About Pingnan

Residing in Northeast Fujian, Pingnan covers an area of 1,471km² and its 181.7 thousand diligent and brave Han and She residents are distributed in 11 towns and 153 administrative villages. Formerly, Pingnan was under the jurisdiction of Gutian and was divided and appointed as an independent county for "vast territory and administrative management going beyond the reach" in the 13^th year (AD 1735) during the reign of Emperor Yongzheng in the Qing Dynasty. The new county was set in the south of Cuiping Mountain and the intersection Shuangxi, thus known as "Pingnan". The county administrates "four areas and six towns".

Four areas:

Mountainous area: Pingnan is a typical county of mountain farming. Covered by mountains, the county has an average altitude of 830m and represents of one of the highest counties in Fujian. 1.78 million mu of mountainous areas accounts for 81% of the county's total area and the agricultural population takes up about 80% of the total.

Forest area: Pingnan is one of the key forest regions of the province and has a forest coverage rate and greening coverage of 75.6% and 91.1% respectively.

Old area: Pingnan is one of 26 major Soviet area counties in Fujian province. Ye Fei and other revolutionists of the older generation once fought there. 145 administrative villages of the county are in the old area, including 79 major villages and 47 basic villages. The county is reputed as "Firm Revolutionary County.

Scenic area: Pingnan has been made into a summer resort for tourists owing to its abundant tourist resources and holds forth Baishuiyang, honored as "Peculiar Landscape and Water Paradise". Yuanyang Stream, known as a "resort for lovers and fairyland on earth", also resides there.

Six towns:

Hometown of mandarin ducks: Good forest vegetation and abundant rivers make Pingnan the habitat of mandarin ducks, Class II protected animals in China and thus Pingnan is honored as "the hometown of mandarin ducks in China".

Major hometown of overseas Chinese: As one of the 26 major hometowns of overseas Chinese, Pingnan has over 60 thousand overseas. Taiwan and Hong Kong compatriots, totally accounting for 1/3 of the county's total population.

Hometown of corridor bridges: Pingnan has 61 ancient bridges of varied forms, including 15 best-known wooden-arched corridor bridges.

Hometown of martial arts: Since the ancient times, the air of martial art has been prevailing in Pingnan. As a result, Pingnan has a long history of martial art and given birth to talents from generation to generation. In particular, the Ming and Qing Dynasties saw its peak time when a great number of talents of martial arts emerged.

Hometown of traditional Chinese opera: Folk dramas in Pingnan includes Siping Opera, Pingjiang Opera, Strum Opera, Siping Threaded Puppet Show, Stick Puppet Show, Peking Opera and Fujian Opera, all of which makes Pingnan a famous hometown of folk drama.

Hometown of peach-shaped plum: "Precious fruit of Bashu and Fujian, peach-shaped plum is a distinctive product of Pingnan and the county has been appraised as "the hometown of peach-shaped plum in China". 

How to get there!  ▶ 

Pingnan lies in northeast Fujian, and borders on Jiaocheng District in the southeast, Zhouning in the northeast, Zhenghe in the north and is adjacent to Jian'ou City from the northwest to west and to Gutian from the southwest to the south. The county is 170km, 100km, 135km, 130km and 95km away from Fuzhou, Ningde, Port of Saiqi, Sandu'ao and Gutian Railway Station separately.

Take the bullet train to go to Pingnan!

STEP1: Ningde Railway Station has the shortest distance among all railway stations to Pingnan. Buy a ticket to Ningde Railway Station.

Tips: Tips for buying bullet train tickets

l Check the time table and ticket rate of D-series high-speed trains in 12306 official website of the Ministry of Railways (www.12306.cn) or calling the phone booking hotline 95105105 and then buy tickets.

STEP2: Go to Ningde North Bus Station from Ningde Railway Station by No.18 bus in the downtown of Ningde and then go to the regular bus there to go to Pingnan Bus Station.

