The Qingyan Ancient Town Scenic Area in Guiyang City is located in Qingyan Town, Huaxi District, Guiyang City, Guizhou Province. It is a National 5A-level tourist attraction, with a total area of 3.8 square kilometers. Qingyan Ancient Town is one of the four great ancient towns in Guizhou. Its distinguishing feature is that it preserves a large number of ancient buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties, such as temples, pavilions, and city walls. The buildings in the ancient town are mostly of stone-and-wood structure, built according to the terrain and cleverly laid out. The city wall of the ancient town has a circumference of about 3 kilometers, a height of about 8 meters, and a thickness of about 5 meters. It is majestic and spectacular and is one of the landmark buildings of the ancient town. In addition, the ancient residential buildings in the town have a unique architectural style, combining the characteristics of Huizhou-style architecture with those of local ethnic minority architecture, and are highly worth viewing.
Historical Culture
Qingyan Ancient Town was first built in the tenth year of the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty (1377). It was originally a military fortress and an important garrison point for Ming troops. At that time, Qingyan Ancient Town played an important role in military defense and witnessed many historical events and wars.
Over time, Qingyan Ancient Town gradually changed from a military fortress into a trading and distribution center. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, merchants gathered here and trade flourished, making it an important hub connecting Guizhou with the outside world. Places such as Back Street in the ancient town retain many ancient shops and workshops, witnessing the commercial prosperity of that time.
Qingyan Ancient Town is also a place where multiple ethnic cultures blend. The Han, Bouyei, Miao, and other ethnic groups live together here. The cultures of various ethnic groups have influenced and integrated with one another, forming a unique regional culture. Buildings such as temples and ancestral halls in the ancient town reflect the beliefs and cultural traditions of different ethnic groups.
Main Attractions
Qingyan Ancient Town Gates
Qingyan Ancient Town has four gates: east, south, west, and north. Among them, Dingguang Gate is the south gate of the ancient town. Its gate tower is tall and majestic, and the plaque above the gate bears the three large characters “Dingguang Gate.” Dingguang Gate is an important gateway to the ancient town and was historically a key part of military defense. The stone-paved road outside the gate, polished by the passage of time, has witnessed the vicissitudes of the ancient town. The east gate is called “Yingxiang Gate,” the west gate is called “Dingguang Gate,” and the north gate is called “Zhennü Gate.” Each gate has its own unique history and cultural connotations. Visitors can climb the gates and overlook the whole ancient town, experiencing the weight of history.
Back Street
Back Street is one of the most distinctive attractions in Qingyan Ancient Town. The street is narrow and long, with a total length of about 300 meters. The road surface is paved with bluestone slabs, and the walls on both sides are stone walls built of layer upon layer of flat stones. The surface of the stone walls is mottled and full of traces of time. The architectural style of Back Street is simple and elegant, with a strong historical charm. It is a paradise for photography enthusiasts, and many film and television works have also been shot here.
Zhao Lilun Centenarian Archway
Zhao Lilun Centenarian Archway was built during the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty for Zhao Lilun’s 100th birthday. The archway has a unique shape and exquisite craftsmanship. It is a four-pillar, three-bay, three-tier-style archway, about 9 meters high and about 9.5 meters wide. The archway is carved with exquisite patterns, including lifelike figures and animals, and has extremely high artistic value. These carvings not only demonstrate the superb stone-carving skills of the time but also reflect the social culture and folk customs of that period.
Qingyan Academy
Qingyan Academy was first built during the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty and was the cultural and educational center of Qingyan at that time. The academy is located in a corner of the ancient town, with a quiet environment. The buildings in the courtyard are antique, including lecture halls, library buildings, and other structures. Qingyan Academy trained many talents and played an important role in promoting local cultural and educational development. Today, after renovation, the academy still retains a strong cultural atmosphere. Visitors can experience ancient educational culture here and appreciate some ancient books, calligraphy, and paintings.
Suggested Tour Route：
Recommended tour route: Enter from the south gate of the ancient town (Dingguang Gate). First visit the Dingguang Gate tower to learn about the military history of the ancient town. Then follow the stone-paved road to Back Street to admire the simple buildings and narrow streets. Next, go to Zhao Lilun Centenarian Archway to view the exquisite stone carving art. After that, visit Qingyan Academy to experience its cultural atmosphere, and then visit attractions such as Ciyun Temple and Zhao Gong Memorial Temple in turn. At lunchtime, you can taste local specialties such as Qingyan braised pig trotters and rose ice jelly in the ancient town. In the afternoon, continue visiting attractions such as Wanshou Palace, and finally leave from the north gate of the ancient town (Zhennü Gate). The entire tour is expected to take 4–6 hours. If you are interested in certain attractions, you can appropriately extend your stay.
Travel Tips：
It is recommended to learn about the history and culture of Qingyan Ancient Town in advance so as to better understand and appreciate its attractions. You can obtain relevant information by consulting books and materials or at the visitor center in the scenic area.
Wear comfortable shoes, because the roads in the ancient town are mostly stone-paved and you will walk for a long time. Comfortable shoes will make the tour more relaxing.
When tasting food, pay attention to choosing formal restaurants and snack stalls to ensure food hygiene. At the same time, you can try a variety of local specialties and experience Qingyan’s food culture.
If you want to photograph the beautiful scenery of the ancient town, it is recommended to go in the morning or evening, when the light is soft and you can take more charming photos.
In summer, take sun protection measures, such as bringing a sun hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen; in winter, keep warm.
Precautions：
Protect the environment of the ancient town. Do not spit or litter. Put garbage into designated trash bins.
Respect the lives of residents in the ancient town. Do not disturb them at will and keep quiet.
When visiting ancient buildings, do not touch or damage cultural relics and buildings at will, and comply with the regulations of the scenic area.
If you encounter an emergency, you can call the scenic area’s emergency rescue phone number or ask nearby staff for help.
When shopping in the ancient town, pay attention to the price and quality of goods to avoid unnecessary disputes.
Transportation：
Public transportation: At Huaguoyuan Shopping Center, Yan’an West Road Bus Station, and other places in Guiyang, there are direct shuttle buses to Qingyan Ancient Town. The fare is about 8–10 yuan, and the journey takes about 1 hour. You can also take Guiyang Metro Line 3 to Huaxi Park Station, then transfer to a bus or take a taxi to Qingyan Ancient Town. The bus fare is about 2–3 yuan, and the taxi fare is about 20–30 yuan.
Self-driving: From downtown Guiyang, take Jiaxiu South Road, Mingzhu Avenue, and other roads to reach Qingyan Ancient Town. The total distance is about 29 kilometers, and the driving time is about 40 minutes. There is a parking lot in the ancient town, and parking fees are charged according to parking duration.
Opening Hours：
Qingyan Ancient Town Scenic Area is open all year round. Opening hours are 08:30–17:00 (ticket sales and entry stop after 17:00). On statutory holidays or during peak tourist seasons, the scenic area may adjust its opening hours according to actual conditions. Visitors can check the official information of the scenic area in advance and arrange their itinerary reasonably.
Tickets：
Ticket: 60 yuan per person.