Nanxiong Rhyme · Ancient Road Autumn

Nanxiong City, Shaoguan — a millennium-old town in Lingnan, boasting the root-seeking memories of Zhuji Lane and the vicissitudes of Meiguan Ancient Road. This 2-day 1-night itinerary explores ancient lanes, visits historic passes, and admires ginkgo trees, experiencing the time-honored heritage of Nanxiong.

Zhuji Lane
Ancestral Hometown of Cantonese People
Meiguan Ancient Road
Strategic Pass of Lingnan
Maozifeng Forest Farm
Golden Ocean
Pingtian Ancient Ginkgo
Millennium Ginkgo Charm
Ginkgo Scenery at Maozifeng, Nanxiong City, Shaoguan
Ginkgo Scenery at Maozifeng Forest Farm, Nanxiong City
Iconic golden ginkgo forest in Maozifeng Forest Farm during autumn in Nanxiong

2-Day 1-Night Ancient Rhyme & Autumn Charm Tour of Nanxiong City

Root-seeking, ancient pass hiking, and ginkgo appreciation, experience the diverse charm of Nanxiong

Trip Duration
2 Days 1 Night
Main Destinations
Zhuji Lane, Meiguan Ancient Road, Maozifeng Forest Farm, Pingtian Ancient Ginkgo Group, Sanying Pagoda
Suitable For
History & culture enthusiasts, photography lovers, hikers, root-seeking tourists
Per Capita Budget
¥700-¥1500
01
Millennium Ancient Road Tour
Exploring Zhuji Lane and Meiguan Ancient Road
Itinerary Highlights

Full-day historical and cultural experience with root-seeking

Attraction Arrangement
Zhuji Lane
Known as the "Ancestral Hometown of Cantonese People", Zhuji Lane was first built in the Tang Dynasty and served as an important transfer station for immigrants from Central Plains moving south in ancient times. The lane preserves a large number of Ming and Qing dynasty buildings and clan ancestral halls, being an important birthplace of Cantonese culture and a sacred place for Chinese people at home and abroad to trace their roots.
Meiguan Ancient Road
First constructed during the Qin and Han dynasties, Meiguan Ancient Road was an important passage connecting Central Plains and Lingnan in ancient times, named after the plum trees beside the road. The existing pass tower was built in the Ming Dynasty, and the ancient road is well-preserved with a length of about 8 kilometers, making it an ideal place for hiking and experiencing historical vicissitudes. The scenery is particularly beautiful when plum blossoms bloom in winter.
Sanying Pagoda
Built in the Northern Song Dynasty, Sanying Pagoda is named for its three visible shadows. It is one of the best-preserved Song Dynasty brick pagodas in Guangdong Province, with a height of over 50 meters and exquisite structure. There are stairs inside the pagoda leading to the top, offering a panoramic view of Nanxiong urban area, and it is a landmark building of Nanxiong.
Practical Information
Travel Tips
  • You can find your clan ancestral hall in Zhuji Lane and experience root-seeking culture
  • Hiking Meiguan Ancient Road takes about 1.5 hours one way, it is recommended to wear comfortable sports shoes
  • Sanying Pagoda has excellent photo opportunities when the evening lights are on
Accommodation Recommendations
  • Hotels in Nanxiong urban area
  • Homestays near Zhuji Lane
  • Maozifeng Forest Farm Hotel
02
Golden Ginkgo Tour
Ginkgo Viewing at Maozifeng and Pingtian
Itinerary Highlights

