Plan at a glance
Village-fortress location and entrance
Guoyu Ancient City is in Guoyu Village, Beiliu Town, Yangcheng County, Jincheng. Jingyang Gate is the main gate. Cars generally cannot stop at the gate itself. At the Visitor Centre, arrange entry into the old town or a shuttle, or walk in according to the day's directions.
The visit covers village lanes, the city wall, Yulou, Tangdi Temple, and the underground tunnel. Allow about 1–3 hours. The attraction retains the scale of a lived-in fortress village, with the village layout and defensive structures as its main focus, so plan it as a separate stop.
Tickets and opening hours
The single-site ticket is roughly RMB 65–80 per person. A joint ticket for Huangcheng Chancellor's Residence, Guoyu Ancient City, and Haihui Academy is roughly RMB 130–150 per person and usually includes the transfer between attractions; check the price, stops, and validity on the ticket for the day. If Guoyu Ancient City is your only stop, buy the single-site ticket and follow the scenic area's open route.
Regular hours are 08:00–18:00 and may extend to 18:30 in summer. From Friday to Sunday, free night visits may be arranged after 18:00, and an intangible-heritage iron-flower show may take place around 21:30. Night access, performances, and entry arrangements all depend on the notice for the day.
Tickets and visit details
View visit options for this attraction and confirm the visit date and current arrangements before you go.
Choose your visit
Yulou, the wall, and the tunnel
Yulou is the old town's landmark defensive building. From the upper levels, you can see the roofs of the Ming and Qing residences and the wider village-fortress layout; the underground tunnel is connected to the building. The city wall is about 800 metres long and makes a good partial walk after the courtyards, giving a clear sense of the settlement's defensive edge.
Tangdi Temple is one of the larger temples in the old town and is dedicated to King Tang. The structure of the ancient stage in front of it also deserves a close look. Chen Family Compound adds a view of domestic and family spaces. Jingyang Gate, Tangdi Temple, Yulou, and the wall together give a coherent way to understand the old town.
Quiet lanes and night content
The passage through Yulou's tunnel is low and narrow. Visitors taller than 180 centimetres need to bend, and the floor may be uneven. Visitors interested in architecture, village life, and photography can focus on the tunnel, wall, and Tangdi Temple; visitors with a stroller or limited mobility can shorten the tunnel and wall sections.
The night visit is suited to photographing the lit lanes. The iron-flower show is one possible activity for the day, and its time, price, and cancellation status may change. It is separate from Situ Town's performance ticket and Dayang Ancient Town's night activities, so follow Guoyu's own programme when visiting here.
Build your day
About 1–1.5 hours: short route
Enter through Jingyang Gate, visit Tangdi Temple, follow the main street to Yulou, and choose whether to climb the tower or enter the tunnel. Finish through the West Gate or return the way you came. The short route puts the ceremonial temple, defensive tower, and underground passage in one sequence and leaves time for Huangcheng Chancellor's Residence or Haihui Academy.
Choose the tunnel according to your height and footing. Return to the main street after the tunnel before heading to the exit. If only part of a floor or passage is open, follow the on-site route; the courtyards and the wall still provide the main stops.
About 2–3 hours: highlights route
Take the shuttle from the Visitor Centre to the old town. Enter through Jingyang Gate, visit Chen Family Compound, Tangdi Temple, and the ancient stage, then climb the wall for a view over the village-fortress. Finish at Yulou and the underground tunnel, and leave through the West Gate. The wall and tunnel sections can be reversed, but keep the return toward the West Gate or Visitor Centre.
If you plan a night visit, stay in the open area after the daytime route and check the lighting and performance times in the day's notice. The iron-flower show may start around 21:30. After it ends, arrange your own way back to the car park or accommodation; the scenic-area shuttle is not the same as a night return service.
Get there
Public transport
As of September 2026, Guoyu Ancient City has no independent direct service among the 25 tourist lines published from Jincheng Coach East Station. You can take Tourist Line 1 toward Huangcheng Chancellor's Residence, then enter Guoyu by the shuttle or walking arrangement between the three attractions for that day. Check the stops, transfers, and return service in the day's bus and scenic-area notices.
Driving and shuttles
Navigate to the car park near “Huangcheng Chancellor's Residence KFC,” pay about RMB 10 per day, and walk or take the shuttle to Guoyu Ancient City. Jingyang Gate generally does not serve as a self-drive parking point. Once inside, follow the Visitor Centre or staff directions.
Guoyu is about 1 kilometre from Huangcheng Chancellor's Residence and Haihui Academy is about 4.5 kilometres away. The short distances make a combined itinerary possible, but the three sites still have separate entrances, tickets, hours, and night arrangements. If the joint ticket includes a shuttle, use only the stops and times shown on the ticket and the day's notice.
Know before you go
Tickets, night visits, and guiding
The single-site ticket, joint ticket, shuttle, and night entry may each follow separate arrangements for the day. When buying, check which attractions are covered, how long the ticket is valid, and whether transport is included. Free night visits from Friday to Sunday and the possible 21:30 iron-flower show are options, not fixed daily events; check the programme before setting out.
The old town has many historical and architectural details. A guide or guide device costs about RMB 80–150 per visit. Night access, performances, and guiding are arranged for Guoyu Ancient City; nearby attractions follow their own rules.
Walking, tunnels, and food
The old town is mainly paved with stone and includes steps. Wear comfortable, non-slip shoes. Watch your head in the low sections of the tunnel. Visitors with limited mobility can stay on the main street, in the courtyards, and on the gentler parts of the wall. Follow the open route and do not enter closed areas.
Food around the scenic area may cost more than food outside the village, so read the menu before ordering. Yangcheng pork liver and knife-cut noodles with lamb sauce are local options. Commercial facilities inside the fortress village are limited; for a self-drive trip or a long night visit, bring water and a small snack.