Plan at a glance
Village location and tickets
Sujiawei East River Gallery Scenic Area is in Sujiawei Village, Yihe Town, Dongyuan County, Heyuan. The usual entrance is the main scenic-area ticket office. Adult admission is about CNY 25; students and visitors aged 60–65 pay about CNY 15, while children under 1.2 metres and visitors over 65 enter free. The boat costs about CNY 55, or about CNY 68 with the entrance ticket.
The area generally opens from 08:30 to 17:00 and does not require advance reservations. After 17:30, parts of the village may be accessible without a ticket, but paid attractions and services may be limited, so late entry should not be treated as the same as a full daytime visit.
Visit length
Allow about 2–3 hours for the village and walled houses. Adding the East River boat and riverside path takes about 3–4 hours; if you also want to visit Ruan Xiaoxian’s Former Residence or cycle along the East River Greenway, plan a self-drive half-day or full day.
Tickets and visit details
View visit options for this attraction and confirm the visit date and current arrangements before you go.
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Ming- and Qing-period walled houses and ancestral halls
The main sights are the village’s Ming- and Qing-period walled houses, Yingqin Bridge, Yifeng Su Ancestral Hall and Dongshan Su Ancestral Hall. Yongsi Hall dates from 1481 and is known for its red sandstone base, grey-brick rooflines and wood carving, making it a strong stop for history and architecture photography.
Ancient banyans and the East River Gallery
Ancient banyan trees such as Wuxian Banyan and Yuanyang Banyan, together with the riverbank, keep the visit from being limited to indoor buildings. Visitors who enjoy nature, riverside walks and low-intensity photography can focus on the old trees, the ancient wharf and the river path.
Hakka life and hands-on activities
The area includes the Perilla Garden, a lei-tea house and activities such as making rice cakes or Hakka lei tea, depending on the day. Sujiawei is still a living village, so it suits family learning visits and slow travel but not visitors who want to enter private homes as if they were photo sets.
Build your day
A 2–3 hour village walk
Enter through the ticket office and visit Yingqin Bridge, Dongpo Square, Yifeng Su Ancestral Hall, Dongshan Su Ancestral Hall, the ancient banyan trees and the old wharf before leaving. The core walk takes about 2–3 hours, and there are few shops along the way, so bring water.
The village and East River boat
Spend about two hours around the walled houses and old trees, then take the boat from the old wharf and finish with the riverside path or a rest at the lei-tea house. Boats usually run about once an hour and the ride takes about one hour; confirm the day’s operating schedule when buying the ticket.
The East River Gallery and nearby stops
Self-driving visitors can visit Sujiawei in the morning and go to Ruan Xiaoxian’s Former Residence or the East River Greenway for cycling in the afternoon. These stops require driving rather than walking between them; allow extra time for rural roads and parking if you still need to return to Heyuan city.
Get there
Driving
Driving from Heyuan city to Sujiawei takes about 40 minutes, or about 2–2.5 hours from Guangzhou or Shenzhen. Parking at the entrance costs about CNY 10 per day, and there are usually parking points near Ruan Xiaoxian’s Former Residence and the East River Greenway, making self-driving easier than changing vehicles.
High-speed rail, buses and the final walk
From Heyuan East Railway Station, a taxi to the scenic area takes about 40 minutes. You can also travel to Yihe Town and walk a little over one kilometre to the village; bus 302 from Yajule in Heyuan city reaches Yihe Town, but the final section needs walking or a separate transfer, and return vehicles are not always available.
Know before you go
Admission and the boat
The entrance ticket covers the managed scenic-area route, while the boat costs extra; the package makes sense only if you want the river view that day. Do not use local residents’ access paths as a way to avoid the ticket, and do not bypass the managed entrance in a way that disturbs village life.
Some areas may be accessible after 17:30 without the usual daytime ticket, but the boat, paid attractions and indoor services may no longer operate. Enter during the daytime opening hours if you want the complete experience.
Village environment and food
Many buildings are private homes. Keep your distance from residents, dogs and daily activities, and remember that mosquitoes are common near the river and bamboo groves; some areas have no small shops, so bring water and insect repellent.
Farm restaurants around the village may price dishes according to the day’s supply. Check the menu and confirm the price and portion before ordering fish or a set meal; Yihe duck, Hakka lei tea, clay-oven chicken and Dongjiang salt-baked chicken are common local options, but you do not need to change the main route to find a specific restaurant.