5. Huangyao Ancient Town, Hezhou

Huangyao Ancient Town, Hezhou. [Photo/gxnews.com.cn]

Huangyao Ancient Town in Hezhou is an ancient village located at the downstream of Lijiang River, 100 km from Guilin, Guangxi. The village has a typical karst lava landscape and covers a total area of 3.6 sq km.

Huangyao originated in the Song Dynasty (960-1279) and became a commercial center at the junction of Guangdong province, Guangxi, and Hunan province from the 17th century. The existing village preserves 300 ancient houses with cornices paintings and typical Lingnan style. All streets were paved with quartzite, perfectly mirrored in grey and bluish-tiled ancient dwellings.

Streams, dwellings, banyan trees, stone bridges, and pavilions work together to create peerless beauty in this peaceful village. The outstanding accomplishment of creating this peaceful living environment reflects generations advocating the ritual poetry and literature of Huangyao people.