Longyan Travel Guide

Situated at southwest Fujian, China, Longyan (also named Minxi) is in the upper reaches of the Jiulong and Tingjiang rivers. It borders Sanming in the north and Quanzhou in the east with Jiangxi and Guangdong provinces in the west and south respectively. Covering an area of 19,050 km², it has a population of 2.8 million.
 

History

Longyan has a long history. In 282, Xinluo County was set up here and in 736, the area was under the administration of Tingzhou prefecture. Many Han people moved from central China to Longyan due to conflicts between central China and northern tribes in Tang Dynasty. These people were called Hakka. Longyan was a strategic base during the Chinese Civil War and is named "The Home of Generals".
 

Attractions

Earth Tower of Hakka, Tulou in Chinese, are tall, multi-storey circular earthen buildings built by the Hakka people for a family or clan to live in. Hakka Earth Towers in Yongding County, which is in the south of Longyan, have been added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.


Guanzhai Mountain is renowned for its beautiful scenery as well as the unique Danxia landscape. Longkong Cave with primitive karst landforms is called “the First Cave in the East of China.” Besides, Meihuashan Nature Reserve, Changting Old Town, Peitian Village and Gutian Conference Site are also worth a visit.
 

Transportation

Longyan is 142 km from Xiamen and 376 km from Fuzhou, people can take a flight to Fuzhou or Xiamen and take a bus there to Longyan.

The railway station at the northeast of Xinluo District in Longyan operates trains to/from Fuzhou, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Xiamen and other cities.

Longyan Bus Station is at the juncture between South Xi'an Road and Qiaomin Road in Xinluo District. There are buses to Fuzhou (hourly, 8:00am-7:00pm), Xiamen (half hourly, 7:20am-6:40pm), Zhangzhou (hourly, 7:30am-5:50pm), Quanzhou (hourly, 8am-5pm), Putian, Fuqing as well as other counties in Longyan.

The price for most city buses is CNY1 and price for air-conditioned bus is CNY2. A motorbike charges CNY3 for three kilometers and the flag-fall rate for a taxi is CNY5.
 

Weather and Climate

Longyan has a humid subtropical climate influenced by monsoon. Winter is short and mild and summer is long, hot and humid. January is the coldest month and July is the hottest. Rainfall gathered in spring and early summer.
 

Food and Restaurants

The food in Longyan is of Hakka flavor which is aromatic and spicy. Local food and snacks people should not missed: Chanting dried bean curd, Liancheng dried sweet potato, Yongding dried vegetable, Xinluo rice noodle. Rice wine is cheap and tasty and people can also try Shaxian Snacks which can be found everywhere in the area.

Food in Hukeng (where the Hakka Earth Tower located) is more expensive than Longyan but taste is better. There are also KFC, UBC and McDonalds in Longyan.

Linjia Meishipu
Address: Shuangquan Road, Xinluo District
Address: 0597 5259128

KFC
Address: West Road, Xinluo District
Phone: 0597-2234880

McDonalds
Address: Jiuyi North Road, Xinluo District
Phone: 0597-2238788

UBC
Address: No. 31 Xinan Road, Xinluo District
0597-2306611
 

Shopping

People can take some local snacks home when travel to Longyan. These local products can be shopped at the Zhongshan Street in the city.
 

Accommodation

Longyan city has many accommodation options but the choice in Yongding is very limited. Visitors can live in the local earth buildings to experience the Hakka people’s way of life.

Recommended hotels in Longyan
Centron International Hotel
Address: Jiuyi South Road, Xinluo District

BEST WESTERN Fortune Hotel Longyan
Address: Longteng Middle Road

Hengbao Hotel
Address: No. 121 South Xi'an Road, Xinluo District
 

Travel Tips

1. The city is suitable to visit all year round.
2. Bank of China is at Longchuan Road, Xinluo District.
3. The post office is at South Xi'an Road, Xinluo District.
4. Visitors are required to take off their shoes before entering the earth towers.
5. Bargaining with the motorbike drivers before you take one.