Wuyuan

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 to 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.

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, 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.

Not operated by the same company as most of the other villages.

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 car 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.

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 main road). 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.