Full-day golden autumn scenery and rural experience

Attraction Arrangement
Maozifeng Forest Farm
Originally a state-owned forest farm, Maozifeng is famous for its golden ginkgo trees in autumn. The farm has large ginkgo forests, complemented by red maples and ancient villages, resembling a golden fairy-tale world in autumn. It is one of the most famous ginkgo viewing spots in Guangdong, known as the "Little Jiuzhaigou of Lingnan".
Pingtian Ancient Ginkgo Group
Distributed in multiple villages of Pingtian Town, the ancient ginkgo forests have trees mostly over hundreds of years old, with the oldest exceeding 1000 years. The ginkgo trees set off against ancient villages and farmland, forming a unique pastoral scenery, making it an ideal destination for photography and rural experience.
Nanxiong Dinosaur Museum
A thematic museum displaying the Nanxiong dinosaur fossil group, with a large collection of dinosaur fossils and dinosaur egg fossils in its collection. It reveals the living conditions of dinosaurs in Nanxiong during the late Cretaceous period, being a great place to learn about paleontological history, especially suitable for family trips.
Practical Information
Featured Experiences
  • Take photos of the beautiful scenery of ginkgo and red leaves at Maozifeng Forest Farm
  • Take photos with millennium ginkgo trees in Pingtian ancient villages
  • Taste special foods such as braised chicken with ginkgo nuts
  • Buy ginkgo products and Nanxiong specialties
Return Suggestions
  • There are many tourists during ginkgo season, it is recommended to set out early to avoid peak hours
  • Pingtian Town is about 50 kilometers from the urban area, with many mountain roads, please pay attention to safety
  • The drive from Nanxiong City to Shaoguan urban area takes about 1.5 hours with convenient transportation

Must-Try Foods in Nanxiong City

Nanxiong Sour Bamboo Shoot Duck

A special dish of Nanxiong, made by stir-frying local free-range duck with sour bamboo shoots. The unique fermented aroma of sour bamboo shoots blends with the delicious taste of duck meat, being sour, spicy and appetizing. It is the favorite home-style dish of Nanxiong people and a must-try specialty for foreign tourists.

Nanxiong Preserved Duck

A traditional specialty of Nanxiong, made from local spotted ducks through salting, sun-drying and other processes. The duck skin is golden, the meat is firm, and the fragrance is rich. It is a delicacy on the winter dining table and a good choice for gifts to relatives and friends, known as the "King of Cured Meats".

Zhuji Stuffed Tofu

A special Hakka dish from Zhuji Lane, Nanxiong. Local tofu is stuffed with minced pork, dried shrimps and other fillings, fried until golden and then braised. The tofu is tender and the filling is fragrant. It has more cultural significance because Zhuji Lane is the birthplace of Cantonese culture.

Nanxiong Tobacco Shreds

A traditional specialty of Nanxiong with a history of hundreds of years. Due to the unique soil and climatic conditions of the local area, the produced tobacco shreds are golden in color and rich in aroma, being high-quality raw materials for making cigarettes and an important cash crop in Nanxiong.

Nanxiong City Travel Tips
Best Seasons to Visit
  • Mid-November to early December: Golden period for ginkgo at Maozifeng and Pingtian, the best viewing season
  • January-February: Plum blossoms bloom at Meiguan Ancient Road, with a subtle fragrance floating
  • March-April: Mountain flowers bloom along the ancient road, suitable for hiking
  • Around Mid-Autumn Festival: You can taste special Nanxiong mooncakes and Hakka food
Travel Suggestions
  • It is recommended to book accommodation in advance during ginkgo season due to large number of visitors
  • Meiguan Ancient Road can be entered from Guangdong side and exited from Jiangxi side to experience cross-provincial hiking
  • You can hire a commentator at Zhuji Lane to learn about immigration history and clan culture
  • The best time to take photos of ginkgo is morning and evening with soft light
Practical Information
  • Traffic control is implemented on some roads during ginkgo season, please pay attention to announcements
  • There is a large temperature difference between morning and evening in mountainous areas, it is recommended to bring warm clothing
  • Sour bamboo shoot duck has a unique taste, it is recommended to taste a small amount for first-time try
  • Respect local customs and habits, climbing and breaking branches is prohibited in ancient tree protection areas
Transportation Guide
  • Nanxiong City is about 90 kilometers from Shaoguan urban area, about 1.5 hours by car
  • There are regular buses from Shaoguan East Station directly to Nanxiong urban area
  • There are tourist shuttle buses connecting major attractions during ginkgo season
  • High-speed rail from Guangzhou to Nanxiong takes about 1.5 hours with convenient transportation