Guangshan County Travel

Guangshan County, Xinyang City, Henan Province — the hometown of Sima Guang, a famous prime minister of the Northern Song Dynasty, a sacred place of red revolution, and the ancestral court of the Tiantai Sect of Buddhism. It integrates historical charm, red memory and Zen landscape. Experience the unique charm of "Wisdom Guangshan, Red Guangshan, Ecological Guangshan" with a 3-day 2-night in-depth tour.

900+
Historical Years of Sima Guang's Former Residence
2
AAAA-Level Scenic Areas
13+
Core Scenic Spots
16+
Special Local Cuisine
Jingju Temple Scenery in Guangshan County
Jingju Temple - Ancestral Court of Tiantai Sect of Buddhism
Founded in the Tianbao period of the Northern Qi Dynasty (550-559 AD), with a history of more than 1,400 years, it is one of the birthplaces of the Tiantai Sect of Buddhism. The temple has relics such as "Tang and Song Cypress Trees" and "Dongpo Study Hall". Su Shi once left the praise of "Dasu Mountain is a small Penglai" here.

3-Day 2-Night Cultural & Ecological Tour of Guangshan County

Visit Sima Guang's Former Residence to comprehend wisdom, tour Dasu Zen Forest to taste Zen tea, explore the red ancestral home to recall original aspirations, admire the blue waves of Pohe Reservoir to enjoy fishing fun, and unlock the beauty of the integration of history, red culture and ecology in southern Henan

Trip Duration
3 Days 2 Nights
Main Destinations
Sima Guang's Former Residence, Jingju Temple, Deng Yingchao's Ancestral Home, Zishui Pagoda, Pohe Reservoir, Guangshan Folk Culture Park
Suitable For
History and culture lovers, red education learners, Zen experience seekers, parent-child families, photography enthusiasts
Per Capita Budget
¥650-¥1200
01
Wisdom Exploration
Sima Guang's Former Residence · Zishui Pagoda · Guangshan County Museum · Wisdom Park
Itinerary Highlights

Visit the hometown of Sima Guang throughout the day, explore the former residence to learn about the historical allusion of "Sima Guang breaking the vat to save a friend", climb Zishui Pagoda to overlook the urban scenery, systematically understand the history of Guangshan at the museum, and stroll in Wisdom Park in the evening to experience the cultural atmosphere.

Attraction Arrangement
Sima Guang's Former Residence
The birthplace of Sima Guang, a famous historian and statesman of the Northern Song Dynasty. It preserves a complex of Ming Dynasty buildings, including an exhibition of Sima Guang's life, a restored scene of "breaking the vat to save a friend", and Song Dynasty cultural relics, showing Sima Guang's growth process and historical contributions.
Zishui Pagoda
A landmark building of Guangshan County, built in the Ming Dynasty, it is a pavilion-style brick pagoda with a height of 27 meters and 7 floors. Named after being adjacent to the Zishui River, the tower body has brick carvings, and climbing the tower can overlook the urban area of Guangshan and the scenery of Zishui River.
Guangshan County Museum
A comprehensive museum with a collection of more than 600 cultural relics. With the themes of "Wisdom Guangshan", "Red Guangshan" and "Folk Custom Guangshan", it systematically displays the development of Guangshan from the Neolithic Age to the modern era, focusing on Sima Guang culture and revolutionary history.
Practical Information
Accommodation Recommendations
  • Business Hotels in Guangshan County Urban Area
  • Sima Guang Culture Theme Homestay
  • Boutique Inn by Zishui River
Food Recommendations
  • Guangshan Ma Duck Soup
  • Noodle-Kilned Chicken
  • Guangshan Glutinous Rice Cake
  • Zishui Bean Tendon
Travel Tips
  • Free guided tours are provided at Sima Guang's Former Residence (two sessions at 10:00/15:00)
  • Wear comfortable flat shoes to climb Zishui Pagoda
  • AR interactive project of "Sima Guang breaking the vat" is available at the museum
02
Zen & Ecology
Dasu Mountain National Forest Park · Jingju Temple · Dongpo Study Hall · Ten Thousand Mu Tea Garden
Itinerary Highlights

In the morning, tour Dasu Mountain National Forest Park, visit Jingju Temple to comprehend Zen meaning, explore Dongpo Study Hall to feel the integrity of literati, walk into the ten thousand mu tea garden in the afternoon to experience tea picking fun, and taste Zen tea while enjoying the mountain sunset in the evening.

