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

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.

Pre-Trip Preparation - **Documents**: Bring your ID card and other possible documents such as student ID, senior citizen card, etc. - **Clothing**: Pack summer clothes, along with a light jacket and long pants to stay warm during cooler mornings and evenings. - **Daily Essentials**: Toiletries, skincare products, sunscreen, sunglasses, hats, umbrella or raincoat, etc. - **Medications**: Prepare cold medicine, stomach medicine, motion sickness pills, and insect repellent. - **Other Items**: Phone, camera, charger, power bank, and some cash. **Transportation Guide** - **External Transport**: First, arrive in Fuzhou, then drive to Pingnan (about 2 hours). Alternatively, take a high-speed train to Pingnan Station and transfer to tourist shuttles for attractions. - **Local Transport**: Renting a car or hiring a private vehicle is recommended for flexibility. For public transport, consult your homestay host for local bus schedules. **Attractions** - **Baishuiyang Scenic Area**: Features an 80,000-square-meter flat riverbed with shallow, clear water—perfect for natural wave pools, rafting, and water fights in summer. - **Yuanyangxi (Mandarin Duck Stream)**: The only mandarin duck reserve, home to Baizhangji Waterfall and Water Curtain Cave. Hike along the boardwalk to spot playful monkeys. - **Shuangxi Ancient Town**: A 1,000-year-old town with well-preserved Ming-Qing architecture. Stroll cobblestone streets and experience traditional woodcarving and Pingnan rice wine brewing. - **Longtan Ancient Town**: Known for its stilt houses and Ming-Qing buildings, this rustic town is now an artsy hub with local craftsmen. - **Qiancheng Bridge & Wan'an Bridge**: Two ancient wooden arch bridges from the Song Dynasty, built without nails. Scenic spots for villagers to relax and trade. **Accommodation Recommendations** - **Luxury**: Vienna International Hotel (Pingnan Guobao Avenue Branch) – rich breakfast, convenient parking. - **Budget-Friendly**: Pingnan Kaistone Business Hotel, Pingnan Tianranju Inn – well-equipped and accessible. - **Unique Homestays**: *Yixiyun* in Tangkou Village (with a viral slide and outdoor café) or *Banrixian* (a breezy courtyard for camping). **Food Recommendations** - **Mishao Tu (Smoked Rabbit)**: A local specialty—smoked then cooked for a unique flavor. - **Hancao Fengan (Cold Herb Noodles)**: Smooth texture with a fragrant aroma. - **Stir-Fried Bamboo Shoots**: Fresh and tender local bamboo shoots. - **High-Mountain Vegetables**: Crisp, sweet, and organic. **Itinerary Suggestions** - **3-Day Trip**: Day 1 – Baishuiyang water activities; Day 2 – Yuanyangxi in the morning, Shuangxi Ancient Town in the afternoon; Day 3 – Qiancheng/Wan'an Bridges and Longtan Ancient Town. - **5-Day Trip**: Extend with Day 4 – Xiadi Village’s Pioneer Bookstore; Day 5 – Jitou Village’s Farming & Reading Museum.

✨✨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