Tips: No.18 bus: Railway Station - North Bus Station About 30min

Urban line (stop in large stations)  Self-service ticketing  RMB 1 for each ticket  RMB 1.5 in summer for air conditioner service  Operating time: 6:30-21:30

Passing sites: Railway Station - Youao - Donghu Yipin (Dongqiao Development Zone) - City Plan Exhibition Gallery - Beian Jingguan - Sports Center - Wal-Mart - Tian'an Jingdian - Dongqiao Huayuan - Changxingcheng - Donghu Market - Jinfucheng - Power Company - Shuqian Market - Mindong Hotel - North Bus Station (Terminal Station)

Tips: There is one regular bus every half an hour from Ningde North Bus Station Ningde North Bus Station to and from Pingnan Bus Station.

STEP3: Go to Baishuiyang Scenic Area or Yuanyang Stream Scenic Area by a public transit in urban and rural areas in Pingnan Bus Station.

Tips: The departure time of buses from Pingnan Bus Station is subject to the actual time announced by the Bus Station.

STEP4:

l Outlet of train tickets in Pingnan

Outlet in Xianfu Road, Pingnan, Fujian Railway International Travel Agency No.3, Xianfu Road, Pingnan (in the postal service hall of Pingnan) 

Take a regular bus!

Departure from Fuzhou

There are regular buses in both Fuzhou North Bus Station and Fuzhou West Railway Station to Pingnan Bus Station (county area of Pingnan). Please visit the official website of Fujian Automobile Transport Company (http://www.minyun.com.cn/) to check the departure time and ticket rate. Online booking is also available.

Tips: All buses departing from Fuzhou North Bus Station all go to Ningde (half in the highway) and take about 3.5h for the whole course.   

Most regular buses from Fuzhou West Railway Station go to Gutian and take about 4.5h for the whole course.  

Departure from other cities

So far, Pingnan Bus Station has buses to nine cities and most county-level cities in Fujian, southern Zhejiang (Wenzhou, Lishui, Cangnan, Taizhou and other cities). Please consult station staff for detailed departure time and ticket information.

Tips: After arrival at Pingnan, transfer to a bus to Baishuiyang - Yuanyang Stream Scenic Area to go to Baishuiyang/Yuanyang Stream Scenic Area.

You are advised to buy a return ticket after your arrival at Pingnan Bus Station to ensure the availability of return regular bus.

Classic route

Two-day tour tour route (Baishuiyang, Yuanyang Stream, Ancient Shuangxi Town and Ancient Jitou Village)

Tips: 1. For a two-day tour, try best to get to Pingnan before 12:00pm to have enough time during your tour in Baishuiyang Scenic Area in the afternoon. 2. This route is suitable for tourists by bullet train from Zhejiang and Fujian and also self-driving tour from Fujian and southern Zhejiang.

One-day tour route (Baishuiyang, Yuanyang Stream and Ancient Jitou Village)

Tips: One-day tour will mean a bit tight schedule and thus is suitable for self-driving tour of tourists from surrounding areas of Pingnan (Ningde, Fuzhou and Putian)

From the county to the scenic area ▶ 

Through Baishuiyang Scenic Area and Yuanyang Stream Scenic Area lies in the upper and lower reaches of the river respectively, there is 12km from the exit of each scenic area. In case of self-driving tour, the driving route will change after Shuangxi Town. After arrival in Shuangxi Town, go straight along S202 for 1km and then pay attention to the fork of Baishuiyang - Yuanyang Stream. Please ensure to have the right route.

If you take a bus, make sure to take the correct bus of the scenic area. Many regular buses to Baishuiyang Scenic Area are available, while there are only two shifts of buses to Yuanyang Stream Scenic Area on 7:00am and 12:00pm respectively in May and June. Please make a reasonable schedule to avoid journey troubles.

Tips: If you want to go to Yuanyang Stream in the morning and to Baishuiyang in the afternoon, you are advised to charter a car (taxi) in Pingnan for absence of public traffic tools to these two scenic areas, and then tell the driver that you will go to Yuanyang Stream Scenic Area in the morning, to Baishuiyang Scenic Area in the afternoon and in the end return back to Pingnan at dusk. It would take about RMB 200-300 per day.

