Wuyuan

Wuyuan (婺源; Wùyuán) is a city in Jiangxi Province. It is the central transportation hub to the many beautiful villages in the region.

Travel as a Muslim to Wuyuan

Muslim Friendly Rail Holidays in Wuyuan

Wuyuan has a high-speed train station where you can get trains between Wuyuan and many cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Fuzhou, Xiameng, Hefei, Huangshang and Nanchang etc.

Travel on a Bus in Wuyuan

The nearest city is Jingdezhen, where there are regular buses from the Licun Bus Station to Wuyuan North Bus Station (2 hours). There are also buses from Nanchang, Huangshan, Hangzhou, Quanzhou, Shanghai, and various large cities in the general region. You may get dropped off at Wuyuan's new bus station which is bigger and caters for long-distance buses, but you must get to the old north bus station (taxi roughly ¥10 or try a local bus) for buses to some of the villages (especially the eastern villages).

If you come from Shangrao (Jiangxi) there are buses from the bus station that will take you to Wuyuan west bus station (3½ hr, ¥54). But now the most convenient way is by train which will take only 25 min and cost ¥40.

You can also reach Wu Yuan from San Qing Shan (from Shangrao) using local transportation and guides. These methods of travel might be more expensive but the thrifty traveler can also hitch a ride on buses that pass through places like Gin Shan (a small resort city just below San Qing Shan). A good understanding of the Chinese language is necessary or knowledge of Jiangxi culture if you don't want to get ripped off.

There are regular buses from the New Bus Station to Jingdezhen nearly every 45 minutes. There are also buses to Shangrao for good rail links, every hour at least (3½ hr, ¥54).

There are two daily buses to Shanghai, at 9:30AM and 6:45PM and they take roughly seven hours and cost ¥180. There is a 9:20AM bus to Hangzhou, it takes roughly 5 hours and costs ¥103. There are also buses to Nanchang, Huangshan, and other cities in the region.

Do not let your taxi or motorcycle driver help you with accommodation (or follow you after the ride) in the villages, or else the hotel will offer you a higher charge in order to give the driver a commission.

Get Around

Public transportation is basic around Wuyuan region. Hub for most services is Wuyuan. The only local bus service we know about goes from Wuyuan New North Station(main for long-distance between cities) to Qinghua Village (¥6, 30 minutes). You can take public bus at ¥2 from New North Station to Old North Station where you transfer for short-distance bus between villages on the eastern line such as Small Likeng (¥7-15, 15 minutes), Wangkou, Jiangwan and Xiaoqi. There are other buses from Wuyuan to western villages: Sixi/Yancun, Qinghua, and from there onwards to Dazhang Shan mountain. They can take a long time though, so a driver to take you to a few places is way more efficient.

There are swarms of motorcycle taxis throughout the area, it is also feasible to rent them for the day. They should typically charge ¥2 per 2 minutes of travel, make sure of the price before the ride. A trip by motorcycle from Wuyuan to Small Likeng should cost about ¥20. There are also a few taxis that cost four or five times as much as a motorcycle.

Guesthouses (e.g. Linda at Brook Hotel, Little Likeng) can help organise a driver (¥200-250 per minivan per day) to several of the sites. Especially if going further afield, this is the best option. But be aware the driver will expect you to pay for his lunch.

If you would like you can also travel from the San Qing Shan area to Wu Yuan. It takes about an hour or so. For example: you can obtain a driver drive you from Gin Shan (a small town located at one of the main cable vehicle entrances to San Qing Shan) to Wu Yuan and back for ¥250 a person, if 3 or more people. They will take you from Gin Shan, drive you around the Wu Yuan tourists sites and drive you back to Gin Shan the same day. A hotel in Gin Shan can run you somewhere between ¥70-80. (You still have to pay for the entrance ticket into the tourists sites, but the price is not bad if you like the freedom to stop anywhere and escape from tour buses).

What to See

One important note before you begin: This area is one of "industrial tourism". Do not go here expecting pristine village life; it is an area well known among the Chinese, and they flock in tour groups. That said and there are still more "authentic" places to find, but probably not like you're imagining.

There are many small villages and temples throughout the region, and a number of scenic spots where it is rewarding just to stop and look around. The countryside is renowned throughout China, and if you have ever wanted to try your hand (and feet) out in a Rice paddie, this is a place where you can wander up to a friendly farmer and ask to lend a hand. The people are genuinely warm, friendly, and unimposing everywhere. Even the hawkers seem not particularly bothered whether you buy or not.

