Qingyan Ancient Town is located in Huaxi District, southern suburbs of Guiyang City, and is known as one of the four major ancient towns in Guizhou, along with Zhenyuan, Bing'an, and Longli. The ancient town was founded in the Ming Dynasty and was originally a military fortress. The town has well preserved a large number of ancient buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties. The filming of the movie "Looking for a Gun" has made Qingyan Ancient Town more well-known to more people.
The architecture of the ancient town is situated on the mountainside, with the city walls built on cliffs using giant stones. There are four city gates to the east, west, south, and north, and the exquisite stone and wood carving techniques of the town's buildings are a major attraction. Most of the attractions in the town are ancient buildings with different styles, and each attraction charges a separate fee. If you come for the first time, you can purchase a joint ticket to scan all the attractions in the ancient city. If you are just leisurely living in the ancient city, you can choose several scenic spots to purchase according to your needs.
The southern gate of the ancient town, Dingguang Gate, is one of the four magnificent city gates. In history, it was the first gate to guard the southern gate of Guiyang. The city gates and walls built of giant stones are tall and majestic, combined with the winding stone roads and farmland on both sides outside the city, forming a magnificent painting. Many promotional photos of Qingyan Ancient Town are taken here.
Walking along the Dingguang Gate into the ancient town, the first thing you see is Zhao Lilun's Baisui Fang. The memorial archway was built by the Emperor Guangdi of the Qing Dynasty. What is strange is that the stone lions carved on the four columns are very unusual from the top to the bottom, which is different from what you usually see. Walking along the ancient stone paved post road, almost all shops selling local specialties on both sides of the street, such as braised pork feet, grilled tofu, rose sugar and other specialty snacks, also have unique flavors. If you're tired, why not stop and buy some to try.
The ancient post road winding north from the south gate to the north gate is not only the central axis of the ancient town, but also the main street. The main street is bounded by the ancient cultural square in the center of the ancient town, with the north being called North Street and the south being called South Street. To the east of the intersection with the main street is East Street, and to the west is West Street. Traveling east along East Street, you can reach Wenchang Pavilion. Located at 143 East Street, Wenchang Pavilion was built in the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty. It is a brick and wood structure, built along the mountain in an octagonal style with a clustered corner. It was a place where ancient scholars often went to read, gather, and worship Emperor Wenchang. If interested, they could also pay their respects.
To the west of the main street, one can reach various religious buildings with different styles, such as Yingxiang Temple, Ciyun Temple, Wanshou Palace, and Catholic Church, all of which have their own characteristics and are exquisitely crafted, making them a great place for tourists to take photos. There is a quiet alley between South Street and West Street, called Back Street. Back Street is a unique stone alley in Qingyan Ancient Town. The bluestone slabs on the road have been washed and polished for hundreds of years, shining like a mirror with a blue and black light, giving a deep and peaceful feeling. The street is lined with layers of stone walls, narrow and quiet, undulating along the mountain terrain, making it a place for photography.
The streets and alleys of Qingyan Ancient Town are deep and winding, but there are directional signs on the main street and every important intersection. Moreover, most of the alleys can lead back to the main street, so there is no need to worry about getting lost when walking through the ancient town. Generally speaking, walking around the ancient town takes about 2 hours, so there is no need to stay in the town.
Travel Tips
Address: Qingyan Town, Huaxi District, Guiyang City, Guizhou Province
Opening Hours: From 08:30 to 17:00 throughout the year
Admission ticket: CNY 10