Plan at a glance
Two banks, not one village
Guyan Huaxiang occupies both banks of the Ou River. Guyan on the north bank is in Yantou Village and focuses on ancient camphor trees, waterworks and quieter village walking; Huaxiang on the south bank is in Dagangtou Town and has galleries, small creative shops and riverside streets. You need a boat between the banks, so allow time for the pier, waiting and the walk after crossing.
The official combined pass is CNY 50 and includes Guyan, Huaxiang and return boat travel; it can be bought on site and does not require online reservation. Daily opening hours for the scenic area, ticket office and boat service are 08:00–17:00. Allow 2–3 hours for the core sights on both banks, or 4–5 hours if you want a slower visit through the camphors, waterworks, Huaxiang streets and riverside light.
Choosing a starting bank
For a first self-drive visit, the north-bank Yantou Village entrance is a practical choice because parking is easier. If riverside streets, galleries and evening light are the main priorities, the south-bank Huaxiang Visitor Centre is a better starting point; with either choice, work out where you will take the return boat or collect the car before setting off.
Guyan suits visitors looking for old camphors, Tongji Weir and quiet waterside walking, while Huaxiang suits visitors looking for riverside streets, galleries and the camphor square. If you want both, use that day’s boat timetable to decide the starting bank and the bank where the day will end.
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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North-bank Guyan: ancient camphors and Tongji Weir
The thousand-year-old camphor group, Wenchang Pavilion and Tongji Weir are the main sights on the north bank. The camphor grove rewards a slow walk and a look up into the canopy, while Tongji Weir is an ancient water-control work that remains in use. The walk and pauses between them matter more than ticking off a single point.
The stepping-stone bridge is a short stop along the stream. The shade, boardwalk and Wenchang Pavilion windows offer different angles for photographs; light and water mist change with the weather, so leave a little extra time at Guyan if you are hoping for a particular effect and spread the walk, breaks and photographs through the visit.
South-bank Huaxiang: riverside streets and evening
The riverside old street, camphor square and river pier on the Huaxiang side suit a slower pace. Galleries, small creative shops and river views create a different rhythm from the north bank’s old camphors and waterworks; even without entering every shop, you can walk by the river and see boats, hills and streets.
Evening light on the Ou River is softer, and the Xiangzhang Ancient Pier area works well for distant hills, the river and boats. Whether the sunset is ideal depends on weather and cloud, so the return boat and parking arrangements matter more than waiting for the last light.
Build your day
2–3 hours: cross from Guyan to Huaxiang
Enter from Guyan and pass Wenchang Pavilion, the thousand-year-old camphor group and Tongji Weir in that order, then take the boat to Huaxiang. After landing, follow the riverside old street to the camphor square; use the return time to decide whether to browse galleries or go straight back to the pier. This connects the core sights on both banks without repeated backtracking on the same stretch.
Before boarding, confirm that day’s return-boat time and the pier location. If the boat schedule does not suit a half-day visit, stay on the Guyan side for a complete walk or plan Huaxiang as a separate half-day, rather than risk missing the return.
4–5 hours: camphors, boat and Huaxiang at a slower pace
Begin at Guyan in the morning and take time among the camphor group, Wenchang Pavilion and Tongji Weir. Cross to Huaxiang around the middle of the day, have a meal or rest around the riverside streets and galleries, then use the late afternoon for river views and departure. This pace gives both banks time and includes the wait for the boat in the plan.
Summer midday sun is strong. Rest near the camphor grove or inside shops around Huaxiang before continuing by the river; if you want to stay on a single bank, remove the boat crossing and use the time to explore Guyan or Huaxiang more fully instead.
Get there
By bus or taxi from Lishui Station
Lishui Station is a practical rail arrival point for Guyan Huaxiang. From the station, take bus 202/K202 towards Guyan or 203/K203 towards Huaxiang; the fare is about CNY 2–4 and the ride is about 1 hour. A taxi to the scenic area takes about 30–40 minutes and costs about CNY 60–80.
Drivers can navigate to “Guyan Huaxiang Scenic Area”; parking is about CNY 10–15 per day. For the north-bank Yantou Village start, use “Guyan Huaxiang Scenic Area—Yantou Village”; for the south-bank start, use “Guyan Huaxiang Scenic Area—Huaxiang Visitor Centre”. Choosing the entry bank in advance avoids a cross-river trip just to retrieve the car.
The boat is the link between the banks
Return boat travel between Guyan and Huaxiang is included in the CNY 50 pass, and services follow the scenic area’s operating hours. At the pier, confirm the boarding point, last service and which bank you will return to before deciding how long to stay across the river; the boat is not an instant crossing, so allow for a wait.
The streets on both banks are best explored on foot, but stone paving, riverside steps and piers can be slippery after rain. If you have luggage, a pushchair or someone who walks slowly, reduce the number of crossings and leave time after landing to reach the parking area or bus stop.
Know before you go
Boat times, tickets and closing time
The CNY 50 combined pass puts Guyan, Huaxiang and return boat travel into the same visit. You can buy it on site without reservation. The boat service and ticket office normally operate from 08:00–17:00; if you plan to cross, start in the morning or earlier in the afternoon instead of leaving both the outward and return crossings until the final service.
The public streets, galleries, food outlets and boat service on the two banks do not all keep exactly the same rhythm. Enter and leave according to the ticket and that day’s boat operation; if a shop is closed or weather changes, use the camphors, waterworks or riverside walk to adjust the day.
Stone paths, summer and food
There is a good deal of blue-grey stone paving, so wear comfortable flat shoes with grip. Mosquitoes are common around the camphor grove and river in summer, and the sun can be strong; bring insect repellent and place longer outdoor stretches in the morning or evening, with a rest in shade or around Huaxiang’s streets at midday.
There are many dining options near the Huaxiang entrance, but the experience varies, so do not lock the day to one restaurant. Bring water and a simple snack; if Yunhe Rice Terraces, Xiandu or another distant stop follows, leave enough time to depart Guyan Huaxiang and complete the next transfer.