10 yuan per person, which only allows entry into the ancient town and does not include the internal scenic spots. In addition, the scenic area has corresponding preferential policies for specific groups such as children, the elderly, military personnel, and students. For specific information, please pay attention to the official website of the scenic area or the instructions at the ticket window.
Opening Hours
Qingyan Ancient Town Scenic Area is open throughout the year, with opening hours from 08:30 to 17:00 (ticket sales and entry stop at 17:00). During legal holidays or peak tourist seasons, the scenic area may adjust the opening hours according to the actual situation. Tourists can query the official information of the scenic area in advance and arrange their itinerary reasonably.
Tour Routes
Recommended tour route: Enter from the South Gate (Dingguang Gate) of the ancient town. First, visit the Dingguang Gate Tower to learn about the military history of the ancient town. Then, walk along the stone road to Beijie Street to admire the simple buildings and narrow streets. Next, go to Zhao Lilun's Centenary Memorial Archway to appreciate the exquisite stone carving art. After that, you can go to Qingyan Academy to feel the cultural atmosphere, and then visit Ciyun Temple, Zhao Gong's Special Shrine, and other scenic spots in sequence. During lunchtime, you can taste characteristic delicacies such as Qingyan Braised Pig's Trotters and Rose-flavored Ice Jelly in the ancient town. In the afternoon, continue to visit Wanshou Palace and other scenic spots, and finally leave from the North Gate (Zhennv Gate) of the ancient town. The whole tour is expected to take 4-6 hours. If you are interested in some scenic spots, you can appropriately extend the stay time.
Transportation
- Public transportation: There are direct special lines to Qingyan Ancient Town at places such as Guiyang Huaguoyuan Shopping Center and Yan'an West Road Bus Station. The ticket price is about 8-10 yuan, and the journey takes about 1 hour. You can also take Guiyang Metro Line 3 to Huaxi Park Station, and then transfer to a bus or take a taxi to Qingyan Ancient Town. The bus ticket price is about 2-3 yuan, and the taxi fare is about 20-30 yuan.
- Self-driving: Starting from the urban area of Guiyang, you can reach Qingyan Ancient Town via roads such as Jiaxiu South Road and Mingzhu Avenue. The whole journey is about 29 kilometers, and the driving time is about 40 minutes. The ancient town has a parking lot, and the parking fee is charged according to the parking duration.
Must-visit Attractions
- City Gates of Qingyan Ancient Town: The landmark buildings of the ancient town, the four city gates each have their own characteristics, carrying the history and culture of the ancient town. The city gates are about 8 meters high, and the perimeter of the city wall is about 3 kilometers. Climbing up the city gates allows you to overlook the entire ancient town.
- Beijie Street: A narrow and long street, the bluestone road and stone walls are full of historical charm, with a total length of about 300 meters. It is an excellent place to take ancient-style photos.
- Zhao Lilun's Centenary Memorial Archway: An archway with exquisite stone carving craftsmanship, about 9 meters high and about 9.5 meters wide, with exquisite carvings, having extremely high artistic value and historical significance.
- Qingyan Academy: The cultural and educational center of the ancient town, with antique buildings, retaining a strong cultural atmosphere, allowing you to learn about ancient educational culture.
Tour Tips
- It is recommended to learn about the history and culture of Qingyan Ancient Town in advance to better understand and appreciate the scenic spots of the ancient town. You can obtain relevant information by consulting books, materials, or at the tourist center in the scenic area.
- Wear comfortable shoes because most of the roads in the ancient town are stone roads, and you need to walk for a long time. Comfortable shoes can make the tour more relaxed.
- When tasting delicacies, pay attention to choosing regular restaurants and snack stalls to ensure food hygiene. At the same time, you can try a variety of local characteristic delicacies to experience the food culture of Qingyan.
- If you want to take pictures of the beautiful scenery of the ancient town, it is recommended to go in the morning or evening. The light is soft at this time, and you can take more charming photos.
- When visiting in summer, pay attention to sun protection measures, and bring a sun hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen, etc. When visiting in winter, pay attention to keeping warm.
Notes
- Take good care of the environment of the ancient town. Do not spit or litter, and put the garbage into the designated trash cans.
- Respect the lives of the residents in the ancient town, do not disturb them casually, and keep quiet.
- When visiting ancient buildings, do not touch or damage cultural relics and buildings casually, and abide by the regulations of the scenic area.
- In case of an emergency, you can call the emergency rescue hotline of the scenic area or ask the nearby staff for help.
- When shopping in the ancient town, pay attention to the price and quality of the goods to avoid unnecessary disputes.