Fuli Ancient Town - a Traditional and Original Small Town in Guilin

Over 1,200 years ago, during the Tang Dynasty, Fuli Ancient Town had many inhabitants. Because it linked Guilin in the north and Wuzhou in the south, it was a small but busy town. Plenty of lychees were planted at Fuli and the pronunciation of "lychees" is similar to the Chinese pronunciation of "fuli", hence the town’s name.

Fuli ancient town

Features of the Small But Classic Fuli Ancient Town

Eight kilometers away from Yangshuo, Fuli Ancient Town has a perfect fusion of a series of mountains, the Li River, and a natural landscape. Different from other ancient towns, Fuli Ancient Town has its own unique style.

It Has a History of Over 1,200 Years

Fuli Ancient Town has a history of more than 1,200 years and most other ancient Chinese towns were built in the Ming or Qing dynasties (1368–1912).

Full of a Traditional and Cultural Atmosphere

Thanks to its long history, you can feel the authentic cultural and historic atmosphere at Fuli. Most of the residents are elderly local people because the younger people have left to work in the cities.

The building in Fuli

Classic and Delicate Chinese Architectures

The most representative classic architectures in Fuli were three streets, nine wells, 18 alleys, three temples, and three pavilions. According to books on the subject, most of these buildings were delicate and full of history. It's a pity that these traditional buildings have been ruined by natural disasters or due to many years of disrepair.

Welcome to Fuli and Enjoy It as a Local Does

To enjoy a peaceful and harmonious countryside lifestyle, just go to Fuli Ancient Town. Spend your precious time on the most worthy experiences — visiting Fuli is one of them.

1. Experience Making a Chinese Painted Fan

Painting fans is a traditional local art. Many family members in Fuli can make beautiful fans, even the young children. There are many "farmer painters" who are good at creating amazing painted fans although they are not professional artists.

Special experience: Make a traditional Chinese painted fan as a souvenir.
Cost: from 50 yuan to over 100 yuan — the cost depends on the materials and duration

Making a fan

2. Explore a String of Local Buildings

All of the houses in Fuli were built with black bricks at the end of the Qing Dynasty. Each roof has clay sculptures and each sculpture is vivid. There is an interesting common phenomenon that each house has a front gate which is in line with its back door. Because of the special design, you can walk through all of the buildings easily. This is the most typical feature of Fuli Ancient Town.

3. Enjoy the Beautiful Natural Landscape

Three sides of Fuli Ancient Town are surrounded by mountains and one side is facing the Li River. Wide wheat fields and clear streams make Fuli more beautiful.

4. Visit Fuli Ancient Pier

Fuli Ancient Pier includes three pavilions, three streets, three temples, and three very large stones. They are the soul of this small town and we have provided their details below.

Boat in Fuli

Three pavilions: The three pavilions are called Daguang Pavilion, Kuixing Tower, and Jielongqiao Pavilion. Daguang Pavilion is a stone pavilion, which has two floors and was built throughout 17 years of the Republic of China period. Kuixing Tower is a well-preserved ancient city gate. A clear stream flows past this gate and joins with the Li River.
Three streets: The three streets are called Old Street, Xinglong Street, and Lingbei Street. Most of the town’s locals live in Old Street while residents from the Guangdong, Fujian, and Hunan provinces mainly live in Xinglong Street. Lingbei Street has various people from different places.
Three palaces: Harem Palace, Living Palace, and Water Palace
Three temples: Qinglong Temple, Baihu Temple, and Chongfo Temple
Three stones: There are three heavy stones at the pier, weighing between 1 and 2 tons. Nobody knows where they came from or when they were placed there.

5. Attend the Big Cultural Fair Every May 8^th in the Lunar Calendar

In the past, the Guangdongese and Fujianese people went to Fuli and took their beliefs about Goddess Matsu there with them. Goddess Matsu is popular in the coastal areas and it's special to see the big religious feast that’s celebrated every May 8th in Fuli.

Sheep in a local's home

Practical Travel Tips to Visit Fuli

Location: Fuli Town, Yangshuo County, Guilin, Guangxi Province
Opening hours: all day
Cost: free
Facilities: no modern facilities
Recommended accommodation: Yangshuo West Street
How to get there: Yangshuo is not as convenient to reach as the big cities, so the best way to get there is to take a taxi or join a tour.