Urban traffic ▶ 

The urban area of Pingnan (Gufeng Town) serves as the county's political, economic and cultural center. The urban area covers only 6km² but has rather convenient traffic. The most bustling area there is "Shizi Street" called by Pingnan residents that is Cuiping Road near Pingnan Tianwaitian International Hotel on the map. You can travel through the following means in Pingnan:

Rickshaw ▶  Many motor tricycles can be found in the urban area of Pingnan. Given the prevailing manpower tricycles at the earliest, local residents there directly call motor tricycles as "rickshaws". Rickshaw is the most convenient traffic tool there with a lower price of RMB 5 each. The rickshaw drive will lead you to your destination after you tell him/her.

Tips: Each rickshaw can accommodate about 2-4 passengers. In case of over 4 tourists, separate taking is suggested.

Buses

So far, there are two lines of buses in the urban area of Pingnan at a price of RMB 1. Ticket is obtained by self-service. Operating time: 6: 20-20: 40.

Route 1 Shangyangtou → Xiping Island

Shangyangtou → Biquan Company → Jinfeng Company → Yimin New Village → Intersection of Nanqiao → Jialong Island → Chengbei Petrol Station → Intersection of Wanbaoshan → Edible Mushrooms Trading Market (Chinese High School) → Intersection of Zhoutou → Central Market (Pedestrian Street) → Cuibai Supermarket → Pingnan → Center → Broadcasting and TV Office (Insurance Company) → Tobacco Building → Pingnan Bus Station → Guanghua Elementary School (TCM Hospital) → Civil Affairs Bureau → Ferroalloy Facory → Pingcheng Middle School → Xiping Island

Route 3 New Bus Station → Xiping Island

New Bus Station → Public Security Bureau → Procuratorate → Forestry Bureau → Jialong Island → Fire Brigade → Jiaoyu New Village → Yangzhong Qiaotou → Education Bureau (Chinese High School) → Tax Bureau → Hospital (Epidemic Prevention Station) → ICBC → Changtai Supermarket → Credit Cooperative Building (Jiexin Square) → intersection of the bus station → Guanghua Elementary School (TCM Hospital) → Civil Affairs Bureau → Ferroalloy Facory → Pingcheng Middle School → Xiping Island

Tips: If you want to have a visit to the bustling place of Pingnan, please take No.1 bus, then get off at the station of Cuibai Supermarket or the post office and then transfer to No.3 and get off at eth station of Changtai Supermarket or Credit Cooperative Building (Jiexin Square).

Taxi ▶ 

RMB 4 will be charged for a distance within 1.5km in the urban area of Pingnan and after going beyond 1.5km, RMB 1.5 will be charged for each kilometer according to the actual mileage indicated in the mileage meter.

How to Have Fun in the Scenic Area? ▶ 

Baishuiyang Scenic Area 

Large-scale charged parking lots are available in Baishuiyang Scenic Area.

Equipment

1. If you want to enjoy yourself in water, remember to take your bathing suits and dry clothes and slippers or sandals are also recommended.

2、Free non-slip socks will be offered for tourists buying tickets of Baishuiyang Scenic Area. In case of walking for a long time, all female tourists are recommended to bring a pair of thick socks for better anti-slip effect and preventing wearing pain of the soles.

Must-visits

Water walking

[Water walking in Baishuiyang-Zhongyang]

Baishuiyang-Zhongyang represents the most spectacular scenic spot in Baishuiyang. The flat riverbed and evenly distributed river water make it funny to have a barefoot walk in water to experience water in Baishuiyang and make a free foot bottom massage.

Tips:

Be ready for water activities after your arrival at Baishuiyang Sightseeing Deck (building in the picture on the left)!

Supporting facilities in Sightseeing Deck:

Supporting bath installations, hosting services, catering services, tea room and souvenirs are all available in the Sightseeing Deck. (Free bathing)

Hosting services

Hosting services are available on the Sightseeing Deck. Tourists can keep their belongings in custody there after changing bathing suits.

Preparation before going into water

1、 Put on the special non-slip socks offered by the scenic area after getting dressed in bathing suits and keep your belongings in custody. (Non-slip socks are required before going into water for surfing, for rocks are rather slippery under the flushing action of river water.)

2、 All female tourists are strongly recommended to get off your any jewelry! In case of falling into water, it would be rather hard to find it.

3、 Tourists wearing glasses or sunglasses should make sure to fetch a string from the Sightseeing Deck to hinder both ends of the glasses frame to prevent them from dropping into water.

