Hezhou

Hezhou (贺州 Hè​zhōu​) is a city in Central Guangxi. Hezhou City is the hometown of Hakka, famous tea, rare stones, navel oranges, and horseshoe in China.

Understand

Downtown Hezhou

Hezhou is in the far eastern part of Guangxi surrounded by forest. The prefecture has a population of 2.5 million (2022) of which 1 million live in the urban area. The city is populated by a number of ethnic minorities, including the Zhuang people. Hezhou is an important regional transportation hub.

It is one of the key forest areas in Guangxi. As of the end of 2020, the forest area of Hezhou City was 897500 hectares, with a forest coverage rate of 72.65%.

History

Hezhou has a history of more than 2,000 years. Hezhou has been the thoroughfare of Guangxi, Guangdong and Hunan provinces since ancient times, and has retained the historical and cultural heritage spanning thousands of years. There are ancient road culture with Xiaohe Ancient Road as the cornerstone, folk customs culture with Nanling national culture as the element, mining culture with tin mining as the carrier.

Climate

Hezhou
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D       23     15 6       95     17 8       84     22 14       120     25 16       66     29 20       160     32 24       45     32 25       175     34 23       89     33 18       80     28 14       5.6     22 8       2.4     16 6 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation+Snow totals in mm Humidity is low except during the summer
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D       0.9     59 43       3.7     63 46       3.3     72 57       4.7     77 61       2.6     84 68       6.3     90 75       1.8     90 77       6.9     93 73       3.5     91 64       3.2     82 57       0.2     72 46       0.1     61 43 Average max. and min. temperatures in °F Precipitation+Snow totals in inches

Hezhou has a subtropical monsoon climate with four obvious seasons. Summer is humid and hot, winter is relatively dry and warm, and spring and autumn are the most pleasant seasons.

Holidays

March 3rd of Zhuang nationality Guangxi style March 3rd (Zhuang March 3rd), also known as the Song Wei Holidays, Gepo Holidays or Gexian Holidays, the folk custom of Wuming District, Nanning City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, one of the national intangible cultural heritage list. It is a traditional Holidays of the Zhuang people offering sacrifices to their ancestors and choosing songs to match them.

On March 3, the Zhuang people mainly worship their ancestors, choose a mate for a song, eat dinner, sing opera, grab fireworks, throw hydrangeas, fight eggs and other activities. You can participate in the related activity in Nanning's Qingxiu Mountain Scenic spot: "Zhuang March 3rd Eight-gui Carnival" cultural tourism brand activity, the activity time is on March 3rd of the lunar calendar every year, the activity content includes singing and dancing, fashion play and other live interactive forms. You need to pay a ¥25 ticket fee to enter Qingxiu Mountain, and you can choose to take subway Line 1 or take a bus there.

Get in

By plane

There is no airport in Hezhou: the nearest airports are in Guilin and Wuzhou. After arriving in Guilin or Wuzhou, transfer to Hezhou by bus or train. There is one direct bus daily from Guilin Airport to Hezhou. The bus departs at 14:30 and arrives at the Hezhou Bus Station about 3 hours later. It then continues on to the Hezhou International Hotel. The bus fare is ¥100. Wuzhou Xijiang Airport is 184 km from Hezhou, approximately a 2½-hour drive (a ¥160 toll).

By train

There are five high-speed railway stations in Hezhou, namely: Hezhou Station, Zhongshan West Station, Fuchuan Station, Zhongshan Station, and Guangxi Hezhou Xindu Railway Station.

