City · China
Ganzhou
赣州
A lived-in river port where Song-dynasty brick walls, floating boat bridges, and Hakka heritage still shape daily life.
Sitting where the Zhang and Gong rivers join to form the Gan River, Ganzhou is southern Jiangxi's historical anchor and one of China's best-preserved Song-dynasty cities. Brick ramparts built nearly a thousand years ago still hold back seasonal floods, while floating wooden boat bridges and an ancient underground drainage network remain part of everyday civic life. Beyond the old town, the surrounding hills form a heartland of Hakka culture and early twentieth-century revolutionary history.
Two full days is the sweet spot for exploring the city and a nearby excursion. Base yourself inside the old town in Zhanggong District near Yugu Pavilion and the riverfront wall, where the historic lanes are easy to cover on foot. From here, Tongtian Rock makes an easy half-day trip on the city fringe, while the fortress-like Hakka walled compounds of Longnan, such as Guanxi Xinwei, or the revolutionary sites of Ruijin work well as full-day outings. Because it sits directly on the high-speed rail line between Nanchang and Shenzhen, Ganzhou pairs naturally with Guangdong's Pearl River Delta or northern Jiangxi stops like Jingdezhen. It suits history buffs who appreciate functional heritage over reconstructed theme towns, though travelers chasing dramatic mountain scenery or big-city nightlife may feel underwhelmed.
Updated 24 October 2026
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Ancient City Wall and Fushou Gully, Bajing Pavilion (Pavilion of Eight Scenes), Dongjin Pontoon Bridge +3
Highlights
Ancient City Wall and Fushou Gully, Bajing Pavilion (Pavilion of Eight Scenes), Dongjin Pontoon Bridge +3
01Ancient City Wall and Fushou Gully
Stretching for over three kilometers along the rivers, this rare surviving brick wall from the Song dynasty is inscribed with thousands of kiln stamps. Beneath the streets lies the Fushou Gully, an eleventh-century brick drainage system that still protects the old quarter from flooding.
必看02Bajing Pavilion (Pavilion of Eight Scenes)
This multi-tiered landmark tower stands at the strategic confluence where the Zhang and Gong rivers merge into the Gan River. Climb to the upper balconies for sweeping views of the two differently colored waterways meeting below and the floating bridge in the distance.
必看03Dongjin Pontoon Bridge
Linking the eastern bank of the Zhang River to the old town since the Song dynasty, this 400-meter floating walkway rests on roughly a hundred wooden boats chained together. Locals still cross it daily on foot with market baskets while fishermen cast nets alongside the planks.
04Tongtian Rock Grottoes
Set in red sandstone hills about ten kilometers northwest of downtown, this is the largest cliffside Buddhist grotto complex in Jiangxi. Hundreds of Tang and Song dynasty stone carvings sit tucked into shaded alcoves alongside centuries of scholarly rock inscriptions.
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05Yugu Pavilion and Junmenlou
Immortalized by a famous patriotic poem written by Southern Song official Xin Qiji, Yugu Pavilion overlooks the northern riverbank beside the restored Junmenlou gate. At night, the surrounding Song-style streets light up with performers, tea stalls, and local snack vendors.
06Zao'er Lane
This short, cobblestone alley in the eastern part of the old city preserves a mix of Song-era street layouts and Ming and Qing courtyard residences with stepped马头墙 (horse-head) gables. It is a quiet spot for a morning stroll before tour groups arrive.
Travel tips
Walk the wall at dusk, Watch when the pontoon bridge opens, Check which train station you use +1
Travel tips
Walk the wall at dusk, Watch when the pontoon bridge opens, Check which train station you use +1
Walk the wall at dusk
The riverside stretch between Bajing Pavilion, Yugu Pavilion, and Dongjin Pontoon Bridge is connected and free to walk. Go an hour before sunset to beat the midday heat and watch locals swim in the river and stroll across the wooden boats.
Watch when the pontoon bridge opens
A section of the Dongjin Pontoon Bridge is occasionally unchained and swung open to let river barges pass or during periods of high water. If you find the middle blocked, wait twenty minutes or walk back toward the main road bridge.
Check which train station you use
High-speed trains use Ganzhou West Station near the airport, about 30 to 40 minutes by taxi from the historic Zhanggong District, whereas conventional trains use the older Ganzhou Station closer to town. Leave extra transfer time when catching a bullet train.
Set up mobile payment and translation
Ganzhou sees relatively few foreign tourists, so English signage and menus are scarce outside major museums. Having Alipay or WeChat Pay linked to your card and a translation app ready for camera scanning will make ordering local Hakka dishes much smoother.
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How to get to Ganzhou
Most visitors arrive at Ganzhou West Station via high-speed rail. Trains take roughly two hours from either Shenzhen North or Nanchang West, and around two and a half hours from Guangzhou, so the city is an easy stop between Guangdong and central China. For slower conventional trains, Ganzhou Station sits much closer to the city center. Ganzhou Huangjin Airport, about 30 minutes by taxi from the historic Zhanggong District, connects with major hubs including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Chongqing.
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