4、 It is strongly suggested putting mobile phones or other digital products in zippered pockets or travel bags to prevent slipping into the creek.

5、 If you take a camera to take pictures, a waterproof bag is recommended (available in the county's local specialty stores, behind the gate of the scenic area and also on the Sightseeing Deck) to prevent your camera from falling into water.

Must-visits

No great fun without "getting yourself wet".

Be ready to "get yourself wet" before your arrival in Baishuiyang. So, remember to take one more suit of clothes.

Must-visits

Surfing 

[100m Surfing Slideway]

This is a natural surfing slideway, nearly 100m long and over 60m wide. As tourists lie on their back in the slideway, they can slide downwards with the force of the stream. Rocks on the slideway are very smooth after years of scouring by water. While sliding downwards, tourists can experience the gentle driving force in water. The naughty water flow, now fast and now slow, will bring you constant surprises for you.

Tips:

1、 Tourists need to rent surfing tools from the service point on the beach before surfing.

2、 Surfing tools include one pair of kneepads, one pair of elbow pads, one safety hat and special life vest for surfing.

Tips: Other charged activities in the scenic area

▲ Canoe and kayak rafting

For the rafting activity, you are advised to have slippers or sandals. The return trip must be on foot along the footpath. 

In addition to wave treading  and surfing on the 100m surfing slideway in Baishuiyang-Zhongyang, there are also many other interesting programs there:

Recommended scenic spots

[Shamao Rock] As the most prominent rock in the central part of the lower reach of Baishuiyang, Shamao Rock is connected with the riverbed, with its shape changing from different perspectives, showing great distinctive hues. From the top left, it greatly resembles the black gauze cap (乌纱帽 in Chinese) and thus was named as "Shamao Rock". According to the legend, a county magistrate passed by there. Appealed by the beautiful scenery there, he exclaimed over the sinister official circles and thus intended to retire. Afterwards, he threw his gauze cap into water and surprisingly the cap turned into this rock. A poet later sighed and made a poem that "After resigning from the official post, take a tour there and find himself deeply fall in love with the clean streams and tranquil scenery there. Remove the worldly affairs from his mind and throw his gauze cap into the running water."

From the opposite bank, this rock looks like a Buddha statue, majestic and lofty, thus being called "General guarding Baishuiyang". From the right above, it is like a bamboo shoot breaking through the soil and thus is called as "bamboo shoot of an immortal". From the bottom left, it is similar to a large turtle with a heap of treasures on its back, thus known as "golden turtle bearing treasures on back". In general, it looks like a full sail, thus called as "plain sailing", further demonstrating its constant changes. 

Recommended scenic spots

[Shuanglong Bridge] It is a wooden-arched corridor bridge in the valley of the upper reach and was reconstructed with two dragon patterns for decoration. 4.5m wide and 66m long, it has two piers and three holes and is, in length, second to Wanan Bridge, the longest wooden-arched corridor bridge located in Pingnan and existing in China and the second longest bridge in Pingnan. There is a distance approaching to the height of a three-floor building, making itself rather majestic. In addition to linking both banks, Shuanglong Bridge is also a good place for tourists to take a rest halfway, enjoy and cool and seek shelter from wind and rain. Here, tourists can appreciate the distinctive corridor bridge art and also enjoy the wonder of "a great variety of waters and stretching streets covered by water scenery" in Baishuiyang. The Goddess of Mercy enshrined on the bridge is a place for religious believers for pilgrimage worship.

Recommended scenic spots 

[Five-old-man Peak]

"When you make a tour to Baishuiyang, Five-old-man Peak is a must-see attraction."

A beautiful place bears a nice story. According to the legend, five immortals, sitting on the chessboard stone, racked their minds on the chess pattern, forgetting the passage of time, concentrating themselves and then turning into "Five-old-man Peak".

After having a fun in Baishuiyang, it is a good idea to visit Five-old-man Peak. The leafy mountain roads there will help you remove tiredness in a gentle manner. Standing on the peak and overlooking the top and bottom, the grand panorama of Baishuiyang is fully rendered for you.

