Quanzhou Yongning Ancient City

To be honest, children who grew up in the villages of southern Fujian really don’t need to come here.



It is basically undeveloped. It is a village of ancient houses in southern Fujian. There are villagers living in it. There are many city god temples, one or two inns, snack bars and teahouses. There should be some people during holidays. When we went there, we saw two or three tourists, and the rest were villagers. After staying for a few minutes, we took a taxi to the nearby Guanyin Mountain.



If you want to see ancient houses in southern Fujian, I recommend going to Wudian City in Jinjiang. The houses are beautiful and there are some nice shops. Xiaofeng Bookstore is right there, so it's worth visiting.

The guides I read before said that this place is pristine and not as commercialized as other places. Indeed, maybe it was because it was the second day of the Chinese New Year. I wanted to find a place to eat and drink, and I was looking forward to it! The old street still has some of the flavor of an ancient town, but the electric cars that flowed more than tourists, and the beeping of the beeps, seemed to have disturbed the tranquility here!

In 2018, I accidentally ran from Tianjin to Yongning, a hometown surrounded by the sea on three sides, peaceful and secluded, with the most foreign buildings in southern Fujian. The people here are simple and hospitable, without any trace of commercialization and no tourist peak season. The ancient town with a history of more than 600 years is silent and many gods protect the local residents.

The first hasty encounter with the ancient town turned into a longing for it for several months. At the beginning of 2019, I ran back to Yongning again. This time, I stayed at Yongning Wei Wuliuyuan Youth Hostel as planned, and felt the tranquility and peace of the old street in the ancient town at night.

By the second time we met, we had become good friends with Xiaobin, the honest, casual and funny big boy owner of the youth hostel. He took us to find authentic, amazing and very reasonably priced noodle soup, peanut soup, beef soup and many seafood that we couldn't name hidden in the small market.



Yongning, such a beautiful ancient seaside town.

I often recommend Yongning to my friends. It is an economical and affordable short trip starting from Xiamen, hahahaha. The only Wuliuyuan Youth Hostel booked on Meituan is also built in the same stone house as my hometown. When I got there, it was like returning home. I was excited to ride a motorcycle for five or six hours from home to get there. I went to Meilin Fishing Port to watch the sunset, Guanyin Mountain to watch the sunrise, and listened to the romance of an old man listening to Nanyin on the old city wall. What I miss most is a night when a group of people were listening to folk songs in the youth hostel. Recently, I feel that many things may not be considered good by everyone. There is actually a big difference between going with a local and going alone. I recommend it again.

I have visited several cities and many places, but only Yongning makes me feel that it is a real trip, with quaint alleys, literary folk customs, strong cultural atmosphere, and a group of people who stick to their dreams. The enthusiastic B&B owner has been helping us introduce amazing attractions, special snacks and authentic food. If you have time, you must visit it often.

Yongning, an ancient town. I went there just when the town was celebrating traditional festivals. Yongning has preserved many traditional cultures and customs. Although the town is not very prosperous and not very exquisite. But it is quiet and comfortable. I visited the old street in the afternoon, walked slowly in the alley, and looked at the Fanzi Building. The Fanzi Building is really beautiful in the sunset! ! In the evening, I rented the storekeeper Abin's battery car to go to the Guanyin Mountain Beach to watch the sunset and take a ride. It was very comfortable~ There was no crowd on the beach, and everything felt just right. The happiest thing was that after dinner in the evening, I made tea and chatted with friends from all over the world who lived in Yongningwei. Listening to them tell many travel stories, I really laughed happily for a few hours. Unfortunately, I didn't see Abin playing drums. Next time I go, I must ask the cute storekeeper to perform hahahaha. Yongningwei where I live is also clean and comfortable, with a beautiful Mimi~~Looking forward to seeing you next time~

Yongning Ancient City is located in Yongning Town, Shishi City, Quanzhou City. It is an ancient town with a profound historical heritage. This ancient city has a history of more than 600 years. During the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty, the imperial court established Yongning Guard in Yongning to defend against Japanese pirates. It had 11 thousand households under its jurisdiction, five of which were in the city, and six defense thousand households outside the city, including Fuquan (Jinjiang), Chongwu (Hui'an), Kinmen, Zhongzuo (Xiamen), Gaopu (Tong'an), and Baiyeban (Anxi). In its heyday, it was as famous as Tianjin Guard and Weihai Guard, and became one of the three major cities in the country.

Admission is free and open all day. Guwei Avenue, Shishi City, Quanzhou City.

