Stand on the riverside promenade at the point where the Dong River meets the Xinfeng River, and you are looking at the reason Heyuan exists: the name means "origin of the river". The city spreads back from the water toward Guifeng Mountain, where a pagoda and a dinosaur museum sit within a short walk of each other.
Heyuan suits travellers who want a base for lake and mountain scenery rather than a dense urban sightseeing list. It is a Hakka-speaking city in northeastern Guangdong, and the surrounding counties hold most of the landscape worth travelling for.
This guide covers the places named in the source material: the museums and fountain in the urban area, and the lake and mountain areas in Dongyuan and Longchuan counties. Check opening days before you go, since several sights close on Mondays.
Top things to do in Heyuan
1. Wanlü Lake
A huge artificial lake in Dongyuan County that supplies drinking water for Heyuan and parts of the Pearl River Delta. You can take boat tours, swim, or walk, and the surrounding area stays green all year.
Boats run once an hour and the last one leaves at 14:00, so plan to arrive in the morning. The standard charge covers both entrance and the boat tour. Bus route 107 from Heyuan Bus Station is the direct way there.
2. Guishan Mountain
A mountain area within the Xinfeng River Reservoir in Dongyuan County, about 20km from the city. Special buses to the scenic area run from Heyuan Railway Station, and you can also reach it by boat from Wanlü Lake.
It is open through the day, which makes it a good pairing with a morning on the lake. Take the boat connection if you want to combine the two without returning to the city first.
3. Heyuan Dinosaur Museum
A small museum on Nanti Road in Yuancheng District with a large collection of dinosaur eggs. It sits near Guifeng Mountain and is served by bus routes 10, 113 and 118.
Entry stops after 17:00 and the museum is closed on Mondays. Because it is small, it works best as one half of a visit that also takes in Guifeng Pagoda, which is between this museum and the Heyuan Museum.
4. Guifeng Pagoda
A pagoda on Guifeng Mountain on Nanti Road in Yuancheng District, sitting between the Heyuan Museum and the Heyuan Dinosaur Museum. Entry is inexpensive and it is closed on Mondays.
Pair it with the dinosaur museum in the same outing, since the two are close together on the same road. It closes earlier in the afternoon than the museum, so visit the pagoda first.
5. First High Fountain in Asia
A musical fountain in the middle of the Xinfeng River in Yuancheng District, south of Chashan Park at the intersection of Datong Road and Yanjiang Road. The show runs at 20:00 daily and is free.
Take bus number 10 or 13 to Chashan Park and watch from the riverside. Because it is an evening show, it fits naturally at the end of a day built around the museums and the pagoda.
6. Huoshan Mountain
A mountain in Dongjiang Village, Tianxin Town, Longchuan County, reached by special buses from Longchuan Railway Station. Entry is available as a standard ticket or as a combined ticket that adds glass bridge access.
It is open from early morning to early evening, so it suits a full day out from the city. Choose the combined ticket only if you intend to use the glass bridge.
7. Xinfengjiang Forest Park
A forest park in Heyuan that contains a tall fountain. It is one of the city's named attractions and sits in the same general area as the reservoir scenery.
Treat it as a relaxed stop rather than a full day, and combine it with the waterfront sights in the urban area.
8. Sujiawei Round House
A round house listed among Heyuan's scenic areas, alongside Dagui Mountain and the artificial lake. It is one of the built sights in a city whose attractions are mostly natural.
It pairs well with the Xinfengjiang Forest Park and Dagui Mountain if you are spending a day away from the city centre.
9. Dagui Mountain
A scenic area named among Heyuan's attractions, in the same group as the Xinfengjiang Forest Park and the artificial lake.
Include it on a day when you are already heading out toward the reservoir rather than making a separate trip.
10. Neiguan Mountains and rivers
A mountain and river area in Lianping County, in the north of the prefecture. It is one of the county-level scenic spots for travellers who want to go beyond the city and the lake.
Lianping is a separate county, so plan it as a dedicated excursion rather than an add-on to a city day.
11. Huanglong Crag
A scenic spot in Dongyuan County, listed alongside Zhangxi as the county's places to visit. It sits in the same county as Wanlü Lake and Guishan Mountain.
If you are already in Dongyuan County for the lake, this is the natural second stop in the area.
12. Zhangxi
Another scenic spot in Dongyuan County, named together with Huanglong Crag. It is a county-level sight rather than an urban one.
Combine it with Huanglong Crag when you are touring Dongyuan County.
13. Huoshan and Shuikeng, Longchuan County
Longchuan County is home to scenic spots at Huoshan and Shuikeng. Huoshan Mountain is the better documented of the two, with buses from Longchuan Railway Station.
Use Longchuan Railway Station as your arrival point if you are coming by rail, and build the day around the county's scenic spots.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at Guifeng Pagoda on Guifeng Mountain, then walk the short distance along Nanti Road to the Heyuan Dinosaur Museum. Both are closed on Mondays, so check the day before committing. The pagoda closes earlier, so take it first.
Afternoon: Head out to Dongyuan County for Wanlü Lake. Boats leave once an hour and the last departs at 14:00, so this needs to be your afternoon rather than a late stop. If you have time and transport, Guishan Mountain can be reached by boat from the lake.
Evening: Return to Yuancheng District for the First High Fountain in Asia, which runs at 20:00 daily and is free. Watch from near Chashan Park, reached by bus number 10 or 13.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time of year to visit Heyuan?
Autumn is sunny and dry, and October and November have the highest proportion of possible sunshine. Spring is generally overcast and often rainy, and the heaviest rainfall comes between April and June.
Which days should I avoid planning a museum visit?
The Heyuan Dinosaur Museum and Guifeng Pagoda are both closed on Mondays. The dinosaur museum also stops selling tickets after 17:00 and stops admitting visitors shortly after.
Do I need to book the Wanlü Lake boat in advance?
The source material does not say. What it does say is that boats run once an hour and the last one departs at 14:00, so arrive early enough to catch one. The standard charge covers entrance and the boat tour together.
What language is spoken in Heyuan?
Heyuan is a Hakka-speaking city, with different dialect groups across its counties. Dongjiang Bendihua is also in general use in some areas along the Dongjiang.
Decide your dates around the autumn sunshine or the spring rain, check the Monday closures, and start building your days around the lake and the riverside.