Nanxi River in Zhejiang

Nanxi River in Zhejiang

Nanxi River Facts

Situated in Yongjia County, Zhejiang Province, Nanxi River Scenic Area is adjacent to Yandang Mountain (a famous world geological park southeast of Wenzhou City) in the east and covers an area of 625 square kilometers (241.3 square miles). This national scenic area is the only one marked by the rural scenery of China.

Chinese Name: 楠溪江

Type: Rivers; Scenery spots

Address: Yongjia County, Wenzhou City, Zhejiang Province, China

Best Seasons: All year round

Recommended Visiting Hours: about 3-5 hours

Opening Hours:  7:30-18:00

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Why is Nanxi River in Zhejiang So Special?

The area was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage Tentative List on November 29, 2001 in the Mixed (Cultural & Natural) category. This national scenic area is the only one marked by the rural scenery of China. With its leisurely atmosphere and picturesque scenery, it is an ideal place for holiday and leisure and is praised as the Cradle of Landscape Painting of China.

Brief Introduction of Nanxi River

The Nanxi River (Chinese: 楠溪江; pinyin: nánxījiāng) is located in Yongjia County of the Zhejiang Province in eastern China, and is a major tributary of the Ou River. The Nanxi River Scenic Area (楠溪江景区) was named a National Tourist Scenic Spot by the State Council in 1988 due to its scenic landscape accompanied by its unique local culture. It is 23 kilometres from Wenzhou, east of the Yandang Mountains, north of Xianju County and west of Xiandu County. The Nanxi River is 150 kilometers long and has a drainage area of 2429 square kilometers. It runs from north to south and flows into the Ou River, which empties into the East China Sea. The Nanxi River has 36 bends and 72 beaches.

Ancient Villages

On the middle and lower reaches of the river, there are many ancient villages which are hidden among the green forest. Most of the villages preserve complete historical features and many traditional cultural relics. Here, the visitors can learn about the evolution of farming and patriarchal clan in ancient China. Furthermore, the layout of most of the villages follows the unique traditional culture of China, including the astrology and geomantic omen. Of all the villages in the scenic area, Furong Village, located to the south of Yantou County (lying in the middle of the scenic area), is the oldest, with a history of over 1,200 years. Apart from Furong, Cangpo Village and Yantou Village also stand out with their distinctive features.

Main Attractions of  Nanxi River

The main scenic spots of the Nanxi River area include Baizhang Waterfall, Furong Triangle Rock, the Waterfall of Tengxi Pool, the Twelve Peaks, Taogong Cave, the Warehouse Under The Cliff, the Furong Ancient Hamlet and Lion Rock. The rock stratum of the mountains is mostly made up of tuff, rhyolite, and granite.[2] The river is located in the subtropical monsoon zone and is influenced by a maritime climate. The climate is warm and moist year round. Temperatures vary from 4.2 to 38.2 °C (39.6 to 100.8 °F). The average annual temperature is 18.2 °C (64.8 °F).[3] Drifting in the Nanxi River is the hottest activity. People sit on a bamboo catamaran which drifts rapidly with the current. From the raft, views of the ancient village, remote foggy mountains and locals washing along the river can be seen. The locals transport wood from the forest by means of the river. Th wood is floated from the upper reaches and retrieved in the lower reach of the river.

Best time to visit Zhejiang

Best season to visit Zhejiang: The best time to travel in Zhejiang is in spring and autumn, especially late March April, and September to October. In Spring, Zhejiang climate features cold with lots of rain; its coastal and offshore often appears high wind, the weather is extremely indefinite.

How to Get to Nanxi River

Travel with China Dragon Tours (top recommended)

If you want to get rid of hustle of transportation and troublesome navigation, you can book a private tour package which covers visiting, dining and transfer from us. Our local tour guide and driver will escort you Nanxi River in Zhejiang with speed and convenience, and take care of all the details. You just need to focus on travel.

Independent Travel

1. Take No.33 bus from Wenzhou Railway Station to Anlanting Wharf, and then take a ferry to Oubei Town. From there, take a bus to Yantou County which costs CNY11. It takes 1 hour to get there.
2. Hiring a car from Wenzhou Airport (WNZ) with a fare of CNY150-200 is also available. It takes about one and a half hours.

Useful Travel Tips

  1. The best way to view the stunning scenery on the banks is to drift along the river by bamboo raft. As the river is wide but shallow with a depth of around 1 meter (0.55 fathoms) and the water flows smoothly and calmly, it is quite suitable for drifting. Floating down on the raft, the visitors can have a view of the shoals and of the forest stretching over 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) like a green barrier. The grasslands, the hills, the river and the sky bring out the best in each other, forming a vivid picturesque view. Visitors who drift at night can see the lights sparkling on fishing boats and hear the fishermen’s songs resounding in the night sky. It can certainly give them some personal experiences of the local life.
  2. Proposed itinerary: travelers can take a plane from Hangzhou to Wenzhou, and transfer to Yongjia by train or by bus, and then get to Nanxi River.

Main Attractions in Zhejiang province

Edited by Bella Ren/任新月