Tips:  

If you arrive at Baishuiyang Scenic Area in the morning, it is recommended to climb Five-old-man Peak there for low water temperature in Baishuiyang. The proper height of the peak makes it easy to climb and also enables you to have a commanding view of Baishuiyang. It would be better to have water activities after temperature rise at noon.

After getting wet and going ashore, have a cup of ginger tea to resist cold air and prevent catching cold.

Yuanyang Stream Scenic Area ▶ 

Large-scale charged parking lots are available in Yuanyang Stream Scenic Area.

Equipment

1、 The full mountaineering trip to Yuanyang Stream Scenic Area makes it necessary to wear sports shoes.

2、 It takes about 2.5-3h to finish the whole course of Yuanyang Stream and thus tourists are recommended to carry enough water and food. 

The route in green in the picture above is for half-trip tour of Yuanyang Stream and is suitable for elders and children. The whole course will take about 2.5h (excluding the time taking the upward elevator in Baizhangji). In the course, tourists can have a view of representative scenic spots in Yuanyang Stream, including Labaji Waterfall, Lingyun Skywalk and Baizhangji Waterfall. 

The route in red in the picture above is for whole-trip tour in Yuanyang Stream Scenic Area. To finish the whole course, it will need about 3h (excluding the time taking the upward elevator in Baizhangji). In the course, tourists can appreciate all developed scenic spots there, All tourists are reminded to reasonably allocate physical strength given the longer time in the whole course.

Must-visits

[Baizhangji] [Water Curtain Cave]

Baizhangji is a must-see attraction in Yuanyang Stream. The cave behind the fall is "Water Curtain Cave". According to local residents, monkeys dwell inside at times. With a drop of 157m and over 20m wide, water of Baizhangji goes down directly into the clear pond, stirring constant air billow. Embedded in the middle of the waterfall rock, Water Curtain Cave is 3m high and over 4m wide and can accommodate dozens of tourists. Baizhangji, Huangguoshu Waterfalls, Lianyungang, Yandangshan and Mount Wuyi are commonly known as "China's Five Water Curtain Caves". Surrounded by dense forests, Baizhangji holds forth quiet and beautiful scenery. From the morning to noon in sunny days, water shines under the sun. The pristine white water and rainbow play off each other, leading to a majestic and grand scene and amazing all tourists.

Tips: "Ji" means waterfall in the dialect of Pingnan. Therefore, many scenic spots are named with "Ji" in Yuanyang Stream Scenic Area, representing waterfall attractions. In addition, Yuanyang Stream Scenic Area has the largest number of waterfalls in China. Tourists can find waterfalls of varied forms in Yuanyang Stream. 

Must-visits

[Lingyun Skywalk]

The nearly 500m suspended skywalk will enable tourists to command the panorama there while shortening the time to the peak. Standing on the skywalk, tourists can take a breathtaking look at natural sceneries in Yuanyang Stream Valley and gain a distant view of Xixiaotian, Xiannv Waterfall, Biyu Feicui Pond, Baizhangji, Xianren Bridge, Xiaohukou Fall and other main attractions. In case of rain and fog, the skywalk is embraced by smoke clouds, allowing tourists to feel like throwing themselves in clouds and fully experiencing the wonder of "reaching the clouds".

Recommended scenic spots

[Qingdieji]

Qingdieji is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Yuanyang Stream. The slightly inclined surface of the entire waterfall makes running water leap and jump along the slope rather than dropping down directly. Splashing spray looks like dropping thousands of pearls, thus making itself also known as Pearl Fall. Looking up from the right on the river bank, the extruding rock from the waterfall resembles a head portrait and water falls down straight from its crown, creating a scene of a man being bathing. "Qingdieji" bears a moving legend. In the ancient time, there was a girl named as Ni Qingdie who found a kind of pigment for cloth dyeing - "Qing (cyan)" and also mastered the techniques of fetching Qing and dyeing cloth. To make more money, her greedy elder brother kept the techniques of planting and extracting Qing and dyeing cloth in secret. However, the kind Qingdie tried her best to pass the techniques to villagers. For Qingdie set up two Qing filtering pools on "Qingdieji", later villagers called this fall as "Qingdieji" to commemorate her.   