Attraction Arrangement
Dasu Mountain National Forest Park
A national 4A-level scenic area with a total area of 2788.5 hectares, composed of Dasu Mountain, Xiaosu Mountain and Baoping Mountain. The forest coverage rate reaches 92%, known as the "Natural Oxygen Bar in Southern Henan", with landscapes such as Jingju Temple, tea gardens and waterfalls.
Jingju Temple
One of the ancestral courts of the Tiantai Sect of Buddhism, founded in the 5th year of Tianbao in the Northern Qi Dynasty (554 AD). The temple has thousand-year-old Tang and Song cypress trees. Su Shi once studied here and left poems. It preserves buildings such as the Mahavira Hall and Vairocana Hall, with incense burning for thousands of years.
Dasu Mountain Ten Thousand Mu Tea Garden
A high-quality tea producing area in Guangshan, with a planting area of 12,000 mu, mainly producing Xinyang Maojian tea. The tea garden is built along the mountain in layers. You can experience tea picking and tea making processes, and taste freshly brewed pre-Ming tea.
Practical Information
Transportation Guide
  • Take the tourist special bus from Guangshan County urban area to Dasu Mountain (about 40 minutes, ¥15 per person)
  • Sightseeing bus in the scenic area: ¥20 per person (round trip)
  • Self-driving: park at the scenic area parking lot (¥10 per day)
Ticket Information
  • Dasu Mountain National Forest Park: ¥40
  • Jingju Temple: ¥20
  • Tea picking experience: ¥30 per person (including 50g self-made tea)
Travel Tips
  • No noise in Jingju Temple, respect religious etiquette
  • The best time for tea picking in the tea garden is 8:00-10:00 am
  • There is a large temperature difference between day and night in the mountain area, it is recommended to bring a thin coat
03
Red Culture & Landscape
Deng Yingchao's Ancestral Home · Pohe Reservoir · Guangshan Folk Culture Park · Return
Itinerary Highlights

In the morning, walk into Deng Yingchao's Ancestral Home to cherish the memory of revolutionary martyrs, tour Pohe Reservoir in the afternoon to admire the lake and mountain scenery, experience fisherman's life, visit the Folk Culture Park to feel the charm of Guangshan's intangible cultural heritage, purchase special local products and return.

Attraction Arrangement
Deng Yingchao's Ancestral Home
A national key cultural relic protection unit, it is the former residence of Deng Jinting, grandfather of Comrade Deng Yingchao, a proletarian revolutionary. It preserves more than 10 Qing Dynasty buildings, showing Deng Yingchao's life story and revolutionary spirit, and is a red education base.
Pohe Reservoir
One of the large reservoirs in Henan Province, with a total storage capacity of 235 million cubic meters and a water area of 17,000 mu, known as the "Pearl of Southern Henan". There are many islands in the lake, rich in silver carp, crucian carp, etc., which is a good place for fishing, boating and summer vacation.
Guangshan Folk Culture Park
A park focusing on displaying Guangshan's folk culture, with shadow puppetry and flower drum opera performance stages, folk handicraft workshops (such as willow weaving, embroidery), traditional residential restoration, etc. You can experience Guangshan's traditional folk customs and intangible cultural heritage skills.
Practical Information
Experience Projects
  • Red culture guided tour at Deng Yingchao's Ancestral Home (reservation required)
  • Fishing at Pohe Reservoir (bring your own fishing gear or rent)
  • Shadow puppetry making experience at Folk Culture Park
  • Willow weaving craft DIY
Special Local Products
  • Guangshan Ma Duck Eggs (National Geographical Indication Product)
  • Guangshan Tea (Dasu Mountain production area)
  • Guangshan Willow Weaving Handicrafts
  • Guangshan Glutinous Rice Cake
Return Guide
  • Pohe Reservoir is about 30 kilometers from the county seat, accessible by township bus (about 1 hour)
  • Guangshan Station has trains to Xinyang, Zhengzhou and Wuhan
  • The local specialty market in the county seat is around Sima Guang Square, supporting express delivery

Must-Try Cuisine in Guangshan County

Guangshan Ma Duck Soup

The iconic delicacy of Guangshan County, made by slow stewing high-quality local Ma ducks with radish and ginger slices. The soup is clear, the meat is tender, the taste is mellow, rich in protein, known as the "No.1 Duck Soup in Southern Henan".

Noodle-Kilned Chicken

A traditional farmhouse dish in Guangshan. Cut local free-range chicken into pieces, mix with flour and pan-fry until golden, then stir-fry with green and red peppers. The meat is firm, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, salty and slightly spicy, a common dish at Guangshan banquets.

Guangshan Glutinous Rice Cake

A traditional festival food in Guangshan, made by steaming high-quality glutinous rice and beating it until soft and glutinous, then forming into round cakes. It can be fried, deep-fried or boiled, eaten with white sugar or honey, with a delicate and sweet taste, an essential food for the Spring Festival.

Zishui Bean Tendon

A special bean product in Guangshan, made from local soybeans through traditional craftsmanship. It is golden in color, chewy in taste, can be eaten cold, stir-fried or stewed in soup, a fine treat for farmhouse hospitality in Guangshan.

Guangshan County Travel Tips
Best Travel Time
  • Spring (March-May): The tea gardens on Dasu Mountain are green, suitable for tea picking experience
  • Summer (June-August): Summer vacation at Pohe Reservoir, water sports available
  • Autumn (September-November): Cool weather, suitable for red tourism and mountain climbing
Must-Try Food
  • Guangshan Ma Duck Soup
  • Noodle-Kilned Chicken
  • Guangshan Glutinous Rice Cake
  • Zishui Bean Tendon
  • Barrel Fresh Fish
Budget Reference
  • Tickets: About ¥120
  • Accommodation: ¥120-260 per night
  • Catering: ¥65-100 per day
  • Transportation: About ¥85
  • Total: ¥650-1200
Frequently Asked Questions
  • Where to taste authentic Guangshan Ma Duck Soup? Old shops near Sima Guang Square in downtown
  • Best season for Dasu Mountain tea picking? Mid March to early May every year
  • Is Deng Yingchao’s Ancestral Home free of entry? Free with valid ID registration
  • Can fresh duck eggs be mailed? Local specialty stores provide nationwide express service

All Counties & Districts Travel Links of Xinyang