Plan at a glance
Scenic area and duration
Golden Rooster Ridge is in Pingshi Town, Lechang, Shaoguan. Navigate to “Golden Rooster Ridge East Gate Parking” or “Pingshi Station.” The scenic area is open 07:00–17:30, entry is recommended before 16:00, and admission stops at 17:00. A quick route takes about 2 hours; the highlights hike takes about 3–4 hours.
The reference adult ticket is CNY 40, with students and seniors paying about half price. The main route currently enters and exits through the East Gate. “Ba Di Yi Feng” outside the East Gate and Paigang Stone Forest opposite the gate are free nearby sights and are not included in the Golden Rooster Ridge ticket.
Boundaries of the old-railway route
Golden Rooster Ridge can be combined with Pingshi Old Street and the old railway near Pingnan Station as a one-day nostalgic route. Freight trains still run near Pingnan Station. The old railway is for viewing or photography from safe areas only; the tracks and restricted station areas are not visitor attractions.
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Use the standard admission package for the core shuttle route; confirm the visit date and current opening hours before checkout.
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Danxia ridge and unusual rocks
Golden Rooster Ridge is mainly about the red cliff of Yizi Peak, Golden Rooster Rock, Peacock Peak, Weapon Rock, Conch Peak, and other Danxia landforms. From the summit, you can look over Pingshi Town and the Wu River. The unusual rocks reward close observation, so the visit is not only about reaching the top.
Old town and railway memory
Pingshi Old Street and the old railway near Pingnan Station give Golden Rooster Ridge a local character where Danxia scenery and the history of a railway town coexist. Freight trains still use the line, so view it from a safe area only. The tracks themselves are not a photography site visitors can enter.
Who it suits and nearby alternatives
Golden Rooster Ridge suits light hiking, Danxia landform observation, and nostalgic photography. If you do not want to buy a ticket, Ba Di Yi Feng outside the East Gate and Paigang Stone Forest offer free nearby scenery. These alternatives are not the complete Golden Rooster Ridge route, so decide whether you want the ridge attraction or the surrounding landscape.
Build your day
Ridge route
Follow “East Gate → Yizi Peak → Golden Rooster Rock → cliff carvings → Conch Peak or Yidian Heaven → base of Yizi Peak → East Gate.” The summit of Yizi Peak is for views over Pingshi Town and the Wu River. Golden Rooster Rock is better for close-up photos, so allow separate time for the two stops.
Old-street combination
After leaving the scenic area in the afternoon, walk through Pingshi Old Street, learn about the history of Sun Yat-sen University’s wartime relocation, and then have dinner. The old street is a public neighborhood, not an internal route inside Golden Rooster Ridge.
Get there
Driving
Driving from the Pearl River Delta takes about 3–4 hours. Navigate to the Golden Rooster Ridge East Gate parking area, where parking is free and convenient. Pingshi has many slopes, narrow roads, and one-way streets. Drive slowly after entering town; do not speed on local roads to reach the 16:00 suggested entry time.
Train and public transport
From Guangzhou Station or Guangzhou Baiyun Station, take a K-series train to Pingshi Station. The one-way trip takes about 3.5 hours, with a reference fare of CNY 46.5. The scenic area is about a 10-minute walk from the station. You can also take a bus from Shaoguan to Lechang and transfer to a Pingshi bus. Local buses cost about CNY 2 per ride as a reference, but ride-hailing service is unstable.
Know before you go
Railway safety
Freight trains still run near Pingnan Station. Follow staff, security guards, and horn warnings when taking photos. Never stand on the tracks or cross the line. Railway operating safety comes before a nostalgic photograph.
Route and equipment
The East Gate is currently the main entrance and exit, and some points may not be open. Decide whether to continue according to the on-site guidance. The ridge sections are steep, so shoes with good grip, water, and sun protection are basic equipment. If you arrive late, do not compress the entire highlights route into the final hour.
Return
Local buses and private three-wheelers are the main connections in town, so plan when to leave Pingshi in advance. If you combine Golden Rooster Ridge and the old street on one day, finish entry by 16:00 at the latest and leave room for descending, railway photography, and dinner.