Many of the villages charge an admission, with a large majority being operated by one company. ¥60 will grant only one entrance, ¥210 (5-day pass) grants entry to all the scenic spots (including Dazhang shan), except Big Likeng . Students can get half- price for the ¥210 ticket after showing identity. Almost all Chinese tour groups have left the villages by 6PM, and life begins to wind down. Dinner (and therefore food options) is eaten around 6-7PM. It can get difficult to find food (or spots in restaurants) as it gets later in the day. Life, and light (bring a torch) in the villages stops by 10PM.

• Small Likeng - 小李坑 | GPS: An old village with narrow pathways built around several creeks and canals that intersect. One of the most popular places to stay in the area (read: heavily touristy). There are Buddhist temples, active farms, traditional homes, and teahouses -- but also a lot of cars, motorbikes, and the high speed railway going above (but not stopping in) the village. There can be many guided tour groups, so it is best visited on weekdays or off-season. A new edition seems to be a long gauntlet of tourist stalls that you have to walk through from the entrance, to the village. Having no hair does not seem to be a disincentive for the sellers to try and sell you the ubiquitous sandalwood combs. That aside once in the village, it earns its reputation as one of the nicest villages in Wuyuan. There are also a couple of decent places to eat with some great views down the little canals. The people living in this village now survive primarily on the tourist industry. They have no qualms about making money off you, or trying to make more money from other tourists, rather than you. This is still a nice canal town, but it is heavily touristy, and prone to many of the same problems of bigger tourist destinations.

• Sixi Yancun - 思溪延村 | GPS: it is feasible to take the bus between Wuyuan and Qinghua and get off in the middle, at the turnoff, from the turnoff it is still a ten minutes motorcycle ride past a village and on to Sixi Yangcun A strange claustrophobic duet of villages with tall gray walls and narrow maze-like streets and tumble-down buildings. With the tourist entrance set further away from the town and these villages manage to preserve their living identities better, and, especially towards the end of the day, it really does seem that time stopped in these villages many years ago. There is also an ancient bridge in Sixi that although not as old as Qinghua, is far more pleasant and really renders a visit to Qinghua where the bridge is pretty much its only redeeming feature, a bit pointless.

• Qinghua - 清华; Rainbow Bridge | GPS: A nice if underwhelming bridge, inside a small hamlet. More beautiful are the larger bridges nearby - from the Rainbow Bridge entrance, walk alongside the river, turn right when you have to, past the row of shops and dentists, and make a left at the first intersection. After a few minute's walk, at the bend in the road, is an amazing look over a valley, it is easy to go down and explore. This is also the place to get a bus back to Wuyuan.

• Big Likeng - 大李坑 | GPS: Northwest of Small Likeng - Not operated by the same company as most of the other villages.

• Fucun Town | GPS:
• Wenggong Mountain | GPS:
• Dazhang Shan Mountain - Strangely absent from some guidebooks, but a truly beautiful location. Soaring mountains, and green and crashing waterfalls at every turn. It has dreams of being the number 1 extreme sports area in China, but is quiet now. Probably because the cable vehicle is not finished yet, and the only way up and down is on foot, albeit classic Chinese paved mountain paths. It claims the highest waterfall in China (240 m) and it is really spectacular even if the claim is exaggerated. There's a tea shop by the last section near the top. Estimate 3 hours up and down at a healthy pace.

• Wang Kou | GPS:
• Jiangwan | GPS: Although probably not worth visiting on its own, if you are touring the eastern villages do spend an hour wandering around the old part of Jiangwan (away from the primary street). The people are warm and friendly. Sit a while and chat to some of the old women sat out on steps and stools in the alleyways who always seem to be smiling.

• Xiaoqi - 晓起 This is another duet of villages and on the whole very worthy of a visit. Lower Xiaoqi is tacky and pretty much a guided path around tourist shops, but head out the other side and cross the Rice paddies to Upper Xiaoqi for a more secluded, and peaceful place to loose yourself in the buildings. The houses may be similar in both upper and lower Xiaoqi, but its so much easier to appreciate them in Upper Xiaoqi. Food is available here at the tea house on the right as you first wander into upper Xiaoqi.

• Jiangling | GPS: A small villages which is famous for its terrace-style rapeseed flower around Tomb-Sweeping Day

• Huangling Village - 篁岭村 | GPS: 26 kilometers east of Small Likeng ☎ +86 793 7346698 - ¥240 A picturesque hilltop village. The village can be visited either by cable vehicle or sightseeing vehicle or by walking up the hill.

What to Do

The rivers in the area have rafts that can be hired. There is also a very miniature version of this in the streams of Small Likeng.

Local Languages

Very little English is spoken, although most of the touristed villages will have signs in English, Japanese, and Korean, as well as Chinese. If you are not Asian, expect have people constantly yell "hello" at you and stare.