• 1 Hezhou Station (贺州站), Zhanqian Avenue, Pinggui District (平桂区站前大道). Serves regular and high-speed trains. There are train services between Hezhou and Nanning, Guilin, Liuzhou, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhanjiang and Guiyang. Whether from Guangzhou, Shenzhen or Zhanjiang, there are bullet trains or high-speed rail services to Hezhou that take 1-2 hours. (updated Sep 2018)
• 2 Zhongshan West Station (钟山西站). High-speed trains serve this station. There is a bus stop within 1 km of the station, but none right at it. Taxis are available, with a starting price of ¥5, starting distance of 2 km, ¥1.8, and a fuel surcharge of ¥1. (updated Oct 2023)
• 3 Fuchuan Station (富川站) (Tangbei Village, 10 km from Fuchuan County). There are four trains passing through Bucheon Station, and it takes 40 minutes to get from Bucheon Station to Hoju Station by HSR. (updated Oct 2023)
• 4 Zhongshan Station (钟山站), Wanggao Town, Pinggui District (bus or train), ☏ +86 774 12306. (updated Nov 2023)
• 5 Guangxi Hezhou Xindu Railway Station (广西贺州信都火车站), 广西壮族自治区贺州市八步区 (bus or train), ☏ +86 774-5624312. 24 hours. Located in Xindu Town, Babu District, it is a station on the Luo-zhan railway line and belongs to Wuzhou Depot of China Railway Nanning Bureau Group Co. Free. (updated Nov 2023)

By bus

• 6 Hezhou Central Bus Station (贺州客运中心站，贺州汽车总站), Intersection of Nanhuan Road and Guangming Avenue, Babu District (八步区南环路与光明大道交界处), ☏ +86 774 5283263. mainly accepts inter-provincial, inter-city, some inter-county and intra-county passenger line vehicles. (updated Sep 2018)
• 7 Hezhou East Bus Station (贺州汽车东站), No. 50, Bada Middle Road, Chengdong Street, Bbu District. It mainly has arrivals from the direction of Liantang, Huangtian in and out of the city of the county passenger line vehicles. (updated Oct 2023)
• 8 Hezhou City West Passenger Service Station (贺州城西客运服务站), Bada West Road, Pinggui District. It mainly accepts intra-county and inter-county passenger line vehicles entering and leaving the urban area from Xiwan and Shatin directions, and buses to Huangyao Ancient Town also depart here. After getting off at Hezhou Station, if you want to go to Huangyao Ancient Town, you can take a bus to Hezhou West Station and take a direct bus to go. (updated Oct 2023)

By road

Highways connects the city to Wuzhou, Liuzhou, Nanning, Yongzhou and further. The new Guilin-Wuzhou and Luoyang-Zhanjiang will also pass Hezhou. Hezhou City is fully promoting the Guangdong Lianshan to Hezhou Expressway, Guangning via Cangwu to Zhaoping Expressway and other six Dongrong expressways, is expected to open to traffic in 2025 five new expressways.

By water

The waterway of Hezhou is complicated, and it can reach Babu, Xiwan, Zhongshan, Bucheon, and communicate with Yongzhou and Daoxian county in southern Hunan, connecting with Xiaoshui. Along the Guiling River, you can reach Daning, Guiling, Kaishan and even Jianghua Yao Autonomous County in southern Hunan and Lianshan County in western Guangdong. Southward, across Dagui Mountain, can reach Xindu, Fengkai, and connect with the Pearl River water transport network; then along the Pearl River. The east can direct to Guangdong, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and overseas. To the west, you can reach Nanning, and if you cross the Nanliu River, you can connect with Xuwen, Hepu and other famous ancient ports.

The key project to improve the quality of Guijiang shipping upgrading - Guijiang River channel expansion project to start this year, Jingnan lock renovation and expansion project is also included in the channel project unified implementation, which will lay a solid foundation for Hezhou water transport to open the "Ren and Du two veins".

Get around

In cities, taxis usually cost ¥2 to ¥3, while tricycles cost a fixed ¥2.

Also, if you prefer a shared electric vehicle as your mode of transportation, it starts at ¥2. This convenient way to travel is not only economical, but also provides you with an environmentally friendly and comfortable travel experience.