I'm giving this comment especially to help foreign tourists avoid disappointment: it's just a town, not much of a tourist attraction; more than 80% of the shops on its ancient street have been closed, and many buildings are being demolished and are considered dangerous; there's no place to have breakfast, which ancient town can you say is like this?

The ancient city does not have very sound tourist facilities and is basically undeveloped. But precisely because it has not been developed, there is basically no traffic congestion, and you can better experience the cultural heritage and stories of a city.

It is recommended for friends who like the simple and original flavor to go there, otherwise there will be a little disappointment~

Yongning Ancient Town

This ancient Acropolis with a history of more than 600 years had no tourists three years ago, but with the hard work of a post-80s generation,

This coastal defense "Aocheng", which was once carefully planned by our ancestors, with feng shui everywhere and Buddhist temples every few steps, was finally discovered by travelers.



The biggest attraction of Yongning is the dazzling Fanzi Building, where the structure, design and decoration of the rooms are all unique to the local area. In addition to the exquisite craftsmanship and huge investment in construction, each building also has a history of blood and sweat of the people of southern Fujian. Nowadays, more and more travelers come here to visit. Clear signs are also set up inside the ancient town. You can find them yourself. Some descendants living in the building are also very willing to boast about the achievements of their predecessors. If you want to learn more, Abin, the owner of Wuliuyuan Youth Hostel, can be said to be the encyclopedia of Yongning. As for the local history, architecture and customs, you can tell as much as you want. Under the leadership of Abin, you will have the opportunity to see the rehearsal of the Nanyin Opera Troupe, the on-site production of the traditional craft "makeup cake people", and even some Chinese studies schools.



Yongning is close to the sea, and it is only 2 kilometers away from the Shishi Golden Coast, but it is usually crowded on weekends. It is better to take a different route and go to the Guanyin Mountain next to it, where there are few tourists, the sea water is clean, and there are wonderful weathered rocks to see. It costs 10 yuan to take Didi from Yongning Town, or you can borrow an electric car from the Youth Hostel. Take bus No. 5 from Shishi Long-distance Bus Station to Yongning Chetou, and the motorcycle taxi costs about 25 yuan. The route to the ancient town is difficult to mark. It is recommended to contact the shopkeeper in advance.

Yongning is very poetic and picturesque. I like Yongning very much.

Sitting in the yard, drinking tea and chatting with the boss, the boss mentioned that the Quanzhou Nanyin Society in the town would practice every day on the site on the city wall. A tourist also expressed great interest and drove an electric car through the alleys. The boss's loyal dog Xiaochuan ran after the electric car. The joy of life in a small place. The town is surrounded by the sea on three sides and it can be said to be very comfortable at night. Standing on the city wall, the cool breeze blew, making me feel refreshed.

It was my first time to listen to Nanyin, my first time to hear local people introduce Nanyin and Nanyin instruments, and my first time to see Nanyin music scores. Yongning stayed in a farmhouse with limited conditions. The main places to play were not scenic spots or tourist attractions, and the supporting facilities were limited. I am deeply grateful to my best friend and children who have lived in Shenzhen for a long time and have high requirements for accommodation environment for their absolute trust and tolerance in me.

There are many Fanzi buildings in Yongning, recording the past of Yongning people. The alleys here are really a bit like a maze. Even people with a good sense of direction can get lost when they first arrive here. The Fanzi buildings here are relatively well preserved, and the Fanzi buildings worth seeing are not so concentrated, so we invited a local expert to be our guide, leading us to appreciate and introduce them to us. Walking and pacing in the ancient town, we saw many beautiful exterior walls. The oldest of these exterior walls is more than 200 years old. The last picture is a combination of stone and red bricks, which not only solves the problem of insufficient firmness of bricks, but also solves the problem of too large gaps in stones. The pictures are criss-crossed, contrasting in density, and alternating in color, full of beauty. You will never get tired of seeing such walls. I have also seen them in Quanzhou. At around 5pm, I went to Meilin Port to watch the sunset. There is the most beautiful sunset in Yongning, but there are not enough clouds today, and the sunset is average. At this moment, I think of the super beautiful sunset I met on the first day of this trip. I feel that I am too lucky, but it won’t always be so good. There is a long seawall in Meilin Port. How to describe its length? It takes more than ten minutes to walk slowly to the lighthouse at the end of the road. Yongning City God Temple is the patron saint of the local people, and it has been telling future generations about the great wisdom of life. The wood carvings in the City God Temple are worth seeing. There is also an old brick carving in the temple. The wall on the side before entering the main hall has been protected by transparent glass.

