Historical traces of the old towns, the natural charm of the coastal road, the sweet lychee, the rosy sea of flowers, and the quiet scent of tea... Guangdong boasts various gems in the countryside waiting for exploration.
China has recently launched 152 new rural tourist routes, some of which are in Guangdong. In early summer, how about following these trails to enjoy the rural charm of Guangdong?
Cultural heritage of Tangjiawan Town, Zhuhai
Qi'ao Island→Guangdong Zhuhai Qi'ao-Dangan Island Provincial Level Nature Reserve→Tangjia Ancient Town→Zhongshan Park→Rossini Watch Museum→Huitong Ancient Village
淇澳岛→广东珠海淇澳-担杆岛省级自然保护区→唐家古镇→中山公园→罗西尼钟表博物馆→会同古村
Tangjia Ancient Town (Photo: Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China)
This route strings together three major tourist areas in Zhuhai: Qi'ao Island, Tangjia Ancient Town, and Huitong Ancient Village. Tangjiawan Town boasts clusters of ancient buildings in the modern Lingnan architectural style, with a total of 116 immovable cultural relics. The Qi'ao Island in the town is a famous ecological island and tourist resort, with over ten kilometres of winding coastline.
The former residence of Su Zhaozheng on Qi'ao Island (Photo: Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China)
Huitong Ancient Village (Photo: Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China)
Best time to visit: May to November
Speciality: Baked chicken packed in clay, Tang's Gau daai gwai (nine main dishes), Tang's cakes and pastries, Huitong dried fruit, Qi 'ao shrimp paste, Qi 'ao seafood products
A trip around Nan'ao Island, Shantou
Nan'ao Bridge→Nan'ao Ring Road→lighthouses→Nan'ao Island National Forest Park→Qianjiang Bay Beach Park→Yun'ao fishing port→Sancongyia lighthouse→Qing'ao Bay→Houlan B&B Village→Houhuayuan Ecological Tourism Village
南澳大桥→南澳环岛公路→归灯启航→南澳海岛国家森林公园→前江湾沙滩公园→云澳渔港（海上渔村）→三囱崖灯塔→青澳湾（北回归线广场）→后兰民宿村→后花园生态旅游村
Nan'ao Island National Forest Park (Photo: Nanfang Daily)
Nan'ao Island, which Nan'ao County rests on, is decorated with green and luxuriant trees. A 68-kilometre highway around the Island stretches along the blue sea and silver beach. Along the highway, tourists will find various coastal scenic spots, lighthouses, historical villages, B&Bs, and other tourist attractions, as well as several restaurants offering local specialities.
Qianjiang Bay (Photo: Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China)
Qing'ao Bay (Photo: Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China)
Best time to visit: May to November
Speciality: Nan'ao fried rice with pyropia, Houzhai squid products, Nan'ao fish sauce, Nan'ao oyster, Nan'ao sweet potato
History and culture of Qi'ao Ancient Road, Zhongshan
Nanqiao Village→Guinan Village→Yongmo Village→Zhongshan Hot Spring Resort→Guhe Village Dongjieli Cultural and Creative Park
南桥村→桂南村→雍陌村→中山温泉宾馆→古鹤村东街里文化创意园
Guinan Village (Photo: Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China)
The Qi'ao Ancient Road was an official and commercial road connecting the Chinese mainland with Macao in modern times, and was one of the key passages of the Maritime Silk Road. This route features a rather well-preserved Lingnan countryside, such as the Gu's Ancient Ancestral Hall in Nanqiao Village, ancestral halls and temples in Yongmor Village, Dongshan Academy, as well as old docks.
Zheng Guanying's former residence in Yongmo Village (Photo: Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China)
Memorial archway in Guhe Village (Photo: Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China)
In addition, in Guhe Village, Sanxiang Town, there are more than 100 century-old historic buildings, over 100 rare ancient trees, and three large antique home furnishing markets, with more than 500 antique stores.
Best time to visit: May to December
Speciality: Pigeon soup with smilax glabra, Hakka brine chicken, Hakka tofu, smilax glabra paste, black tea
"A sea of sweet fruits" in Gaozhou, Maoming
Longan Pavilion→Xinghua Village→Chuliang Mother Tree Theme Park→Yijihongchen Square→Lychee Sculpture→China Lychee Expo Center→Permanent site of China Lychee Industry Conference→National lychee germplasm resource orchard→Gongyuan Orchard→Guifei Square→Baili Garden→Tang Poetry Theme Park→Lychee Post Office→Hongli Pavilion→Qiaotou Xiaoyuan B&B→Chuxin Square→Letian Hot Spring Hotel (or Gujun Water Town Hot Spring B&B)
龙眼阁→杏花村→储良母树主题公园→一骑红尘广场→荔枝雕塑→中国荔枝博览馆→中国荔枝产业大会永久会址→国家荔枝种质资源圃→贡园→贵妃广场→百荔园→唐词主题公园→荔枝邮局→红荔阁→桥头小院民宿→初心广场→乐天温泉酒店（或古郡水城温泉民宿）
Baili Garden (Photo: Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China)
Longan Pavilion (Photo: Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China)
Gaozhou county-level city of Maoming is praised as "China's No.1 county for fruits." Over 100 varieties of fruits are grown here, among which lychee, longan, and banana are the representatives.
(Photo: Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China)
This route is located in Genzi Town, noted as a hometown of lychees, and Fenjie Town. As May is the harvest season for lychees, tourists can feast on lychees and related delicacies in Gaozhou. Furthermore, several lychee and longan theme parks, including Gongyuan Orchard, Hongli (meaning red lychees) Pavilion, Baili (meaning one hundred lychees) Garden, Chuliang Mother Tree Theme Park, and Longan Pavilion, as well as China Lychee Expo Center scattered along the route. (Note: 'Chuliang' is a native and superior quality longan cultivar in Gaozhou.)
China Lychee Expo Center (Photo: Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China)
Fenjie Town (Photo: Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China)
Best time to visit: March to July
Speciality: Green bean cake with lychee wood-steamed sheet jelly, glutinous rice cake soup, lychee honey, dried logan tea
Author: Holly
Poster: Mia
Editor: Olivia, Nan, Monica, James
