A New Citywalk Choice for the Holidays: Hidden Baode Ancestral Hall in Huadu, Guangzhou, A Quiet Retreat Amidst the Bustle

A New Citywalk Choice for the Holidays: Hidden Baode Ancestral Hall in Huadu, Guangzhou, A Quiet Retreat to Seek Ancient Charm

After exploring all the trendy commercial areas and popular landmarks in Guangzhou, if you ask where you can unwind and savor time slowly, Baode Ancestral Hall in Tanbu Town, Huadu is definitely worth mentioning—this is my third time making a special trip here. Guangzhou is not just about morning tea and the CBD; this "ancestral hall and temple combined" building hidden deep in an ancient village holds cultural heritage little known to locals. This time, besides visiting Baode Ancestral Hall itself, I also unlocked nearby ancient village streets and rural scenery that even local tourists rarely visit. If you want to avoid crowds and immerse yourself in ancient exploration during the holidays, be sure to save this Baode Ancestral Hall guide~

🚗 Transportation Guide

- Metro + Bus: Take Guangzhou Metro Line 9 to "Fei'e Ling Station," transfer to Huadu Bus Route 15 to "Tanbu Terminal," then a 10-minute walk to the destination
- Self-driving: About 1.5 hours from downtown Guangzhou, free parking is available beside the ancestral hall, and you can enjoy rural countryside views along the way

🗺️ 2 Days 1 Night Light Travel Route

Day 1: Depart from Guangzhou city → Langtou Ancient Village (stroll ancient alleys, see wok ear houses) → Baode Ancestral Hall (enjoy sunset glow in the evening)
Day 2: Baode Ancestral Hall (early morning deep visit to avoid crowds) → Cangshuyuan Village (search for century-old book houses) → Tanbu Town for local specialty food

🌟 Must-Visit Core: Baode Ancestral Hall Ancient Building Complex

- ⛩️ Baode Ancestral Hall itself: A rare "ancestral hall, temple, and pagoda" combined building in Guangzhou, originally built in the Song Dynasty, with existing structures preserving Ming and Qing styles. The wooden and brick carvings inside the hall are delicate and exquisite, ancient steles record village history, and standing in the courtyard you can look up to see the "Literary Pagoda" standing tall, paired with green tiles and flying eaves, every photo looks like an ancient style masterpiece.
- 🏘️ Langtou Ancient Village: A millennium-old village connected to Baode Ancestral Hall, preserving over 50 Ming and Qing wok ear gable buildings. The "chessboard-style" streets crisscross, and you might encounter elders mending clothes at alley entrances or old corn hanging on walls, full of the slow life’s warmth, more healing than commercialized ancient towns.
- 📜 Ancient Village Cultural Highlights: The village has ancestral halls like "Yunchuan Wu Gong Ancestral Hall" and "Liugeng Gong Ancestral Hall," with plaques reading "Jinshi" and "Jieyuan" testifying to the village’s scholarly tradition. When tired, you can have a cup of herbal tea at the old teahouse at the village entrance and listen to villagers tell ancient village stories.

Other Nearby Must-See Spots

- 📚 Cangshuyuan Village: A lesser-known ancient village 10 minutes by car from Baode Ancestral Hall, named after the "Cangshuyuan" (Book Collection Academy). The century-old book houses are well preserved, stone slab roads wind through the village, ancient banyan trees shade the streets, and there are almost no tourists, perfect for quiet strolling and exploring.
- 🌾 Tanbu Countryside Scenery: In autumn and winter, the rice fields around the ancestral hall turn golden, the wind waves through the rice and ancient buildings, every photo looks like an "ancient pastoral painting," ideal for bringing kids to experience rural fun.

💡 Travel Tips

- Baode Ancestral Hall is free to visit; it is recommended to go before 9 AM or after 4 PM to avoid strong midday light, as the light and shadow on the ancient buildings make for better photos.
- Langtou Ancient Village is connected to Baode Ancestral Hall; plan 2-3 hours for a deep visit, wearing Hanfu for photos is highly recommended.
- Must-try local foods: Tanbu betel nut taro (soft, sweet, can be steamed directly), stinky vinegar soup (local specialty soup, the more you drink, the better it tastes), Tanbu river fresh seafood (fresh and affordable).

Beyond Guangzhou’s hustle and bustle lies this quiet place of "ancient ancestral hall + ancient village," without the crowds and noise, only the gentle accumulation of time. If you want to escape the fast pace of the city during the holidays, come to Baode Ancestral Hall and experience another kind of slow time in old Guangzhou~