Heyuan Travel Guide

Population: 3,341,300

Area: 15,478 square kilometers (5,976 square miles)

Nationalities: Han

Administrative Division: 1 district (Yuancheng); 5 counties (Zijin, Longchuan, Lianping, Heping, Dongyuan)

Useful Telephone Numbers:
Tourist Complaints: 0762-3314346, 3387777
Weather Forecast: 121
Zip Code Inquiry: 184
Bank of China: 0762-3883030

Location: Heyuan stands in northeastern part of Guangdong Province, on the middle and upper reaches of the Dongjiang River. It shares boundary with Jiangxi Province in the north. Being a traffic hub in northwestern Guangdong, Heyuan is the first stop the Beijing-Kowloon Railway makes within the province.

History: It is a Hakka population center along the Dongjiang River. Extreme long ago, settlers from present Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces were scattered around the region, living together with the minorities there. It was during the Qin Dynasty (221BC-206BC) that the court transferred people in North China to this area, bringing it advance Yellow River Culture. From then on, whenever a war broke in Central Plain, there would be a crowd of settlers moving there. Gradually, the Hakka cultural came into being.

Physical Features: Heyuan has a rolling terrain. Mountainous region occupies the major land of the city, and the hilly area ranks the second place. It is long and narrow. Plain area in the center is surrounded by mountains and hills. The Dongjiang River flows north and south through the city.

Climatic Features: The city bears a subtropical monsoon climate featuring relatively higher temperature, less rainfall and more sunshine than surrounding areas. Torrid and dry weather may continuously occur during July and August. However, warm winter is commonly met due to the less active cold air.

When to Go: The city is favorable for visiting all the year round due to the temperate weather.

Special Local Products: Jiulian Chinese mushroom, Heyuan Garlic, green tea, ginkgo nut

Scenic Spots:
Xinfengjiang National Forest Park: This ecological tourist zone is built relying on the largest lake by manpower in South China, the Evergreen Lake. Backing on the Guishan Mountain (Laurel Mountain) the zenith of the city, this scenic area also holds hundreds of green islets dotted on the lake.
Sujiawei Hakka Village Tourist Zone: 26 kilometers (16 miles) from the downtown Heyuan, this is a fine destination to admire local country scenery and the Hakka culture, including old Hakka building and unsophisticated Hakkas.
Other Scenic Spots: Tuocheng, Huanglong Crag, Hakka Round-Dragon House

Tourist Tips: The two principal bus stations in Yuancheng District downtown Heyuan, one is the central bus station in Daqiao Road and the other is Xincheng Bus Station in Heyuan Dadao. Buses departing there can reach Shenzhen and Guangzhou in three hours. From the Shenzhen Yinhu and Donghu bus station, as well as the Guangzhou Tianhe Bus Station, buses to Heyuan can also be easily found.