Wuyuan Travel Guide

Click to enlarge it, or go for more Wuyuan Map

Chinese Name: 婺源 (wù yuán)
Population: 376,419
Area: 2,967 square kilometers (1,146 square miles)
Location: in the west of Jiangxi Province, east China
Area Code: 0793
Zip Code: 332000
GDP (2019): CNY 10.643 billion (USD 1.608 billion)

Located in the northeast corner of Jiangxi Province in east China, Wuyuan County neighbors Jingdezhen to the west, Quzhou to the east, Yellow Mountain to the north, and Sanqing Mountain to the south. Undulating hills descend from the higher northeast part to the lower southwest. It is no exaggeration to say that Wuyuan is the most beautiful place in Jiangxi.

The ancient buildings of the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368 - 1912) are all over the countryside, and the rural scenery is picturesque, especially the rapeseed flowers sea. In March, vast rapeseed flower fields in Hungling Village spread over the mountains. A 300-meter (984 feet) high-altitude plank or ropeway brings tourists a different experience of flower viewing. The Hui-style buildings in the Ming and Qing Dynasties were built in line with terrains and distributed in a stepped fan shape, quaint and elegant. While in autumn, the colorful crops exposed on the roofs inject the buildings with white walls and black tiles into vitality. There are also many famous attractions near Wuyuan such as Yellow Mountain, Sanqing Mountain, Mt. Lushan and Mt. Wuyi. Tourists can get to Wuyuan easily by high-speed rail or plane. 

1. Ancient Huizhou Architectures and Rich Cultural Heritage:
Having stood for more than 1,000 years, Wuyuan County was first set up in 740 during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). It is an essential part of the ancient Huizhou Culture, with a series of ancient villages retaining the typical Huizhou residences, mansions of historical celebrities, ancestral halls, and antique gallery bridges. Many scholars and talented people in history leave the country with a deep cultural legacy.

2. Natural Wonder - Paradise of Rape Flowers
The breathtaking scenery of an immense sea of golden rape flowers in spring gains Wuyuan a reputation of ‘the most beautiful countryside in China’. Every March numerous tourists swarm to the small town, just for a look of the harmonious beauty like a traditional Chinese painting, with green hills and valleys, karst caves, limpid streams, canola terraces, and exquisite houses. Other spring blossom and the autumn foliage also add natural charm to the town.
Rape Flowers Sightseeing Guide

After visiting the Wuyuan Museum in the downtown, tourists should head for the beautiful countryside. There are three major tour routes. The east and north lines are popular, while the west line has less visitors.
 

- a chain of beautiful ancient villages

Moon Bay  →  Likeng Village (Small Likeng)  →  Wangkou Village  →  Jiangwan Village  →  Huangling Village  →  Xiaoqi Village  →  Jiangling Village  →  Qingyuan Village  →  Wulongyuan Driftage  →  Guankeng Village
 

- delicate villages and natural attractions radiating from Qinghua Town

Congxi Driftage  →  Sixi & Yancun Villages  →  Changtan Village  →  Rainbow Bridge (in Qinghua Town)

When arriving in Qinghua Town, tourists can choose from the following three branches:
a. Wolong Valley of Dazhang Mountain  →  Ancestral Hall of Huang Village  →  Jujing Village  →  Lingyan Cave Forest Park  →  Shicheng Village
b. Hong Village  →  Qingfeng Cave  →  Camphor Tree Folk Garden
c. Zheyuan Country  →  Hongguan Village  →  Likeng Village (Big Likeng)
 

- secluded natural scenery; town of Chinese tea

Wengong Mountain  →  Kengtou Village  →  Fuchun Ancient Town  →  Mandarin Duck Lake  →  Jinshan Ecological Tea Garden  →  Changxi Village  →  Fengyou Mountain

1. Air: There is no airport in the county. If coming by plane, tourists can choose to arrive at Jingdezhen Airport, Huangshan Airport, Nanchang Airport, or Quzhou Airport first, and then take a bus to the county.

2. Train: Beijing - Fuzhou High Speed Railway, with a stop in Wuyuan, is regarded as ‘the most beautiful high speed railway in China’. Travelers can take trains to this county from many cities in east and south China, including Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Huangshan, Fuzhou, Xiamen, Nanchang, Hefei, Jinan, Qingdao, Tianjin, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen.
See detailed Wuyuan Train Schedule and Station

3. Long-Distance Bus: Jingdezhen, Shangrao, Quzhou, Yingtan, Jiujiang, Huangshan, and Nanchang in Jiangxi Province and nearby areas have frequent shuttles to the county. Shanghai, Hangzhou, Wuhan, and Guangzhou also have through buses.
 

The Bus Station in the downtown has buses to the villages along the three tour routes. One can also hire a taxi or rent a car to the scenic spots. Remember to negotiate the price with the driver before boarding a car. There are also motorbikes run by the local villagers, but they are not recommended for safety. Cycling is a good choice to explore deep into the beautiful villages, while in some remote areas with secluded scenery but bumpy roads, hiking is the best and only way to get a close contact with nature.

With subtropical monsoon moist climate, Wuyuan has distinct four seasons. The annual average temperature is approximately 16.8°C (62.2 °F), while the high temperature can reach 35°C (95 °F) during its hottest month July. The annual rainfall averages 1,962 mm, with rainy season from April to June.

The best time to visit is from March to April, when the rape flowers are in full bloom. August to October is a good time to see the unique scene of "Dry Crops in Autumn", while November and December are the right months to appreciate the fiery maple leaves.  A piece of photographic work named “Heaven on Earth” capturing the wonder moment of Jiangling canola terraces won first prize in an international photo competition. Nowadays, lots of photographic exhibitions are held in Wuyuan. Numerous tourists and photographers linger there to find the ideal shooting points and wait for the best time and light. Jiangling Village’s rape flowers and Changxi Village’s fiery maple trees are top themes for experienced photographers.
 There are several star-rated hotels in the downtown, but the accommodation standard in the rural area is limited. Many tourists like to stay in the local houses or inns in the ancient villages. After a whole day’s trip, a rest in the small but cozy inns would be a good way to feel the authentic local lifestyle and communicate with the honest and simple local people.
 The famous local food includes Steamed Red Carp, Paste Dishes (Tofu Paste, Pumpkin Paste), Steamed Meat/Veg with Rice Powder, Pickled Fish in Wine, fiddlehead greens, Green Dumpling (Qingtuan), and Steamed Rice Cake. The local osmanthus wine, rice wine, and green tea are worth trying.
 Red carp, green tea, black Dragon Tail Inkstone, and white Jiangwan Snow Pear are the typical four local products of Wuyuan. The exquisite woodcarvings and oiled paper umbrellas are best souvenirs. Chaxiang West Road and Zhuzi Pedestrian Street in the downtown are popular shopping areas.
 Besides the natural scenery, visitors can know more about the local culture through various kinds of special activities and folk performances. One can join the villagers to pick tea-leaves, watch the local Huizhou Opera, or enjoy the Nuo Dance which is to drive away devils and pray for blessings. The dragon lantern parade on Lantern Festival, the Piling Pagoda Worship Ceremony on Mid-Autumn Day, and the tourism festival every November provide more amusements.
 Area Code: 0793
Zip Code: 333200
Bank of China: No.1, Dongxi Road
Post Office: No. 1, Tianyou Road, Ziyang Town
People Hospital: No. 17, South Wengong Road
Useful Telephone Numbers: Police: 110; Fire: 119; Ambulance: 120; Traffic: 122; Weather Forecast: 121; Tourist Complaint: 0793-7343605