There were not many people when I arrived at 4pm. The city gate was empty.

Very beautiful, very peaceful, Yongning snacks are delicious, Yongning fried buns, taro balls, fist mother are still the most authentic local

On the tower of Yongning Xiaodongmen, there is a Nanyin Society (free of charge) run by locals. If you are tired, you can take a rest there and listen to a piece of Nanyin. During the National Day, Yongning was holding the City God Culture Festival, and I happened to encounter the preparation ceremony.

Yongning Ancient City is built on the hillside. From Cihang Temple to the west gate, there is an old street called "Hapo Street" which is more than one kilometer long and about 4 to 5 meters wide. The old street used to be the center of Yongning's commerce, but now there are only a few tourists passing by and the remaining locals.

If you have been to Hongcun, Xidi, Xitang or some ancient towns in Sichuan and Guizhou, it is not necessary to come to Yongning or Chongwu. Of course, if you have enough time, it doesn't matter if you come to take a walk. The most famous building in Yongning is Fanzilou, a building made of red bricks and cement, which was built by overseas Chinese who earned money and returned to their hometown. The old street feels more interesting than the old city.

Walking on the stone road, you can see that this is an ancient city with a lot of stories. However, it has neither been overdeveloped nor properly protected. I feel that it will eventually disappear from our lives.

It's an unpopular place, but it's really great and there are few people. It's a place not to be missed for travelers who like traditional culture, architecture, music and the sea.

The biggest attraction is the beautiful Fanzi Building (most of the Fanzi Buildings were built during the Republic of China by overseas Chinese who returned from Nanyang in southern Fujian. Because the architectural style is a combination of Chinese and Western styles, it is completely different from the traditional ancient houses in southern Fujian, and most of the building materials are directly transported from Nanyang, so it is called Fanzi Building ("Fanzi" was a derogatory term for Nanyang people in southern Fujian in the past). There is also an old street that is more than 600 years old, and a very beautiful sea, a sea that few people go to - Guanyin Mountain. If you are lucky in summer, you can also see the dreamy blue tears. Must-see attractions (an Acropolis without tickets) are Yangjia Building, Guanyin Mountain or Gold Coast, Meilin Port to watch the sunset, and listen to Nanyin on the city wall at 8:30 in the evening. Must-eat snacks: Hai Oyster omelette, beef, ginger duck, vermicelli soup, seafood braised noodles. First go to Shishi long-distance bus station! ! Then take bus No. 5 to Yongning to the front of the car to Yongning Old Street. In Yongning, take a local tricycle to the beach, which costs about 10 to 15 yuan. Accommodation recommendation Nanmen No. 7 Courtyard B&B, a B&B with humanistic feelings, is a transformation of local characteristic houses. The owner is warm and fun. You can directly learn about the tourist information of Yongning Ancient Town through their home, and they will introduce a lot of fun and delicious food. The location of the B&B is No. 7 Nanmen Street in the center of the ancient city. It is convenient to go to the old street of Yongning Ancient Town, Yangjia Building, Guanyin Mountain, and Meilin Port. If you want to book their room, you usually use Weibo and WeChat.

Yongning Old Street is not big, but it is relatively well preserved. Now a new city wall has been built on Yongning Old Street. The most annoying thing is that the toilets next to the city wall actually charge a fee, which makes me a little unhappy.

A very quiet town. Walking alone on the street, it is very comfortable to experience the beauty of the ancient town.

Yongning has a very complete "ancient street district" and some well-preserved "Fanzilou".

Yongning Ancient Town in Shishi, Quanzhou, has a famous Chinese historical and cultural street. Although it is not as grand as the Three Lanes and Seven Alleys in Fuzhou, it was also a prosperous business with a great reputation and many wealthy businessmen. There are two academies, three temples, four major business houses, five gates, six large buildings, seven kinds of snacks, eight major landscapes, nine ancient houses, and ten old shops. It can be said that the street is prosperous with abundant financial resources.

This used to be a port for trading ships to come in and out. There was a once prosperous old commercial street, once wealthy business warehouses, and many large and small Western-style buildings built by wealthy merchants who went to Southeast Asia to do business - Fanzilou. Take a walk in this town to learn about its past prosperity. It has been dilapidated and depressed for a hundred years, waiting to be repaired. We just hope that the flavor will not be lost.

Yongjin Lane was once owned by a wealthy merchant ship family. During the Qing Dynasty, one family had ten large ships sailing to Southeast Asia. This was a huge business! Now, only a narrow alley remains.