See

A path in the Jade Stone Forest

Hezhou urban areɑ

Museums

• 1 Hezhou Ethnological Museum (贺州民族文化博物馆, Hezhou Ethnic Culture Museum), Hezhou University West Campus, 18 Xihuan Road, Babu District (八步区西环路18号贺州学院西区) (Bus routes 6, 8, 11 and 14), ☏ +86 774 5287226, +86 774 5225076. Open 5 days a week. Free. (updated Dec 2018)
• 2 Hezhou Museum (贺州市博物馆), 65 Tiyu Road, Babu District (八步区体育路65号) (catch bus no. 5, 6, 7 or 9 and get off at the Fuliang Building (富亮大厦)), ☏ +86 774 5283962. 10:00-16:00, closed on Mondays. Hezhou's main museum. Contains exhibits on the history and culture of the city. Located in a market area with good breakfast options. The top level features the more ancient pottery exhibits, an outside courtyard collects stelae, and internal galleries include miscellaneous modern equipment, a Yuan dynasty anchor excavated from the local river, and some ethnic minority costumes. Free. (updated Sep 2018)

Historical sites

• 3 Fu Hill Temple (浮山寺, Fushan Temple). Stands in the middle of the He River. Fushan, also known as Yuyin Mountain. It is said that since the establishment of the Fushan Temple, no matter how large the mountain flood, Fushan has never been submerged, and it has always floated above the water surface. On the right side of the mountain gate is the Canglang Pavilion. On the mountaintop is the Chen Wang Temple, where there are grand "Fushan Song Festival" and "Fushan Song Fair". Fushan Song Festival: also known as the Birthday of Chen Wang Temple. On May 19th, ethnic singers from Hunan, Guangdong, and Guangxi provinces, as well as the elderly and fellow villagers from all four townships, came to gather to perform singing performances, worship the gods and Buddha, and pray for good luck. The mountains and seas of people rise and fall on Fushan, with firecrackers blaring in unison and singing like a tide. From a distance, Fushan looks like a huge treasure seal floating in the air on the river, so people also call it "Jade Seal Fushan". The cliffs and cliffs around Fushan are extremely dangerous; The trees on the mountain are towering, and ancient vines entangle the trees; The Langcang Pavilion by the stone edge of the mountain gate is engraved with the words "Fushan" in Mr. Li Jishen's handwriting and works by calligraphers of all ages 
• 4 Hezhou Hakka Round Houses (贺州客家围屋景区, Hezhou Hakka Eco Museum 贺州客家生态博物馆), Liantang Town, Babu District (八步区莲塘镇) (Take bus no. 25 and get off at Renchong Primary School), ☏ +86 13978421604. 08:00-17:30. Characteristic weiwu (semi-circular round houses) built by the Han Chinese ethnic subgroup known as Hakka. See Fujian Tulou for more about this type of building. ¥30. 
• 5 Linhe Ancient Town (临贺故城). 

