Steeped in 1,400 years of continuous history, Lianzhou first gained administrative status under the Sui dynasty in 590 AD, the same era that saw the rise of Byzantine Emperor Justinian across the ancient world. The Tang dynasty poet Liu Yuxi, exiled here as prefect, produced some of his finest essays—much as Ovid penned his Tristia from the Black Sea coast. This literary pedigree was further enriched in the early 20th century, when revolutionary figure Feng Dafei emerged from the region. In 2026, Lianzhou was named among China's inaugural "Most Beautiful Destinations," joining a roster that celebrates cultural depth alongside natural splendor.
The area's architectural treasures rival those of Tuscany's medieval hill towns. Nineteen traditional villages survive in original form, with Fengyang Village tracing its lineage to the Southern Tang dynasty (roughly contemporary with Anglo-Saxon England) and preserving its distinctive four-gate layout. Nearby Dongpi's flagstone avenues echo the merchant quarters of Renaissance Florence, while the seven-story Huiguang Pagoda, begun during the Southern and Northern Dynasties period around 1500 years ago, stands among China's nationally protected monuments. The Yao minority's terraced stilt houses at the nearby Thousand-Year Yao Village cascade down mountainsides in a manner reminiscent of cliff towns like Tuscany's Pitigliano.
Lianzhou sits at a remarkable cultural crossroads where Hakka, Yao, and central Han Chinese traditions have merged over centuries. The Yao people's "Shua Ge Tang" song festivals and Long Drum Dance are honored as national-level intangible heritage, much as Italy's tarantella preserves regional identity. Visitors can attend fiery bonfire performances on weekend evenings, try Yao embroidery workshops, and sample regional delicacies including Dongpi cured meats and tender Lianzhou cai xin greens. The Liu Yuxi Memorial Hall and surrounding Yanxi Cultural Garden carry forward the literary legacy that has defined this corner of Guangdong for generations.
Nature takes center stage at the region's headline attraction, the 5A-rated Lianzhou Underground River. Visitors glide by boat for roughly two hours through cathedral-like caverns filled with stalactites and stalagmites that put many European show caves to shame—think of Somerset's Cheddar Caves rendered in tropical scale. The neighboring Huangchuan Three Gorges cruise threads dragon-claw gorges beneath Guinness-record glass bridges, while the misty Tanling Sky Lake occasionally delivers the rare spectacle of a "southern snow country" in winter. Crucially, the underground river maintains a steady 18–22°C year-round, offering sweet relief when Guangdong's summers climb above 35°C.
Plan a two-to-three-day immersion: dedicate day one to the underground river and gorges, overnighting in Lianzhou town for Hakka cuisine; spend day two amid the Thousand-Year Yao Village to catch a long-drum performance; reserve day three for wandering Fengyang or Dongpi's cobbled lanes. Note that Lianzhou and the Yao autonomous county lie in separate administrative districts, so public transit is patchy—renting a car or hiring a driver is strongly recommended. Pack a light jacket for August cave visits, and tread quietly in still-inhabited villages where descendants of the original families still live and work.
