Xingning Travel Guide — Best Time, Things to Do & Where to Stay

Why Xingning

Xingning is a county-level city located under the jurisdiction of Meizhou City in Guangdong Province, China. Positioned as the second largest urban municipality in eastern Guangdong, the city spans an area of 2,104.85 square kilometers. Based on demographic figures from 2020, Xingning records a population of 779,411 residents.

Situated in the northeastern portion of Guangdong, Xingning shares borders with numerous surrounding counties. Within Meizhou City, it connects with Pingyuan, Meixian, Fengshun, and Wuhua. It also borders Longchuan County in Heyuan City, alongside Xunwu County in Ganzhou City within Jiangxi Province.

The locality maintains a long history, having been originally established as a county in 331 CE under the historical name Qichang. During the tenth century, the area gained regional prominence by serving as the capital of the Southern Han Dynasty. Following its long period as a county, the region was officially converted into a county-level city under Meizhou in 1991.

In terms of cultural background, Xingning is widely recognized for its predominant Hakka community. The vast majority of the city's inhabitants are of Hakka heritage, shaping the cultural identity of the area.

Visitors to the area can explore several local cultural and natural features. Point of interest include Shenguang Hill, the historic Xingning Academy, and the Heshui Reservoir.

Administratively, Xingning is divided into three subdistricts and seventeen towns. The subdistricts are Fuxing, Ningxin, and Xingtian. The seventeen regional towns consist of Daping, Diaofeng, Luofu, Luogang, Heshui, Huangbei, Huanghuai, Jingnan, Longtian, Nibei, Ningzhong, Shima, Shuikou, Xinbei, Xinwei, Yetang, and Yonghe.

To reach or travel from the city, visitors can utilize regional rail connections. The area is served by both the Guangzhou–Meizhou–Shantou railway and the Longyan–Longchuan high-speed railway.