After a round of walking, you can also find several cloth shops/rice shops/sauce factories/pharmacies... Unfortunately, now there are only ruins and flapping signs left.

The ancient town is close to the sea. If the weather is good, you can go to Guanyin Mountain to watch the sunrise, and go to Meilin Port to watch the sunset. We were lucky because we arrived there just in time for the sunset to dye the clouds golden.

There are many Quanzhou local snacks in the streets and alleys of the ancient town, which retain the traditional flavor. During the Chinese New Year, the shop owners usually close their doors and there are only signs on the shops, but no one is running them. . .

I can only say that it's generally okay to just look at it, there's no food, and the transportation is inconvenient.

I came here after reading the recommendation on Zhihu. It feels better than Gulangyu Island. There is no ticket here, few people, and no commercial atmosphere. The old streets of southern Fujian, various alleys, and stone steps are very charming. There are also ancestral halls and temples in the middle. The Ningdong Building in the Fanzi Building (Nanyang Building) was the headquarters of the Japanese invasion of China and the lookout post in the early days of the founding of the People's Republic of China. The story of the neighborhood well is very touching. Transportation: Take a bus to Shishi Bus Station, then take bus No. 5 to Yongning Chetou Station, walk a few steps and see the red lanterns and keep going forward! At least two kilometers of road, the alleys are connected to each other. You can also take a taxi to the Yongningwei Ruins and enter from the main gate. After visiting the ancient city, take a tricycle to the beach of Guanyin Mountain, which costs about 10 to 15 yuan. The blue boats, beaches, and boulders are all very beautiful. There is a golden coast next to it. We were afraid of too many people and didn't go there. We didn't go to Meilin Port to watch the sunset, nor did we go to the sister-in-law tower. It's a bit regrettable. But I'm very happy! Sitting on the rocks and blowing the sea breeze, there is a feeling that this is called traveling. I took a lot of photos with my phone.

The seaside town still retains its ancient charm. The red beach is beautiful, the water is clear, the sand is shallow, and the prices are affordable. A woman with a strange hair ornament walks on the street. The old man basks in the sun on the old street. Every household opens its door. I bought a pair of slippers for the beach and spent four yuan. I am very satisfied. People in the Northeast have endless yearning for the sea in TV and books. What they see later is disappointment. Yongning has a line of flowers in spring and the sky is full of moon.

As an authentic ancient town, Yongning has many snacks, all of which have gone through the most authentic time test of Yongning people. All the snacks that still exist on the streets of Yongning are works of art that have been polished by time. Almost all the mainstream snacks in Quanzhou can be eaten in Yongning, which is very rare in the ancient towns of Quanzhou. Due to special geographical and historical factors, Yongning has some unique snacks of its own, such as large fried buns, garlic meat soup, etc.



Worth experiencing

Stay at Nanmen No. 7 Courtyard B&B and experience ancient life in an old stone house.

Go to the Xibaolou Public Library and read a book quietly in the Fanzilou.

Take a stroll along the old street at night, listen to a piece of Nanyin music or watch a Gaojia opera

Inadvertently step into the Yongning Storytelling Hall, make a pot of tea and listen to Yongning stories.

As a small town, Yongning still gives people a very shabby impression. The old houses are aging and the Fanzi Building is covered with a layer of dust, with a hint of historical light in the gray. What really made them like Yongning was probably the shopkeeper Cai who was committed to promoting Yongning's tourism industry.

Good. The early buildings have a cultural atmosphere. But they are not very long.

It's quite interesting. There are many old things for sale. Everything looks new, just like Granny Liu entering the Grand View Garden. I bought some vegetables and brought them back. They are much fresher than those in the supermarket.

Yongning is one of the three ancient citadels in China during the Ming Dynasty. However, there are almost no tourists here now. Among the buildings in Yongning Ancient Town, there is a kind of building called Fanzilou, which is very beautiful. There is also a very touching Yongning Old Street, where you can slow down and feel the depth and beauty of Yongning Ancient Town. Stay at the Nanmen No. 7 Courtyard B&B with Quanzhou characteristics. You need to make a reservation in advance through WeChat 15059879457. The house is made of stone, and you can only book the room through WeChat and Weibo. You can live a leisurely life every day, buy vegetables and cook them yourself, taste Fanzilou, stroll Yongning Old Street, climb the top of the Sister-in-law Tower to look around Quanzhou, go to the beach to watch a beautiful sunset, eat all 30 kinds of snacks, and read books and talk about travel in front of the fish tank teahouse. This is the new life in the ancient town.