Qingyan Ancient Town

　　Located in the southern suburbs of Guiyang, about 29 kilometers from the city center. It is one of the four great ancient towns in Guizhou, a military fortress town built 600 years ago. The town is filled with exquisitely designed and masterfully crafted Ming and Qing dynasty buildings. Temples, pavilions, and towers feature painted beams, carved rafters, upturned eaves, and multiple layers of roofs. With its timeless charm, it is hailed as one of China’s most enchanting small towns.

　　The town, named Qingyan, is located 12 kilometers south of Huaxi in Guiyang. The gate bears the bold characters “Dingguang Gate.” On either side of the gate stretch winding walls, topped with watchtowers, battlements, and gun platforms—all constructed from massive square stones in deep gray and black hues.

　　The town belongs to Guiyang City, Guizhou Province, and boasts a history of over 620 years. It once had nine temples, eight shrines, three palaces, three pavilions, one courtyard, one tower, as well as stone archways and city walls. Originally built as an earthen town, it underwent centuries of vicissitudes and multiple renovations and expansions, gradually transforming from an earthen settlement into a crisscrossed stone town.

　　Guizhou features typical karst topography, where layers of rock pile up, and prominent rises form mountains. With abundant rocks—thick and thin, layered distinctly—stone was a readily available building material. As a result, many homes in the suburban areas of Guiyang use stone slabs as roofing tiles and piles of stones as walls. Clusters of large and small stone houses create a unique mountain-town landscape. It’s only natural that Qingyan Town, nestled against hills and ridges, would have its gates and walls entirely built of stone. Indeed, the town’s deep sense of antiquity first comes from its somber gray stones.

　　The architecture of the ancient town follows the terrain, with a rational layout. Stone and wood carvings showcase exquisite craftsmanship, embodying numerous myths and legends as well as rich local characteristics that are truly breathtaking. The crisscrossing bluestone paths and winding alleys, the ancient stone and wooden counters lining the streets, the delicately carved window and door lattices, and the upside-down stone lions on the archways all evoke a deep sense of nostalgia. Strolling into a lane called “Back Street,” you’re immediately struck by the vast temporal and spatial distance—the bluestone-paved road and bluestone-built walls feel like a time tunnel carved from stone.

　　Even more astonishing is that this small town is home to ancient temples, solemn Catholic churches, and Christian churches, earning it the title of a place where “three religions coexist.” From Dingguang Gate, you can see the spired church standing in contrast to the towering Centenarian Archway—Eastern and Western cultures coexisting harmoniously yet in contrast within the town. On the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month, incense burns incessantly in the temples, while Sundays see continuous streams of worshippers at the churches. It’s not unusual for remote areas to have multiple religious sites, but what’s remarkable is the innate tolerance and openness of the townsfolk toward foreign elements, allowing religious beliefs foreign to this land to thrive here.

　　Standing atop the city wall of Qingyan Town and looking into the distance, the spired church and the solemn Archway of Chastity stand facing each other. Instead of feeling discordant, there’s a unique asymmetrical beauty of clashing cultures—like the carved lattice windows, blue-tiled roofs, and colorful modern goods, all reflecting the inseparable and tangled relationship between history and reality.

　　What makes Qingyan truly special is the simple and sincere folk customs that modern people yearn for. When you’re tired, locals will offer their own chairs for you to rest. When you’re thirsty, they’ll serve you a bowl of cool kuding tea and share a tale about Qingyan to refresh your spirit. All of this is freely offered; if you insist on paying, phrases like “just give a little something” or “a few yuan is fine” will endear the town to you even more.

　　Qingyan Town is a provincial-level cultural relics protection unit, a famous historical and cultural town, and a national-level model market. It boasts profound historical, architectural, religious, agricultural, culinary, and revolutionary cultural heritage, with a multi-ethnic population. Of the total population, 61% are Han Chinese, and 39% belong to ethnic minorities, primarily the Miao and Buyi peoples. The economy is primarily agricultural, supplemented by forestry. Township enterprises, led by three pillar industries—phosphorus chemical engineering, building materials, and health products—are developing rapidly. In 2003, the total business income of township enterprises reached 430.63 million yuan. Leveraging abundant historical and cultural resources and regional advantages, tourism income has shown a clear upward trend, complementing township enterprises to form the town’s two major economic pillars.

　　Qingyan Ancient Town is located beside National Highway 213, 12 kilometers south of Huaxi District, Guiyang. It is one of the four great ancient towns in Guizhou. The town is surrounded by walls, divided into inner and outer sections, built from massive square stones. The walls feature watchtowers, battlements, and gun platforms. The majestic Dingguang Gate and the ancient bluestone roads and archways complement each other beautifully.

　　Admission

　　Qingyan Ancient Town offers both a combined ticket and individual entry tickets. The combined ticket is 80 yuan (includes Qingyan Ancient Town streets, South Gate, North Gate, East Gate, West Gate, ancient town walls, Ciyun Temple, Zhuangyuan Former Residence, Wenchang Pavilion, Zhao Gong Ancestral Hall, Wanshou Palace, Longquan Temple, Shoufo Temple, and other attractions); the individual ticket is 10 yuan.

　　Transportation

　　1. Located about 29 kilometers south of Guiyang city center. You can take a bus heading from Guiyang to Huishui from the passenger transport center at No. 32, West Yan’an Road in the city, and get off directly at Qingyan (ticket: 4 yuan, about 1 hour ride).

　　2. From Huaguoyuan Wetland Park Station, take bus 210 for 3 yuan; buses run continuously from 7:00–20:00.

　　3. Round trips are available by taking a direct bus from Huaguoyuan Wetland Park in Guiyang to Qingyan; buses run every half hour, 3 yuan per person.

　　4. Hiring a taxi typically starts at 100 yuan, but you can usually negotiate it down to 80 yuan.

　　Address: Qingyan Town, Huaxi District, Guiyang

　　Type: Ancient town / ancient village

　　Rating: AAAAA

　　Recommended visit duration: 2–3 hours

　　Official website: http://www.qingyanguzhen.com

　　Opening hours:

　　The ancient town is open all day; smaller attractions inside are open from 9:00–17:00.