Landscape and parks

• 6 Dagui Mountain National Forest Park (大桂山国家森林公园), Babu District. This is a national 4A level tourist attraction with forests, peaks, misty seas, and hanging rocks. The natural vegetation of Dagui Mountain is subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest, belonging to a subtropical monsoon climate. It is a popular tourist destination; the main attractions include: Gaotai Range Rover, Wuma Waterfall, Green Forest Old Land, San Ying Tan Waterfall, Tiesuo Bridge, and Ethnic Village. 
• 7 Gupo Mountain National Forest Park (姑婆山国家森林公园, Guposhan Tourism Zone 姑婆山旅游区), Pinggui District (平桂区) (catch bus no. 17 from the Hezhou Railway Station or take the special express bus that departs four times a day from outside the Guangji Maternity Hospital on Guposhan Avenue; the journey time to the park is about 30 minutes), ☏ +86 774 5236888, +86 774 5261286. Summer: 08:00-17:30, winter: 08:00-17:00. Beware of hungry primates at the entrance who often steal food from tourists. The park is divided in to two main areas, the mapped lower portions which are comprised of a series of landscaped attractions with smaller waterfalls and various minor attractions, and the climb to the actual peak which is accessible from the last shuttle stop. The climb takes 5-7 hours round trip and requires good health and is advised to be attempted after 11:00. The top is cold and windy. There is a lot of garbage on the trail. Entrance ¥82, sightseeing car ¥15. 
• 8 Jade Stone Forest (玉石林), Huangtian Town, Pinggui District (平桂区黄田镇) (catch bus no. 4 and get off at the Luhua Village Committee (路花村委) bus stop; after disembarking from the bus, head to the nearby intersection and walk southeast for about 1 km), ☏ +86 774 5233922, +86 774 5293185, hzysl88@163.com. 08:00-17:30. This karst landscape can be found a short distance north of the city. It is unique among stone forests in China due to its mineral composition, which mostly consists of a type of white marble known in Chinese as "Han White Jade" (汉白玉), hence the name Jade Stone Forest. ¥83. 
• 9 Shibashui Tourism Park (十八水旅游景区, Shibashui Eco-Tourism Park 十八水原生态公园), Luhua Village, Huangtian Town, Pinggui District (平桂区黄田镇路花村) (catch Tourist Bus 17 from the Hezhou Railway Station, get off at the Shibashui Intersection and then walk west for about 1.5 km), ☏ +86 774 5283798. 08:00-18:00. This has an area of 18 m² and is a national 4A level tourist attraction. There are ten waterfalls and eighteen water bays in the original ecological scenic area of Shiba Shui; the name translates as "eighteen waters". The scenic area is famous for its "three wonders of water, rocks, and trees", with a group of ten cascaded waterfalls with a drop of nearly 300 meters. With a large drop and great momentum, it can be called the wonder of the world's waterfalls and enjoys the reputation of "Lingnan Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area". ¥86. (updated Sep 2018)
• 10 Ziyun Cave (紫云洞, Purple Cloud Cave, 紫云仙境景区, Ziyunjing Scenic Area), Limu Village, Etang Town, Pinggui District (平桂区鹅塘镇栗木村) (your best option is probably to take a taxi; local buses are available from the road along the south of the attraction, however this gate is usually closed and you must ask special request to get out that way from the gate guard; walking east to the next major intersection (about 10 minutes) provides a covered area and general store to wait at), ☏ +86 774 5665118, toll-free: +86 400-1665-116. 08ː00-17ː30. A limestone karst cave that formed during the Jurassic Period. As is common in China, the cave is illuminated with multi-coloured lights. ¥46. (updated Dec 2018)

Fuchuan Yao Autonomous County

• 11 Fuchuan Ming Castle (富川古明城). (updated Dec 2023)
• 12 Ruiguang Pagoda (瑞光塔). (updated Dec 2023)
• 13 Wind and Rain Bridge (风雨桥). (updated Dec 2023)
• 14 Xiushui Scholar Village (秀水状元村). 

Zhaoping County

• 15 Huangyao Ancient Town (黄姚古镇; Huángyáo Gǔzhèn), Zhaoping County (昭平县) (on Li River, 60 km southwest of town; buses to Huangyao are available from Hezhou Railway Station and Hezhou Central Bus Station; buses are also available from Wuzhou, Yangshuo and Guilin), ☏ +86 774 6722748. 08:00-17:30. The town was founded in 972 and is dominated by a special architecture with blue bricks, black tiles, and painted wooden beams. The town has a number of temples, pavilions and other historical buildings. It is surrounded by mountains with lots of caves.Huangyao Ancient Town Scenic Area is located in the northeast of Zhaoping County, Hezhou City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, covering an area of approximately 10 m² and is a national 4A level tourist attraction. There are many mountain and water caves near the Huangyao Ancient Town scenic area, presenting typical karst landforms, forming a natural mountain and water garden ancient town that integrates landscape environment with cultural scenery, and is known as the "Dream Home". The natural landscape of Huangyao Ancient Town Scenic Area consists of eight major scenic spots and twenty-four minor scenic spots; Famous cultural relics and historical sites include; Wenming Pavilion, Baozhu Temple, Lion Temple, Xingyu Temple, Ancient Stage, Zuolong Temple, Jianlong Temple, Jianlong Temple, Hulong Bridge, Dailong Bridge, and Natural Pavilion. ¥100. (updated Dec 2023)
• 16 Civilization Pavilion (文明阁). (updated Dec 2023)
• 17 Banyan Trees (古榕树). Hezhou Ancient banyan tree is a famous ancient tree in Hezhou City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous region, China, and is regarded as one of the local landmarks. The banyan tree, located in the eastern suburbs of Hezhou City, is said to be hundreds of years old and is a local historical witness and natural wonder. Its spectacular canopy covers a vast space, with trunks crisscrossing and branches spreading out under the canopy, creating a unique canopy landscape. There is also a quiet courtyard under the banyan tree, which provides a quiet and relaxing place for visitors. This banyan tree carries the rich historical and cultural connotation of the local, and is regarded as one of the symbols of Hezhou City. Visitors can feel the magic of nature and the accumulation of years here, as well as the importance of banyan trees to the local cultural heritage. This ancient banyan tree also attracts many tourists to visit, enjoy its majestic scene and feel the thick history. (updated Dec 2023)

