Stand at the top of the steps on Huangqi Mountain and the whole of Jieyang opens out below you, the Rongjiang winding through a city that has been an administrative centre since a Qin garrison was set up here in 214 BC. Closer in, the red pillars and stone threshold of Jinxian Gate mark the old entrance to the city, and a short walk west brings you to the Confucius Temple that now holds the Jieyang Museum.
Jieyang suits travellers who are already in the Chaoshan region and want a day or two of old streets, temple courtyards and hilltop views rather than a resort. Chaoshan Min is the everyday language here, and the food, opera and folk dance traditions that go with it are part of the reason to come.
This guide covers the sights and performances the sources describe, with practical notes on how to fit them together.
Top things to do in Jieyang
1. Jinxian Gate
Jinxian Gate is a Chinese-style entrance gate to the city, built during the Ming Dynasty. It is the natural starting point for a walk around the old centre and the landmark most other sights in Rongcheng District are measured from.
Combine it with the Jieyang Museum, which sits a short distance to the west. Buses stop at Jinxianmen station, which also makes it the handiest place to begin a day on foot.
2. Jieyang Museum
The Jieyang Museum is housed inside the Jieyang Confucius Temple on Hanci Road in Rongcheng District. Entry is free, and the temple setting is as much the point as the displays.
It opens 09:00-11:30 and 14:30-17:00 and is closed on Mondays, so plan around that. It is a short walk west of Jinxian Gate, which makes the two easy to pair.
3. Shuangfeng Temple
Shuangfeng Temple was first built in the 10th year of Shaoxing in the Song Dynasty (1140) and was moved to its present site on Mashan Lane in the county seat in the early Ming Dynasty by Zen Master Shishan. It was a large monastery in eastern Guangdong, and entry is free.
It is open daily from 04:30 to 18:00. To get there, take bus No. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 17 or 18, or the inner or outer ring of the urban area, get off at Jinxianmen station, walk west along Sixian Road to the intersection with Guanyinzai Street, then south along Guanyinzai Street for about 250 metres.
4. Huangqi Mountain
Huangqi Mountain sits close to the railway station and is a good choice for mountain climbing in Jieyang. It is one of the eight ancient scenic spots in Jieyang, there are many cultural relics on it, and steps lead up to viewpoints over the city. Entry is free and it is accessible all day.
Take bus No. 1, First Ring Line A or B, or Second Ring Line A or B to Huangqishan Station, then walk to Huangqishan Forest Park; if you drive, you can navigate to "Huangqishan Parking Lot", where parking is ¥10.
5. Huangmanzhai Waterfalls
Huangmanzhai Waterfalls lie in the upper reaches of the Cukeng River in Cukeng Village, Jingxiyuan, Jiexi County. The river rushes down to form a natural waterfall 80 metres wide with a drop of nearly 100 metres, and the surrounding group includes Wang Mang Cave, said to be where Wang Mang lived in seclusion during the Western Han Dynasty, as well as Canfeng Temple, Butterfly Spring and the Big Buddha.
It is open daily 08:30-17:30; adult tickets are ¥90 and student tickets ¥40. From Jieyang City, go west along the Jiepu Expressway, leave it at Jiexi County and follow the signs. This is a full half-day or more, so give it its own outing rather than tacking it onto a city day.
6. Chaozhou opera
Chaozhou opera, also known as "Chaoyin opera" and "Baizi opera", was formed before the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty and was named after the founding of New China. The roles are divided into 10 kinds of ugly, 7 kinds of female, 5 kinds of male and 3 kinds of clown, with the female and ugly performances the most distinctive. Jieyang has long been known as the "hometown of drama" and "hometown of small drama".
Tours at the Jieyang Chaozhou Opera Inheritance and Protection Center last at least 45 minutes and are free; call +86 663-8687117. Pair it with an afternoon at the museum and Jinxian Gate, since all three sit in the same part of town.
7. Iron rod puppets
Iron rod puppets have been part of eastern Guangdong for about 700 years and are a unique art form in Chaoshan. Before the late Qing Dynasty the form was called "bamboo window paper shadow play": figures were carved from cowhide and decorated with colours, an oil lamp was placed inside the stage, and a bamboo frame covered with transparent white paper served as the projection surface.
Tours in Yuhu Village last at least 30 minutes and are free. Bus No. 1, bus No. 18, New Energy Line 3 or No. 2 pass the station near Gangkou Village.
8. Yingge dance
Yingge dance is a traditional folk dance in Jieyang City with a history of more than 300 years, regarded as a symbol of promoting good and suppressing evil, auspiciousness and peace, and passed down from generation to generation among local people. Performances are held at Jieyang Tower Square and last at least half an hour; they are free.
Yingge dance is performed during the Spring Festival, the Lantern Festival and major celebrations, so time a visit around one of those if you want to see it rather than just the square.
9. Dragon Boat Race
Dragon boat racing on the Jieyang Rongjiang is held on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month each year, commemorating Qu Yuan and, by tradition, driving away the fish in the river. Races last at least 45 minutes and watching is free.
Because it falls on a single lunar date, check the calendar before you book if this is the reason for your trip. The riverside setting also makes a pleasant walk on ordinary days.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at Jinxian Gate, then walk the short distance west to the Jieyang Museum inside the Jieyang Confucius Temple. Note that the museum is closed on Mondays and only open 09:00-11:30 and 14:30-17:00, so an early start is the safe choice.
Afternoon: From Jinxianmen station, follow Sixian Road west to Guanyinzai Street and continue south about 250 metres to Shuangfeng Temple, which stays open until 18:00. If you would rather be outdoors, take a bus to Huangqishan Station instead and climb Huangqi Mountain for the views over the city.
Evening: Look for a Chaozhou opera tour at the Jieyang Chaozhou Opera Inheritance and Protection Center, which lasts at least 45 minutes and is free, and call +86 663-8687117 ahead to check availability.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Jieyang Museum open?
It opens 09:00-11:30 and 14:30-17:00 and is closed on Mondays. Entry is free, and it is housed inside the Jieyang Confucius Temple on Hanci Road in Rongcheng District.
Do I need to pay to see the main sights in the city?
Jinxian Gate, the Jieyang Museum, Shuangfeng Temple, Huangqi Mountain, Chaozhou opera, iron rod puppets, Yingge dance and the Dragon Boat Race are all free. The exceptions in the sources are Huangmanzhai Waterfalls, at ¥90 for adults and ¥40 for students, and parking at Huangqishan Parking Lot, at ¥10.
When can I see Yingge dance or the Dragon Boat Race?
Yingge dance is performed during the Spring Festival, the Lantern Festival and major celebrations at Jieyang Tower Square. Dragon boat racing takes place on the Jieyang Rongjiang on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month each year.
How do I get to Huangqi Mountain without a car?
Take bus No. 1, First Ring Line A or B, or Second Ring Line A or B to Huangqishan Station, then walk to Huangqishan Forest Park. Drivers can navigate to "Huangqishan Parking Lot".
Pick the season that matches the performance you want to see, sketch out your days around the museum's opening hours, and you have everything you need to start planning a trip to Jieyang.