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Yunshuiyao Ancient Town Travel Guide

He Gui Tower · Huaiyuan Tower · Thousand-Year-Old Banyan

Yunshuiyao is an ancient cobblestone path along a creek, with a World Heritage tulou at each end—the Hegui Tower and Huaiyuan Tower. Along the creek, more than a dozen thousand-year-old banyan trees form a continuous stretch. The film 'Yunshuiyao' made this road famous.

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Destination Details

Key facts

Best seasonApr–Oct

Suggested stay3 hours

Key highlightsHe Gui Tower · Huaiyuan Tower · Ancient Banyan Trees · Pebble Ancient Path

TrafficChartered car from Nanjing County town takes about 1 hour

RemindThe old cobblestone road is slippery; wear non-slip shoes.

Yunshuiyao is located in Shuyang Town, Nanjing County, originally called Changjiao Village. A cobblestone ancient path over ten miles long stretches along a creek, ending at two tulou buildings—the Hegui Lou, built on a marsh, and Huaiyuan Lou, the best-preserved double-ring round tulou. Both are part of the Fujian Tulou, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage.

Main Highlights

Hegui Lou

A five-story square tulou, the most unique feature is that it is built on marshland—the entire building is founded on pine piles, with minimal settling over more than 200 years. The courtyard inside slightly sinks when stepped on, which is the most famous experience of this tulou.

Huaiyuan Lou and the Ancient Banyan Trees

Huaiyuan Lou is a double-ring round tulou, with the outer ring for residents and the inner ring as an ancestral hall. The rammed earth walls are well-preserved, and the wooden structures are finely carved. It takes about twenty minutes to walk from Hegui Lou along the ancient path. Along the creek are more than a dozen ancient banyan trees, whose canopies connect to form a green corridor, making it the most pleasant part of the Yunshuiyao route.

Suggested Route

Classic: Hegui Lou → Cobblestone Ancient Path → Cluster of Ancient Banyan Trees → Huaiyuan Lou, approximately 3 hours.
Combine with Tianluokeng and Taxia Village to make a two-day Nanjing Tulou tour.

Practical Information

The ancient path is paved with cobblestones and very slippery after rain, so be sure to wear non-slip shoes. In summer, there are many mosquitoes, so bring insect repellent. If you want to photograph the path without tourists, it is recommended to enter the village before 8 a.m. or stay overnight in the village.