Situated in northern Guangdong province, Qingyuan belongs to the north end of the Pearl River Delta in geography. It is bordered by Guangzhou in the south, neighboring Hunan and Guangxi provinces in the north.
History: Before the Qin Dynasty (220 BC-206 BC) united China, this area was inhabited by many ancient minorities in South China, generally called Bai Yue. Qingyuan region partly belonged to Nanhai Shire and Changsha Shire during the Qin Dynasty. In the early Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD), it was governed by the Nanyue State, and the central government conquered it and brought this region into the Guiyang Shire later. Present Qingyuan City was established in 1988.
Physical Features: Lying in the linking area between the Pearl River Delta and the mountainous region in northern Guangdong, Qingyuan boasts the vastest area among cities in the province. The terrain is higher in the northwest and lower in the southeast. Plains, hills, mountains and karst landform coexist in the city.
Climatic Features: Qingyuan enjoys a subtropical monsoon climate, with an annual average temperature of 21C (70F). January and July has the extreme weather of the city. April to October is a damp season and the rainfall mainly concentrates on this period. Usually, Qingyuan do not have cold winters.
When to Go: Qingyuan is an all-year-round destination. During April to October, adequate rainfall and beautiful natural sceneries contribute to the most charming Qingyuan in a year.
Special Local product: tea, crystal pear, Shatian pomelo
Scenic Spots:
Guangdong Number One Peak: Situated in Nanling National Nature Reserve, Yangshan County, the peak is 1,902 meters (6,240 feet) ranking the highest peak in Guangdong. In this scenic area, there are several other scenic spots, such as the Yao's villages, waterfalls, alpine springs and drifting sites.
Sanpai Yao Village and Lianzhou Underground River
Sanpai Yao Village: Lies on the mountainside of the Sanpai Mountains, 11 kilometers (7 miles) south of the Liannan County, this Yao Village is a vivacious scenic resort comprehensively reflecting the history, culture, customs, residential buildings, costumes and folk entertainments of the Yao ethnic minority. Lianzhou Underground River: 26 kilometers (16 miles) northeast of Lianzhou City, this scenic spot is characterized by the subtropical karst cave and the underground river inside the cave. It is a well known summer resort with stunning karst landscape.
Other Scenic Spots: Qingxin, Hot Spring Tourism & Holiday Resort, Daxushan Waterfalls
Tourist Tips:
In downtown Qingyuan, there are two main bus stations, the old one and the new one. From these bus stations, visitors can get to scenic spots scattered all over the counties and cities in Qingyuan, and they can also take buses to Hong Kong for 4.5 hours, Guangzhou for about 1.5 hours and Shenzhen for 2.5 hours. Generally speaking, getting in and out of Qingyuan City is much convenient. Noted is that Qingyuan is only 30 kilometers (19 miles) from the Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport.