Halal Restaurants in Wuyuan

Wuyuan city does not have good restaurants. It is best to eat Halal inside the villages. Brook Hotel, in Small Likeng, has nice food and an English menu (the only place in the whole of Wuyuan). Good food is also available at the Guangming Teahouse in Little Likeng, which has a nice location with a view down the river (walk up the canals to the "top"). In other villages, food can be available if you ask. There are many teahouses dotted throughout the villages. Beer and Rice can be purchased at these or the few restaurants/guesthouse kitchens. There are no cafes/cafes in the villages. And partying is definitely not an option as everything shuts down by 10PM.

eHalal Group Launches Halal Guide to Wuyuan

Wuyuan - eHalal Travel Group, a leading provider of innovative Halal travel solutions for Muslim travelers to Wuyuan, is thrilled to announce the official launch of its comprehensive Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Wuyuan. This groundbreaking initiative aims to cater to the diverse needs of Muslim travelers, offering them a seamless and enriching travel experience in Wuyuan and its surrounding regions.

With the steady growth of Muslim tourism worldwide, eHalal Travel Group recognizes the importance of providing Muslim travelers with accessible, accurate, and up-to-date information to support their travel aspirations to Wuyuan. The Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide is designed to be a one-stop resource, offering an array of invaluable information on various travel aspects, all carefully curated to align with Islamic principles and values.

The Travel Guide encompasses a wide range of features that will undoubtedly enhance the travel experience for Muslim visitors to Wuyuan. Key components include:

Halal-Friendly Accommodations inWuyuan: A carefully selected list of hotels, lodges, and vacation rentals that cater to halal requirements, ensuring a comfortable and welcoming stay for Muslim travelers in Wuyuan.

Halal Food, Restaurants and Dining in Wuyuan: A comprehensive directory of restaurants, eateries, and food outlets offering halal-certified or halal-friendly options in Wuyuan, allowing Muslim travelers to savor local cuisines without compromising their dietary preferences in Wuyuan.

Prayer Facilities: Information on masjids, prayer rooms, and suitable locations for daily prayers in Wuyuan, ensuring ease and convenience for Muslim visitors in fulfilling their religious obligations.

Local Attractions: An engaging compilation of Muslim-friendly attractions, cultural sites such as Museums, and points of interest in Wuyuan, enabling travelers to explore the city's rich heritage while adhering to their values.

Transport and Logistics: Practical guidance on transportation options that accommodate Muslim travel needs, ensuring seamless movement within Wuyuan and beyond.

Speaking about the launch, Irwan Shah, Chief Technology Officer of eHalal Travel Group in Wuyuan, stated, "We are thrilled to introduce our Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide in Wuyuan, a Muslim friendly destination known for its cultural richness and historical significance. Our goal is to empower Muslim travelers with accurate information and resources, enabling them to experience the wonders of Wuyuan without any concerns about their faith-based requirements. This initiative reaffirms our commitment to creating inclusive and memorable travel experiences for all our clients."

The eHalal Travel Group's Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Wuyuan is now accessible on this page. The guide will be regularly updated to ensure that Muslim travelers have access to the latest information, thus reinforcing its status as a reliable companion for Muslim travelers exploring Wuyuan.

About eHalal Travel Group:

eHalal Travel Group Wuyuan is a prominent name in the global Muslim travel industry, dedicated to providing innovative and all-inclusive travel solutions tailored to the needs of Muslim travelers worldwide. With a commitment to excellence and inclusivity, eHalal Travel Group aims to foster a seamless travel experience for its clients while respecting their religious and cultural values.

For Halal business inquiries in Wuyuan, please contact:

eHalal Travel Group Wuyuan Media: info@ehalal.io

Muslim Friendly Hotels

Wuyuan has a number of hotels near the Wuyuan bus stations (but Wuyuan is uninspiring, get out to the villages asap). Any of the villages have simple and affordable accommodation easily available. There are many signs, generally with English. Small Likeng's teahouses do not have signs out, but have superior Muslim friendly rooms that can be rented. Off-season prices are in the range of ¥100-120.

You can also check C-trip.com, but note that the pictures and facilities are not actually as advertised.

AD: There is an accommodation in Small Likeng, Brook Hotel (傍溪居; Bang Xi Ju ) ,the only one in Wuyuan you can also book online from Hostelworld or Hostelbookers ,telephone 13879349519. A good place to stay and eat in Small Likeng. Friendly family, good rooms (roughly ¥120) with a patio area on the top floor. Hot showers, double with private bathroom and air conditioner, free Internet access. Clean and good value. Food is also available at a couple other places in the village, but restaurants will close by 8PM. Try the local fish, red carp, very delicious in this hotel. Food is reasonably priced. What is more and the son of the owner can speak good English and is very hospitable. By the way and they can get you a discount for the ¥210 ticket at ¥280 through travel agency if you contact them in advance.

Explore more Halal friendly Destinations from Wuyuan

• Huangshan
• Jingdezhen

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