Recommended scenic spots

[Cangtanxiong Waterfall]

Among waterfalls in Yuanyang Stream, Cangtanxiong Waterfall represents the most majestic one. The unpredictable depth of water and pond walls on both sides as straight as that of pallet give the pond the name of "Cangtan" and thus the waterfall above Cangtan is called "Cangtanxiong Waterfall". "Cangtanxiong Waterfall" engraved on the rock is made by Zhu Yiche, a calligrapher of our province. Running water from Baishuiyang falls down straight, creating unyielding strength. The funnel-shaped pond mouth compresses and extrudes stream water into the pond, leading to an over 3m-wide waterfall. The concentrated and dropping from high gives tremendous water striking force, much like Hukou Waterfall in the Yellow River and thus making it known as "Xiaohukou Waterfall". There is one giant turtle-shaped rock on both sides above the waterfall, thus making the waterfall known as "running with the guard of two turtles". Rows of footprints on the rock beach beside the pond are said to be those left by Jiuzhalong.

Recommended scenic spots

[Labaji]

Labaji is the most fantastic waterfall in Yuanyang Stream. The cascading water downwards forms a horn under the action of the rock's shape. Water flows from the horn mouth and water spray splashes around, like spattering spit from a passionate drummer. It is said that Empress Yuanyang held a birth party in Dingtanxianyan Valley and appointed Xiao Luohan to play the trumpet. His performance received praises from all guests. Pleased with the audience's praises, Xiao Luohan was sunk in sleep in his way homeward and then turned into a Luohan stone, while the bare and smooth large rock on the opposite is Luohan belley. His trumpet beside the pond turned into Labaji. 

Recommended scenic spots

[Mysterious Stone Carving] This "Ah"-shaped but not "Ah" stone carving is made in an unknown year by an unknown one. Its implied meaning still remains unclear so far. After figuring out by many people at present, it can be read that "Ah, the landscape in Baizhangji is rather spectacular and grand", implying ingenious idea. Tourists interested in it can try to read them.

Self-paying activities: Baizhangji Cave Ladder

Baizhangji Cave Ladder is the only elevator shaft in a mountain in Eastern China. Built on the mountain, it not only protects the original style of surrounding hills and vegetation and also makes the cave ladder blend into one with surrounding environment. 120m high (equivalent to a 40-floor building), the cave ladder is designed with a lifting speed of 2.5m/s. The cave ladder is characterized by grand scale, complicated process and breathtaking construction. By the cave ladder, about 30min can be saved from the valley bottom of Yuanyang Stream to the top.

Knowledge supplement

[Mandarin duck]

Mandarin duck is a Class II protected animal and belongs to Aves and Anatidae. The male bird has bright feather and two teriaries expand into a fan and stand upright. With brown eyes encircled by yellowish white and reddish brown mouth, it has been recognized as one of the most beautiful water birds. Mandarin duck is a bird of passage and leaves in spring and comes back in winter, falling opposite to swallows. For it is a common scene that two mandarin ducks "cross their necks, fly together and swim shoulder to shoulder", they are regarded as the symbol of merry and happy marriage and conjugal affection. It says in A Love Story in Chang'an made by Lu Zhaolin in the Tang Dynasty that "I will have no fear to death if only I can stay with you. I would like to be a partner for you like a love bird rather than lonely immortal." Mandarin ducks are frequently mentioned in couplets at weddings, for they stay with each other all the time and do not leave the other alone.

Please visit the official website of Baishuiyang - Yuanyang Stream Scenic Area (www.yyx.com.cn) for more information.

Accommodation

Most hotels and restaurants of Pingnan are run in the county area of Pingnan and Ancient Shuangxi Town. There is one three-star hotel in Baishuiyang Scenic Area (Baishuiyang Scenic Area Management Center Hotel) and one four-star hotel in Yuanyang Stream Scenic Area (Yuanyang Stream Scenic Area Management Center Hotel). If you want to go shopping in the evening, have some Pingnan specialties, or involve yourself in some recreational activities, it is advisable to have your accommodation in the county area of Pingan or Ancient Shuangxi Town.