Zhongshan County

• 18 Hundred-Li Water Ink Painting Gallery (百里水墨画廊). Formerly known as the Ten-Li Lotus Pond Gallery (荷塘十里画廊). 

Do

• 1 Ziyun Cave (贺州紫云洞) (Limu Village, Babu District). 08:00-17:30. Ziyun Cave Scenic spot is an independent limestone mountain karst cave in Babu Basin. It is a long stone mountain formed by the sea level rise during the geological fission of Zhuluo period. The stone mountain appearance is only more than 100 m high, about 800 m long, but after 190 million years of karst erosion, its underground cave length of about 6 km, an underground river in the cave, the development of the journey is more than 1 km, the cave area of about 10,000 m². The name of Ziyun Cave comes from the underground river in the cave is warm in winter and cool in summer. In winter, the heating in the cave ejects from the mouth of the cave, forming purple gas mist floating in the mouth of the Stone Mountain, so it is called Ziyun Cave. ¥40. (updated Oct 2023)
• 2 Hezhou Hot Spring (贺州温泉, Luhua Hot Spring 路花温泉), 180 Jianshe Road East, Luhua Village, Huangtian Town, Pinggui District (平桂区黄田镇路花村建设东路180号) (catch bus no. 4 and get off at the final stop), ☏ +86 774 5238882 (ticket office), +86 774-5238886 (hotel reception). 08:00-00:00. The standard fee is ¥75. Persons over 60 are charged ¥65, children between 1.2 and 1.4 metres in height are charged ¥35 and children under 1.2 metres in height enjoy free entry. (updated Sep 2018)

Buy

• 1 Lingfeng Commercial Street (灵峰商业街). Good place for leisure travel, there are shopping plazas, snack streets in this leisure block, from the afternoon to the evening, lovers dating, family shopping together to buy things is also very good, you can stroll for a long time. (updated Oct 2023)

Eat

• 1 Shenshan Temple (屾山馆). The price is relatively high, mainly because the dining environment is relatively luxurious, the main dishes are: sour soup fish, pigeon egg pork, stuffed tofu, chopped pepper fish head, etc., these Hezhou characteristic dishes represent the local unique flavor and food culture, tasting them will bring you a food journey. Average ¥150. (updated Oct 2023)
• 2 Maojia Hotel (Hezhou Avenue Branch) (毛家饭店(贺州大道店)), 广西壮族自治区贺州市八步区贺州大道158号 (Bus or train), ☏ +86 774 5138188. 11:00-22:00. Buses near Maojia Hotel Hezhou Branch: 11, 5, 1, 7, 2, 6. The starting price of Hezhou taxi is ¥5. Maojia Hotel Hezhou branch is located near Xingui City Square (about 296 m northeast). 48人民币. (updated Nov 2023)
• 3 Xiang Xiang Yuan Hotel (湘香缘饭店), Next to Chaodong Street Primary School, Chaodong Town, Fuchuan Yao Autonomous County ( 广西壮族自治区贺州市富川瑶族自治县朝东镇朝东街小学旁) (Bus or train), toll-free: +18077487219. 11:00-22:00. You can also taste Fanglin horseshoe, bean curd stuffed, Zhongshan oil tea and other special food. In addition, the rice snail pot is also a delicacy not to be missed. Clay pot is one of the characteristic cooking methods of Hezhou, which makes the soup delicious and the snail meat fresh and tender. It has become one of the signature dishes of Xiangyuan Hotel. ¥50. (updated Nov 2023)

