Xinyi City

Xinyi City is located in the northern part of Maoming City, Guangdong Province, at the southern foot of the Yunkai Mountains. It serves as an important ecological barrier and a famous historical and cultural city in western Guangdong. The city covers a total area of 3,101.7 square kilometers, with a registered population of approximately 1.52 million and a permanent population of about 910,000. Known as Douzhou in ancient times, Xinyi was established in the fourth year of the Wude era of the Tang Dynasty (621 AD) and has a history of over 1,400 years. It is one of the birthplaces of Lingnan culture, renowned for jade carving craftsmanship, Hakka culture, red revolutionary sites, and ecotourism resources. Xinyi is the Capital of Southern Jade in China, with a long history of jade carving. The local southern jade, known for its fine texture and emerald green color, is often called "Guangdong Jadeite." Within its territory, there are natural landscapes such as Dawuling Provincial Nature Reserve, Tianma Mountain Ecotourism Area, and Xijiang Hot Spring, as well as historical sites like Zhenlong Ancient Town and Dahongguo King's Mansion. Xinyi is a famous hometown of overseas Chinese in Guangdong, with over 300,000 overseas Chinese living abroad. In recent years, Xinyi has leveraged its ecological advantages to develop rural tourism, becoming a popular leisure destination for residents of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Xinyi City's tourism features four main characteristics: ecological landscapes, hot spring wellness, historical culture, and jade carving craftsmanship. It is suitable for year-round visits, with spring and autumn being the best seasons. Below is a detailed travel guide:

I. Recommended Core Attractions 1. Dawuling Nature Reserve: Located in the northern part of Xinyi City, about 35 km from the city center, it is a provincial-level nature reserve. The main peak, Datianding, is 1,704 meters above sea level, the highest peak in western Guangdong. The reserve features primeval forests, alpine meadows, waterfalls, and sea of clouds. The average summer temperature is only 22°C, making it a summer resort. Ticket: about 30 yuan, opening hours: 8:00-17:30. It is recommended to drive or charter a car; the mountain roads are winding, so drive carefully. 2. Tianma Mountain Ecotourism Area: Located in Beijie Town, Xinyi City, about 25 km from the city center, it features alpine grasslands, canyon streams, and Miao ethnic customs. Attractions include "Tianma Grassland," "Butterfly Valley," and "Miao Village." Visitors can experience horse riding, stream trekking, and bonfire parties. Ticket: about 50 yuan, opening hours: 8:30-17:00. There are direct buses from Xinyi city center, about 40 minutes away. 3. Xijiang Hot Spring: Located in Xijiang Town, Xinyi City, about 15 km from the city center, it is a well-known natural hot spring in Guangdong. The water temperature exceeds 80°C and is rich in various minerals, beneficial for skin diseases and arthritis. The resort has outdoor hot spring pools, swimming pools, and accommodation. Ticket: about 80 yuan, unlimited soaking time. It is recommended to visit in winter to enjoy the hot spring with mountain views. 4. Zhenlong Ancient Town: Located in Zhenlong Town, Xinyi City, about 12 km from the city center, it was built in the Tang Dynasty and is a famous historical and cultural town in Guangdong. The ancient town includes "Dahongguo King's Mansion" (i.e., Zhenlong Ancient City Wall), Red Mansion, and Confucian School, all Ming and Qing Dynasty buildings. Dahongguo King's Mansion was the capital of the Dahongguo Kingdom established by a peasant rebel army in the Qing Dynasty. Free admission, recommended visit time: 1-2 hours. 5. Jade Carving Craft Experience: Xinyi is the Capital of Southern Jade in China, renowned for its jade carving craftsmanship. It is recommended to visit the Xinyi Jade Carving Factory (on Yingbin Avenue in the city center) or the Jindong Town Jade Carving Market to observe the jade carving process and purchase jadeite and jade crafts. Some workshops offer DIY experiences, priced at about 100-300 yuan per person.

II. Food Recommendations 1. Xinyi Sanhuang Chicken: Known for its crispy skin, tender meat, and delicate bones, it is the most famous specialty of Xinyi. Recommended restaurants: "Douzhou Renjia" and "Xinyi Chicken Restaurant" in the city center, per capita consumption about 40-60 yuan. 2. Xinyi Ai Ci: Made from glutinous rice flour and wormwood juice, filled with peanuts, sesame, and sugar, it has a soft and fragrant texture. It is a local traditional snack. Available at Zhenlong Ancient Town or night markets in the city center, priced at about 5 yuan each. 3. Xijiang Tofu: A specialty of Xijiang Town, made with mountain spring water, it has a tender and smooth texture. It can be stewed, stir-fried, or used in soup. Recommended: "Xijiang Tofu Feast," per capita about 30-50 yuan. 4. Hakka Stuffed Tofu: Xinyi is a Hakka settlement, and stuffed tofu is a traditional dish. Tofu is wrapped with meat filling, pan-fried until golden, and served with sauce. Available at most Hakka restaurants.

III. Transportation Guide 1. External Transportation: Xinyi City has no airport or train station. The nearest high-speed rail stations are Maoming Station (about 85 km, 1.5 hours by car) or Cenxi Station (Guangxi, about 60 km, 1 hour by car). From Maoming city center, take a bus to Xinyi Bus Station, about 2 hours, fare about 40 yuan. Self-driving: exit at the Xinyi exit of the Baomao Expressway (G65). 2. Internal Transportation: Xinyi city center has buses covering main streets, but most scenic spots are in townships, so it is recommended to rent a car or charter a car (about 300-500 yuan per day). Some scenic spots like Tianma Mountain and Xijiang Hot Spring have shuttle buses, but with limited frequency.

IV. Shopping Recommendations 1. Xinyi Jade Carvings: Southern jade crafts such as ornaments, bracelets, and seals, priced from tens of yuan to tens of thousands of yuan. The Jindong Town Jade Carving Market is the main distribution center. 2. Xinyi Hawthorn: Local specialty hawthorn products such as preserved fruit and candied fruit, sweet and sour, suitable as souvenirs. 3. Xinyi Bamboo Weaving: Traditional handicrafts such as baskets and fruit trays, exquisitely crafted.