About hotel price:

The hotel price in Pingnan changes as the tourist flow changes. In the peak season (from the middle of June to the golden week of China's National Day) and weekends (night on Saturday) would expect higher price. One standard room in economy hotels (two-star) is charged at about RMB 200 per night. Favorable accommodation price will be expected in days rather than on weekends (Sunday to Friday). One standard room in economy hotels (two-star) is charged at about RMB 80 to 120 per night. It would be very cost-effective if you take your tour in days rather than on weekends.

The slack season (after the golden week of China's National Day to the middle of June next year) will see a very preferential price. One standard room in economy hotels (two-star) is charged at about RMB 80 per night. In addition to favorable accommodation price, tourist will also be given a ticket preference in Yuanyang Stream.

Tips: If you take your tour on weekends in peak season, advanced booking of a room is recommended, given the short supply of rooms then to avoid unavailability of rooms.

As the tourism e-business develops, many hotels and restaurants (including economy hotels) have offered online booking and payment service. You may have a try of the convenient tourism e-commerce on weekends. 

Gourmet ▶ 

[Specialty catering in Pingnan]

Among mountains and forests, the abundant natural edible ingredients in green mountains and rivers in Pingnan have fostered its long-standing folk cooking tradition and further, local creative efforts have also helped contribute to the unique catering culture. Cuisine of Pingnan has evolved to be a distinctive branch in Fujian cuisine. Taking local products as ingredients, Pingnan cuisine is characterized by simple cooking methods, less artistic hue, and dense rural style. The simple and unadorned air makes it fused with strong local flavor.

[Specialty cuisine in Pingnan]

1. Farmhouse dishes

Farmhouse dishes employ various kinds of ingredients, including poultry and livestock, fruit and vegetable, and wild plants. Integrating traditional and modern cooking techniques, frying, stewing, simmering and other means lead to fine cuisine by bulky vegetable, unique flavor and both nice color and fragrance. Representative dishes: braised rabbit meat, steamed salted pork in wine, dried kidney bean, white taro and potato cake.

2、 Tonic diet

Encircled by clear waters and green hills, Pingnan has many kinds of green grass of medicinal value on hills. Captive rearing of livestock and poultry is an important producing activity of local farmers. The shortage of materials and inaccessibility to medical services in mountainous regions have urged local residents to produce tonic food of varied efficacy by meat of poultry and livestock added with different herbs based on the traditional cooking methods to guard against diseases and improve health. Blending the freshness of meat and fragrance of herbs and integrating dining, treatment and nourishing, a unique tonic recipe has come into being and risen to be a wonder amidst different dishes in Pingnan. Representative dishes: eel stewed by Houttuynia cordata, tonic rabbit meat, small intestine made with siberian cocklebur root, dried Lysimachia congestifloraHemsl rice needles.

3、 Dishes cooked by edible mushrooms

Pingnan boasts the unique alpine climate of regions south of the Yangtze River, high mountains, dense forest and abundant rainfall. Lucid ganoderma, yellow mushroom, russule and other edible mushrooms there are both rich and productive. Edible mushrooms contain various kinds of amino acid, vitamin and microelements. Representative dishes: eggplant casserole together with yellow mushrooms, russule, mushroom soup and mushrooms growing on guest-greeting pines.

4、 Dishes made of freshwater fishes

Pingnan has abundant rainfall and dense forest. Criss-crossed creeks and streams foster varied kinds of fish, shrimp, crab and shellfis. Without the large size of those in the ocean, all these pure natural aquatic animals are exquisite. After stewing, simmering, baking or braising, the addition of some local ingredients will make a dish of freshwater products come into being with rich nutrients, bright color, mellow taste and special flavor. Representative dishes: yellow nail, water river eel, anglerfish from peach garden and red bean fresh lily bulb.

[Local specialties]

Most local specialties in Pingnan are made of rice, beans, fruit, vegetable and other food crop, featured by simple materials and traditional cooking techniques. After thousands of years of evolution and improvement, varied styles and flavors have come into being, gathering the wisdom of folk cooking experts, concentrating local folk customs, providing more dishes for local residents and bringing new vigor to local life. Representative dishes: Yuanyang needles, Jitou Foo Chow Wonton Soup, taro needles, eggs boiled by folium artemisiae argyi. 

Wish you a pleasant journey!