Huangyao 黄姚古镇

About Huangyao

Blue-brick walls, dark tiled roofs and worked timber give the lanes a consistent material character, while the worn stone paving changes their texture underfoot. Dailong Bridge and the old stage are useful anchors for exploring the street pattern. The town rewards a slow circuit between water and buildings rather than a checklist of dates attached to every house.

Huangyao's settlement is thought to date from the Song dynasty, in the Kaibao era (968-977); the name Huangyao was first recorded in the Huangyou era (1049-1053), after the two most common local surnames, Huang and Yao. The town developed during the Wanli era (1572-1620) of the Ming dynasty and prospered during the Qianlong era (1735-1796) of the Qing dynasty, leaving more than 300 Ming- and Qing-era buildings. During the Second Sino-Japanese War, patriotic figures who fled from Guilin to Huangyao left behind additional relics from that period.

Because the town is surrounded by mountains on all sides and transport links with the outside were historically poor, many Ming- and Qing-style buildings and relics have been preserved, including an old stage, old wells, ancestral halls and temples; the old town holds more than 30 temples, ancestral halls and pavilions in total. Local authorities have developed the town into a tourist attraction known as Huangyao Ancient Town.

What to look for

• Stone bridges and paved lanes connect the stream-side neighbourhoods.
• Blue-brick houses, dark roofs and the old stage provide distinct architectural details.

Location & getting there

Getting to Huangyao

Huangyao is in Zhaoping County. The Hezhou visitor guide identifies transport from Hezhou railway station and the central bus station towards Huangyao; confirm the current departure and final stop locally before using that connection.