Drink

• 1 See happy tea drink (见之欢喜茶饮). 11:00-22:00. The atmosphere of the store is unique, creating many cinematic scenes, and the decor is excellent, especially suitable for wearing neo-Chinese style clothing. In addition, the store also takes into account the needs of customers and provides cosmetics for you to touch up before or after the meal. If you are bringing children, there is also a small attic on the second floor for children to play, and it is convenient for the precious mothers to relax occasionally. As for the food, although not particularly delicious, but by no means bad. The little sister in the store will also give small cakes, which taste quite good. ¥20. (updated Oct 2023)

• Zhong Shan oil tea (钟山油茶). Zhongshan oil tea is a traditional food in Zhongshan County, Hezhou. It uses camellia oil as the main raw material, plus onion, ginger, minced garlic and other spices, boiled into a unique oil tea. It not only tastes delicious, but also helps digestion and moistening the lungs. (updated Dec 2023)

Sleep

• 1 Hope Hotel (希望酒店), No. 8, Jianshe Middle Road, Hezhou City center, ☏ +86-774-5120333. The hotel is in a commercial area with much shopping nearby. He Jiang Beidi Park, restaurants, banks, and cinemas are also close. ¥200CN. (updated Oct 2023)
• 2 Deyun House Homestay (徳云舍民宿), No. 24, Jinde Street, Zhaoping County, ☏ +86 18070697088. 09:00-23:00. ¥300. (updated Oct 2023)
• 3 Hezhou International Hotel (贺州国际酒店), 广西壮族自治区贺州市八步区建设东路183号 (Bus or train), toll-free: +86 774 5663333. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. Hezhou International Hotel is a tourist hotel with four-star scale and facilities. Located in the center of the city. The hotel has 234 rooms. On the first floor, there are western restaurants, bars, business centers, shopping malls, meeting rooms, beauty salon centers, banks, travel agencies; On the second floor, there are Chinese restaurant, luxury box, multi-function hall, etc. On the fourth floor is an excellent sauna center. ¥150. (updated Nov 2023)
• 4 Vienna International Hotel (Hezhou High-speed Railway Station Branch) (维也纳国际酒店(贺州高铁站店)), 广西壮族自治区贺州市平桂区迎宾大道体育运动学校对面贺州学院西校区旁 (Bus or train), ☏ +86 774-5221222, toll-free: +86 774 5219999. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. The hotel is located in Hezhou City Yingbin Avenue sports school opposite, the transportation is convenient, only 1.5 km from the city center, about 2 km from the bus station, only 3 km from the railway station, about 3 km from the highway intersection.The first floor of the hotel is for reception, coffee shop, 4 floors for leisure club, 5-11 floors for guest rooms. Central air conditioning, elevator, large parking lot, Wi-Fi coverage throughout the hotel. The restaurant is located on the 3rd floor. ¥245. (updated Nov 2023)
• 5 Hezhou Zhengling Hotel (贺州市正菱大酒店), 贺州平桂区西环路19号 — 19 Xihuan Road (Bus or train), ☏ +86 774 5218888. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. ¥218. (updated Nov 2023)

Go next

• Guilin: Not far from Hezhou, Guilin is famous for its magnificent karst landforms, with beautiful scenery of the Li River and rural scenery of Yangshuo. In Guilin, you can take a boat tour of the Li River and enjoy the beautiful scenery composed of unique peaks and rocks.

Luizhou

• Liuzhou is relatively close to Hezhou. It features several attractions, including Liuzhou Silver Beach and Liuzhou Yinchuan. Liuzhou food is heavy and spicy, and there are food stalls everywhere. The signature dish is Liuzhou Luosifen, a rice noodle soup.
• Longsheng: Longsheng Nationalities Autonomous County is in the northeast of Guangxi. Different seasons, especially the rice season, present different scenery, as well as Zhuang villages and Zhuang culture. Ponkan of Longsheng Ethnic Autonomous County is one of the tastiest varieties of citrus.
• Guiyang: If you want to continue north, you can head to Guiyang to explore the scenery and culture of Guizhou, including Huangguoshu Waterfall and Qianhu Miao Village.

The surrounding countryside of Hezhou: If you want to experience a more peaceful rural life, you can spend some time in the surrounding villages of Hezhou to feel the local culture and customs.