Live Your Best Lives
Guangzhou and the surrounding Pearl River Delta region are the heart of Cantonese culture. This Cantonese-speaking land boasts numerous ancient villages hidden amidst the bustling city. Away from the fast-paced high-rises and the throngs of tourist attractions, a leisurely two- to three-day journey from Guangzhou offers the chance to explore traditional Cantonese architecture, discover authentic local cuisine, and experience down-to-earth local hospitality.
A beautiful water town known as "Zhouzhuang of Guangdong" is like a secret paradise in childhood, a new world that brings people closer to their inner world.
This place is far away from the city and away from the hustle and bustle. It is said that a long time ago, there were two families with the surnames "Peng" and "Jian" here, so it got its name. It is a simple place to meet people, and an unexpected encounter with Shunde's characteristic water town makes you feel light and comfortable both physically and mentally.
In 2013, TVB filmed the drama "The Inheritors" here. Surrounded by water, it still retains its ancient charm. It has the style of mulberry ponds and fish ponds, and has the charm of a Lingnan water village. Walking among the ancient houses and trees, you can feel the tranquility of the fruit plantations that are at peace with the world.
The entrance is filled with historical and cultural charm, and the stone pillars beneath it are preserved from the Qing Dynasty. The entire water village is marked by the Juji Bridge as the village entrance and the Jin'ao Bridge as the village end. An interesting fact about this place is that the current and former village entrances and ends are actually reversed.
Geoje Bridge is an ancient bridge built in the Song Dynasty. There is a lovely stone lion on each pillar, and the stone railings are engraved with patterns, which is very majestic. The stone lions here are carved lifelike.
There are Cantonese opera performances in the ancestral hall every Saturday and Sunday.
Take a rowboat on the creek to visit Fengjian Water Village, experience the original flavor of the water village, feel the charm of the water village, and listen to the simple singing of the boatman.
There are two cruise times: new and old: 8:30~17:30; 19:00~22:00. The total length is about 4km, and it takes about 30 minutes to circle the water town. The small boat costs ¥150/trip (can accommodate up to 5 people), and the large boat costs ¥250/trip (can accommodate up to 10 people).
The hand-ground sesame paste next to Jinao Bridge is ground by a villager aunt on the spot, and a bowl of fresh sesame paste costs only 4 yuan.
Many local farmers are selling it, so you don't have to worry about the high price. There are many farmhouses and private restaurants in the village, and the taste is first-class. You can eat at any one of them and it will be delicious.
Snack recommendations
Quan Shao Jun'an steamed pork, fried fish cakes next to the golden osmanthus tree, ginger milk next to the health station, wonton noodles opposite the old village committee
Hotel recommendations
Ruichang Building next to the old village committee, Yunyuan opposite Jinao Bridge, and Water Village Home at No. 1 Yongxing Road.
Tips:
1. Address
The northern end of Xingtan Town, Shunde District, Foshan City
2. Transportation
Self-driving
The GPS destination was set to "Fengjian". Following the navigation, it took about 2 hours to drive from Guangzhou Ring Expressway to Foshan First Ring Road to Nanguo West Road to Fengjian Avenue.
Public transportation
Take the inter-city bus to Xingtan, Shunde, and get off at Xingtan Bus Station. After exiting the station, cross the street across the street and transfer to bus No. 383 at the "Xingtan Bus Station" bus stop, and get off at "Fengjian Auditorium"
3. Parking
When there are few tourists, you can park in the village. When there are too many tourists, you will be restricted from driving into the village. Optional parking locations include: in front of Fengjian Market, near the God of Wealth Temple
4. Light on/off times in the village
Pay attention to the time to turn off the lights at night and take photos in advance to avoid affecting the night view
Weekdays 7:00~23:00; Winter 6:00~24:00
5.Major festival activities
Dragon Boat Race on Dragon Boat Festival
Zili Village consists of nine natural villages with the surname Fang. During the later period of land reform, three villages were collectively named Zili Village, meaning self-sufficiency. The village's watchtower complex, with its exquisite architecture, harmonious layout, and well-proportioned layout, represents the heyday of Kaiping's watchtowers.
Kaiping Diaolou is the only one in Guangdong Province that is listed as a World Cultural Heritage. The Diaolou not only has a fusion of Chinese and Western architectural styles, but also perfectly combines the village with the surrounding farmland scenery. It is indeed worth seeing. The iconic straw chicken at the entrance of the village is the highlight.
