Qingyuan

Qingyuan (清远; Chīngyúhn in Cantonese, Qīng​yuǎn​ in Mandarin) is a city in Guangdong Province in China.

Districts
Qingyuan Prefecture consists of the following districts:
 * Qingcheng District (清城区; Qīng​chéng​qū​) - centre of the city
 * Yingde City (英德市; Yīng​dé​shì​) - 50 km northeast of the city centre, home to Baojing Palace
 * Lianzhou City (连州市; Lián​zhōu​shì​) - 150 km north of the city centre, home to the Underground River
 * Fogang County (佛冈县; Fó​gāng​xiàn) - 40 km northeast of the city centre, home to Huanghua Lake
 * Yangshan County (阳山县; Yáng​shān​xiàn​) - 100 km north of the city centre, home to Shikengkong Mountain
 * Qingxin County (清新县; Qīng​xīn​xiàn​) - home to caves and hot springs, just north of the city centre
 * Lianshan Zhuang and Yao Autonomous County (连山壮族瑶族自治县; Lián​shān​ Zhuàng​zú​ Yáo​zú​zì​zhì​xiàn​)
 * Liannan Yao Autonomous County (连南瑶族自治县; Lián​nán​ Yáo​zú​zì​zhì​xiàn​)

Understand
The area has been inhabited for thousands of years by both Han Chinese and ethnic minorities. The present city of Qingyuan was established as a prefecture level city in 1988.

Qingyuan is just north of the Pearl River Delta in a diverse landscape with both plains and mountains. The climate is subtropical monsoon with plenty of rain in the summer half and not too cold winters. The city can be visited all year but is most pleasant during April to October.

Talk
Cantonese is the main language spoken in Qingyuan, albeit with a distinctive accent. Although there are noticeable pronunciation differences between the local dialect and standard Cantonese, if you are fluent in standard Cantonese, this should not pose too much of a challenge. Most younger locals are bilingual in Mandarin and Cantonese.

By plane
Qingyuan does not have its own airport but Guangzhou Airport is only 30 km away.

By train
Arriving by train will take you to Qingyuan Station some 15 km east of the city centre. Trains include from
 * Guangzhou - less than one hour, ¥10-17
 * Shaoguan - 1½-2 hours, ¥21-34

By bus
There are plenty of buses to the city arriving including from
 * Guangzhou - 1½ hours
 * Shenzhen - 2½ hours
 * Hong Kong - 4½ hours

Old bus station: 3306600 New bus station: 3368565

Water-rafting
Not white-water rafting as we know it but a man-made cement slide on a mountain where two people sit in a small dinghy and hang on for dear life. No guide and no rowing required. Going with a tour agency can get you better prices as they often tie in the tour with shopping visits in which you listen to a lecture on a variety of products. Whilst it may seem boring, the entire tour including lunch can end up being cheaper than the entrance fee at the rafting site. There are several canyons to choose from.



Buy
There are several local herbal and medicinal products on sale, such as deer wine and lingzhi, an expensive medicinal fungus.

Eat
Qingyuan is known for its chickens (清远鸡), and naturally, this makes it an excellent place to try chicken dishes.

Qingcheng District: knife cut glutinous rice, white cut Qingyuan chicken, Chau heart big congee

Qingnew District: Shantang preserved meat, Shuangtan tofu, Shuangtan Shankeng snail, Shitan soy sauce chicken

Fogang County: Shuitou pork, Gaogang sour tofu, taro black goose, Minan white cut chicken

Yingde City: Kowloon tofu, Lei Cha congee, Big Bay cabbage bun, yellow flower meat, Yingde black tea

Yangshan County: Yangshan chicken, wheat soup, Taiping Shui soup, Huangben autumn cake, Libu red yeast meat

Yao Autonomous County, Liannan: Yaoshan tea oil, Yao cell rice wine, big glutinous rice cake, big leaf tea, Handzhashan fern bundle meat

Lianzhou: Lianzhou Crystal pear, beef mixed, Steamed cut powder, star steamed pork Pork Lianshan Zhuang Yao Autonomous County: Rice fish, smoked bacon, Glutinous rice cake

Drink
Qingyuan Tie Guan Yin（清远铁观音）: Clearwater Tie Guan Yin is a type of oolong tea, renowned for its unique floral and fruity fragrance. Its leaves are shaped like iron blocks, hence the name "Tie Guan Yin."

Qingyuan Biluochun（清远碧螺春）: Biluochun is a green tea, and the tea leaves from the Clearwater region may have a distinctive flavor influenced by the local climate and soil conditions, characterized by freshness and a crisp taste.

Qingyuan White Hair Silver Needle（清远白毫银针）: This is a type of white tea, known for its tender buds and prominent white hairs. White tea is crafted with a simple process that emphasizes preserving the natural flavors of the tea leaves.

Qingyuan Puerh Tea（清远普洱茶）: The Clearwater region may also produce Puerh tea, a fermented tea with a unique aged flavor.