Qingyuan Travel Guide: Huangteng Gorge, Yingxi Peak Forest and the Beijiang
Qingyuan is Guangzhou's weekend playground, a short train ride north, and it offers two quite different days out. Huangteng Gorge, close to the city, sells canyon rafting in the warm months; the Yingxi peak forest near Yingde, much further north, is a landscape of limestone pinnacles, rice fields and villages best seen by car or bike. Pick one as your main day, then add the other only if you have a second full day. Qingyuan chicken is the meal everyone eats.
Two trips in one prefecture
Huangteng and Yingxi are often pictured side by side in promotions, but they are not a single outing. Huangteng is in Qingcheng District, about 20 minutes by taxi from Qingyuan's high-speed station. Yingxi is in Huanghua town, Yingde, reached by expressway and country roads, with no convenient public transport from Yingde West station. In practice:
- Wet day: Huangteng Gorge. Timed rafting slots, changing rooms, shuttle buses inside the park, and add-ons such as glass walkways.
- Dry day: Yingxi. Roadside viewpoints, village lanes and paid sites such as caves, with long gaps between them.
Places worth visiting
Huangteng Gorge rafting
The rafting is the reason most Guangzhou weekenders come: a fast run down a forested gorge with drops that soak everyone on board. You will get wet, so wear quick-dry clothes and sandals with straps, bring a change of clothes, and put your phone in a waterproof pouch. Weekend and holiday slots sell out; book in advance and arrive early. The rafting season depends on water levels and weather, and storms or typhoon warnings can close the river. Prices, combo tickets and operating dates are on the scenic area's notice.
Yingxi peak forest
The Yingxi corridor is a valley of karst towers around Huanghua, with fields and villages spread between them. The rewarding way to see it is slowly, stopping at viewpoints and walking village paths; early mornings after rain bring mist around the peaks. Self-drive is easiest. Without a car, take a train to Yingde West and hire a taxi or driver for the day, agreeing the route and price before you set off. Yingde is also the home of Yingde black tea, and tea farms nearby welcome visitors. Wenfeng Pagoda in Yingde town is a quick stop on the way.
The Beijiang and Qingyuan city
The city sits on the Beijiang, the North River, and the riverside promenades are the evening plan after a day on the water. Feilaixia gorge upstream has temples on the river cliffs, an alternative half day for travellers who prefer temples to rafts.
Lianzhou and the far north
Lianzhou, with its underground river caves and Yao villages, is in the far north of the prefecture. It is a separate trip of its own and does not combine with Huangteng or Yingxi in one weekend.
When to come to Qingyuan
Rafting runs in the warm months, roughly late spring to autumn, when water levels allow; summer is peak season but also brings thunderstorms and typhoon warnings. For Yingxi, October to April is cooler and drier for walking and cycling, while spring rain brings the misty views photographers like. Summer heat is intense in the open fields, so start early.
Getting in and where to stay
- High-speed rail: Qingyuan Station is on the Wuhan–Guangzhou line, a short ride from Guangzhou South. From there, taxis to Huangteng take about 20 minutes, and city bus 206 runs to the Huangteng Gorge stop.
- Intercity rail: the Guangzhou–Qingyuan intercity line serves Qingcheng station; take a taxi on to the gorge.
- For Yingxi: trains stop at Yingde West; plan on a taxi or chartered car from there.
- Where to stay: a hotel near Huangteng for a rafting weekend; a guesthouse in the Yingxi valley for peak-forest mornings; central Qingyuan only for rail convenience.
Guangzhou is the hub for most visitors. Shaoguan and Danxia Mountain lie further north on the same rail line.
Eating in Qingyuan
Qingyuan chicken, steamed or poached and served with ginger and scallion dip, is the dish of the region. Farmhouse restaurants near the gorge and in the countryside serve it alongside river fish and seasonal vegetables. After a day on the water, a pot of soup is very welcome. In Yingde, order a pot of local black tea with lunch.
How to arrange the route
Rafting weekend (two days): Day 1, train from Guangzhou, rafting at Huangteng in the afternoon, Qingyuan chicken for dinner. Day 2, Feilaixia or a riverside morning, back to Guangzhou.
Peak forest weekend (two days): Day 1, train to Yingde West, driver to the Yingxi valley, afternoon viewpoints. Day 2, sunrise in the valley, village walks, tea farm, return.
Three days: combine the two, with a night in each place.
What to cut if short on time
With one day, choose rather than combine. Rafting if you want a splash, Yingxi if you want landscapes. Lianzhou is the first cut on any short trip, and glass-walkway add-ons at Huangteng are optional.
Things to confirm before you go
- Rafting operating dates, slot booking and combo prices on the official notice.
- Water-level and storm warnings on the day.
- Taxi or driver arrangements from Yingde West.
- Bus 206 timings if you are relying on it.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get from Guangzhou to Huangteng Gorge?
Take a train to Qingyuan Station, then a taxi of about 20 minutes or bus 206 to the gorge.
Can I raft at Huangteng and visit Yingxi on the same day?
It is not practical. They are far apart, and each deserves most of a day.
What should I wear for rafting?
Quick-dry clothes, strapped sandals or water shoes, and a waterproof phone pouch. Bring a full change of clothes.
Sources
The facts in this article were checked against the following sources, retrieved September 19, 2026, and rechecked on October 20, 2026.
- Qingyuan https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qingyuan
- Yingde https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yingde
- Huangteng Gorge transport guide (Qingyuan Bendibao) https://qy.bendibao.com/tour/2020928/2417.shtm
- Guangzhou–Qingyuan intercity station guide (Qingyuan Bendibao, May 2025) http://qy.bendibao.com/traffic/2025513/18825.shtm
- Yingxi peak forest visitor information (ezTravel) https://vacation.eztravel.com.tw/sight/plc0000086823/
Tickets change; this article does not quote yuan amounts, so check the official notice for your date.
All photos are from Wikimedia Commons, used under CC licenses; re-use requires attribution.
- qingyuan-huangteng.jpg from File:Huangtengxia Drifting3.jpg, by Huangdan2060, CC BY 3.0
- qingyuan-skyline.jpg from File:Qingyuan City Xiaoshi Skyline Guangdong Province.JPG, by Alex Liu / Feelmore, Copyrighted free use
- qingyuan-yingde.jpg from File:Yingde wenfengta.jpg, by Zhuwq, CC BY-SA 3.0