There are 63 households and 175 people in Zili Village, but there are 248 overseas Chinese and compatriots from Hong Kong and Macao, mainly distributed in countries and regions such as the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Macao. Remittances are one of the main sources of income for this village.
Originally built to prevent banditry, they have stood for a hundred years and are a testament to history. Surrounding them are villages, rice paddies, small bridges, and flowing water, all set against a backdrop of blue sky and white clouds, creating a tranquil scene.
Built in 1925 by Fang Runwen, a Chinese American living in the United States, Mingshilou stands out from the 1,833 other watchtowers in Kaiping. As the residence of the film's main villain, Huang Silang, Mingshilou's grandeur is truly impressive.
Climbing up the Mingshi Tower, you can overlook the scenery of the entire village. There is a peaceful and tranquil atmosphere everywhere, and you will feel like you are in an outdoor paradise.
The layout inside the watchtower is the Cantonese-style "three rooms and two corridors" building style, with a living room in the middle and bedrooms on both sides. The hall and bedrooms are separated by "corridors", and each corridor has a stove, which means that after marriage, the family will be financially independent and should have their own stove.
If you want to see the original watchtowers and have enough time, it is recommended to go to Rongguifang and rent a bicycle. Along the way, you will pass by many ancient villages. Each ancient village has its own watchtower. The many watchtowers have different shapes and each has its own unique style. You can face the most authentic watchtower style.
In Zili Village, you can also try clay pot rice cooked by local farmers over a fire. The rice is incredibly authentic, fragrant, and delicious, especially the "crusty" layer near the bottom of the pot, which has a slightly burnt flavor. A trick to enjoying this "crusty" layer is to pour some soup over it to soak it, revealing the rich meaty aroma. The rice is crispy, delicious, and chewy, leaving a lingering fragrance.
Kaiping is known as the city of geese. If you have time, you can go to the city to taste goose meat. We recommend Youzhiming Magang Goose (Xianglong Middle Road Branch), which is located near No. 26 Xianglong Middle Road.
Tips:
1. Address
Located in the Diaolou complex of Zili Village, Tangkou Town, Kaiping City, Jiangmen City, 25 kilometers east of Kaiping City.
2. Transportation
Self-driving
Navigate to the entrance of the Zili Village Diaolou Scenic Area and drive from downtown Guangzhou via the Guangfo Expressway, Fokai Expressway (Kaiyang Expressway), and exit at Tangkou (or Shuikou Exit, G325). It takes about 2 hours to arrive.
Public transportation
Take a bus from Guangzhou to Yici Station (there are three stations in Kaiping: Changsha, Shuikou, and Yici Station. Please look carefully when taking the bus). Yici Station is the closest to the Pingdiaolou complex, and the exit of the bus station is Yici Bus Station. The Yici to Magang bus passes through: Liyuan and Zili Village.
3. Tickets
The ticket price for Zili Village is 78 yuan. There are five scenic spots in the Diaolou Group that require tickets: Zili Village, Liyuan, Majianglong, Jinjiangli, and Nanlou. You can buy tickets for each of them separately, or buy a combined ticket for all five spots. Liyuan + Zili Village is recommended, and the ticket price is around 145 yuan.
4. Nearby Hotels
Recommended nearby hot spring hotels, Jinjiang Hot Spring (about 30 kilometers from the scenic spot)
Huangpu is a name known to almost the whole world; however, less than 1% of people know the origin of this name that has broken out of Asia and into the world.
From a small village, it has grown into a world-renowned port for foreign trade, producing figures like Mr. Hu Xuanze of Huangpu, Liang Jingguo, a merchant from the Thirteen Hongs, and Liang Cheng, the founder of Tsinghua University. It offers a nostalgic Lingnan waterside charm, steeped in history, and complemented by snacks and festivals that retain a contemporary flair.
Huangpu Village was originally called "Fengpu". During the Qing Dynasty, many foreign merchant ships docked here. Foreigners had incorrect pronunciation and always pronounced "Fengpu" as "Huangpu". Over time, no one called the original "Fengpu" anymore, and it finally became "Huangpu" village.
Entering Huangpu Village, leaving aside the street vendors and various modern supermarkets, one would think that he or she is in a small village in modern times. The architectural style of the time is still retained here, although most of the ancient buildings have been renovated.
A century-old memorial archway, a relic of the ancient port, still stands on the dock. It's also home to the renowned Guangdong First Checkpoint Memorial Hall, where visitors can learn about the entire history of the Huangpu Ancient Port.
