Daxu Old Town – the oldest town in Guangxi Province
Last Update: 18th January 2023
What is Daxu Old Town?
Located around 20 kilometers southeast of the heart of Guilin City, Daxu Old Town was originally built in 200 AD. In the Han Dynasty (202 – 8 BC and 25 – 220 AD), the town was a small settlement. In the Northern Song Dynasty (960 – 1127), it became a busy business district. In the Ming (1368 – 1644) and Qing (1644 – 1912) Dynasties, it was a combination of a variety of business. Therefore, it features old houses, local unique festivals and local operas.
Daxu Old Town Fast Facts
- Chinese Name: Daxu Guzhen (大圩古镇)
- History: originally built in 200 AD
- Things to do there: Photography, Archaeology, Old Culture, Adventure
- Who visits: Photographers, Archaeologists, Adventure Enthusiasts, Chinese Culture Lovers
- Time required: 2 – 3 x hours
Interested in visiting Daxu Old Town on a Private Tour in Guilin?
Wendy Wei Tours offers a variety of different packaged tours as well as custom tours including Daxu Old Town, among other attractions and destinations. To find out more, please visit our Tours page or Contact Us directly to find out more.
What to expect at Daxu Old Town
The old street in Daxu Old Town winds through nearly 2 kilometers long. It is 2 meters wide. Old house stands on either side of the street. The street is built with nearly 15,000 bluestones. All the houses are in brick and timber structure. The door of the entrance is made of a row of boards. The doors and the windows of the wing-rooms and the main rooms are carved with patterns. You could find some old shops, such as bamboo weaving workshops, straw sandals workshops, herbal medicine clinics, and barber shops.
There are 13 piers and several old city gates in Daxu Old Town. The wall of the gate is covered with moss. The color of the wall is fading away with the time. The old town is also dotted with several old bridges. The most popular is called Wanshou Bridge.
There are 13 piers and several old city gates in Daxu Old Town. The wall of the gate is covered with moss. The color of the wall is fading away with the time. The old town is also dotted with several old bridges. The most popular is called Wanshou Bridge.
It was originally built in the Ming Dynasty and rebuilt in 1899. Wanshou connotes longevity in China. The one-arch stone bridge offers a good background for photographing. Originally built in 1775, the wooden mosque covers an area of 600 square meters. Seven old toms located at Seven Star Slope (七星坡) were discovered in 2001. They are situated in a shape of the Big Dipper. Pottery, bronze swords, iron axes and the carved walls and other burial objects found in the tombs reflect that they are the tombs between the Warring States (475 – 221 BC) and the Western Han Dynasty (202 BC – 8 AD).
On the lunar 5th of May, the Dragon Boat Festival is always held in the town. That day, locals always hold the dragon boat race. You will see the passion and power in the body and soul of locals through the race.
Best time to visit Daxu Old Town
The best time to visit Daxu Old Town is in the morning.
The best months to visit are from April to October.
How to get to Daxu Old town
Bus 306 will take you from Guilin to Daxu Old Town directly. Or you could hire private transportation with Wendy Wei Tours.
Additional Daxu Old Town Travel Advice
- Opening hours: 24 hours
- As at 18th January 2023, the entrance pricing is free of charge.
- If you would like to visit local houses, the entrance pricing is from 20 CNY per person per time.
- Please take an umbrella with you to prevent the sunshine or rain.
Interested in visiting Daxu Old Town on a Private Tour in Guilin?
Wendy Wei Tours offers a variety of different packaged tours as well as custom tours including Daxu Old Town, among other attractions and destinations. To find out more, please visit our Tours page or Contact Us directly to find out more.