Tickets: Free
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday 09:00-17:00 (tickets stop at 16:30) Closed on Mondays
The short distance between Shiji Village and Huangpu Village boasts a diverse array of ancestral halls, memorial archways, and ancient buildings, each brick and tile holding a story. Enjoy a group stroll through the ancient village, slow down your pace, appreciate the treasures of history, and enjoy the sights on weekdays when the crowds are minimal.
There are a variety of Guangzhou snacks in Huangpu Ancient Port. The stores follow the style of Guangzhou's old food stalls. Sitting in the store, you can better experience the flavor of Guangzhou.
Milkman ginger milk
It is the first colostrum shop in Guangzhou. Now it has three branches, with a large flow of people every day. The shop has many snacks and is famous for its ginger milk.
Every table must order this ginger milk, which tastes similar to double skin milk but is smoother and more fairy-like. Before the ginger milk is served, there is only a small drop of ginger juice in the bowl, and then the waiter will bring hot fresh milk to mix the milk. It is a very ritualistic food experience. After 2-3 minutes, it will condense into ginger milk.
Due to geographical location, some stores have incredibly long lines, while others have very few. At first, I followed everyone else and lined up at the most crowded store, only to realize they were all the same. So, if you're planning on going, just go to the store with the least crowds; there's no need to go out of your way to queue.
Maoji Boat Porridge
This is the most nostalgic food restaurant in Huangpu Ancient Port, and it is extremely popular! Many local villagers who were born and raised there often patronize it.
The signature boat porridge is a must-try. It's loaded with fried dough sticks, peanuts, fish skin, chopped green onions, and more—so much so that you can't even scoop it up! A full bowl is only 7 yuan, so while the price has increased, the ingredients are still very generous!
It is almost completely self-service here. When there are few people, you can go to the stall to get the dishes yourself. When there are many people, waiters will bring the dishes to the table and ask if you need them. If you come early, there will be seafood.
Ancient Port Dessert Shop
The shop has a very Hawaiian style, but it actually sells mango ice, such as mango shaved ice, mango smoothie, mango salad, etc. There is a heartbreaking love story for the owner printed next to the shop, and in her free time, the aunt will tell the story of herself and the shaved ice.
Outside the shop, there are baskets of mangoes lined up against the wall for everyone to see. The ice cream is as big as half a grapefruit, so two people usually can't finish it, but even four people can eat it. It is recommended to order as needed.
Other food recommendations
A'e pig's feet with ginger, 10 yuan per portion, quail eggs and pig skin are also delicious
Beef offal on a cart, 25 yuan a portion, authentic old Guangzhou flavor
Roadside bowl cake, 3 for 5 yuan, the osmanthus flavor is better
Tips:
1. Address
Shiji Village, Haizhu District, Guangzhou
2. Transportation
Self-driving
Navigation within Guangzhou City: Shiji Village Terminal, 30 minutes to 1 hour to the city center
Public transportation
Take the Wanshengwei subway station at Exit B and transfer to bus No. 3 or No. 229
3. Recommended tour routes
Shiji Village Terminal - Shiji Road - Ancient Port Park - Ancient Port Heritage Archway - Guangdong Sea First Checkpoint Memorial Hall - Ancient Port Wharf - "Haibang Dongyue" Archway - Youth Zone Social Work Service Station - "Fengpu" Archway - Huangpu Village Park (Huangpu Village Cultural History Museum, Sanyan Well, Qingyuan Yaxuan, Shangshan Muyun Roadside Store, Guqinghuai Cottage Postcard Shop) - Ancient Ancestral Hall Street (Han Yan Paper-Cutting, Yinqin Hall, Gu Qiuju, Yide Hall) - Aunt's House - Japanese Building Beidi Temple - Huangpu Village Archway.
4. Time
It is recommended to visit Huangpu Ancient Village on weekends and holidays, as most shops are closed on weekdays.
5. Featured Experience Recommendations
Handmade leather bags, handmade silver jewelry, and ferry rides from the village pier to Cheung Chau Island.
There are many delicious foods in the south of Guangzhou, and there are many destinations that combine delicious food and beautiful scenery. If you have a 3-4 day long vacation and want to have a good time all at once, don't worry if transportation is inconvenient. China-TravelNote combines local characteristics to avoid crowds and set up niche routes and ways to play with local culture for everyone. You can go shopping and eating in Nanyang with a group of food-loving friends, and excellent and knowledgeable tour guides will lead everyone to experience the most authentic way of playing.
