Go! May Day mini-break in Zengcheng: seek food, cleanse your lungs, and breathe deep!
Zengcheng, a smart choice for a nearby getaway
2020 has kept us at home for months due to the pandemic.
As the weather warms and the short holiday approaches, I've been itching to get out, breathe fresh air, soak in the beauty of spring, and shake off that pent-up feeling.
With the pandemic not yet fully behind us and containment still a priority, a short-distance trip is safer and more reassuring than an overseas or long-haul journey.
After digging around, I found that Zengcheng in Guangzhou is not only ringed with green hills and clear waters but also packed with great food—just an hour's drive away, perfect for a spring outing to cleanse the lungs.
Deep breathing, flower viewing, food hunting, photo ops, picnicking, embracing nature—let's go!
1978 Movie Town, a fantastic free photo spot in Guangzhou
Located on Yanjiang East Third Road in Zengcheng, the 1978 Movie Town was originally a sugar and paper mill. A few years ago, it was transformed into a cultural creative park themed as a movie town.
Strolling through the 1978 Movie Town, you'll find it retains elements of the old factory while oozing retro, artistic vibes. Every corner gives you that delightful illusion of having "time-traveled."
It's ideal for couples, besties, or families to snap photos all day long—you could easily spend a whole day doing just that!
Don't-miss Instagram-worthy spots:
The romantic white chapel was once the paper-rolling department of the Zengcheng paper mill. After creative renovation and painting, it became a Western-style wedding estate, made up of a ceremony hall, an infinity pool, an outdoor lawn, and a glass house. Any shot here could be a magazine cover!
The vintage-flavored Windsor Castle was actually the boiler room of the sugar and paper mill!
The preserved towering chimney is nicknamed the "Zengcheng Xiaomanwaist," visible from afar and truly iconic!
Reform and Opening-Up Street
Reform and Opening-Up Street is one of my favorite scenes—it's like a time machine whisking you "back to the past." The vivid wall paintings and sculpted scenes are brimming with a strong sense of nostalgia.
The 40-Year Reform and Opening-Up Exhibition Hall showcases everyday life from the 1960s and 1970s in window displays, leaving you marveling at how dramatically the country has changed!
1978 Art Museum
The 1978 Art Museum was converted from the old paper storage warehouse of the sugar and paper mill. Now, it revolves around the theme of purple clay (zisha) culture, integrating the collection, exhibition, research, training, and exchange of purple clay art and culture.
If you're a tea lover, head up to the second-floor tea room to savor the unique flavor of tea brewed in a purple clay pot!
Zengcheng Local Gourmet Street
Zengcheng Local Gourmet Street focuses on the area's specialties—renowned Zhucun chicken rice, Zhengguo wontons, Zhengguo cured sausages, Paitan pot-cover noodles, Zengcheng late-season leafy greens, and Lanxi rice noodles can all be sampled in one go!
Even more surprising, you can also taste the famous Hong Kong Hei Kee Typhoon Shelter fried crab here!
A stroll along the edge of the Zengjiang River, with a gentle breeze on your face and views of distant mountains and waters, will make your troubles vanish in a flash!
Area name: 1978 Movie Town
Specific address: Yanjiang East Third Road, Zengcheng, Guangzhou
Transport: Take Metro Line 21 to the terminal, Zengcheng Square, then transfer to Zengcheng Bus No. 47 and get off at Zhiye Huayuan (Property Garden) stop.
Ticket price: Free
Opening hours: Open 24 hours daily
Zengcheng Erlongshan Garden is located in Dengshan Village, Zengcheng District, Guangzhou. It features the East Village's strange rock valley and the West Village's terraced flower fields, with spring-fed streams running throughout—a soul-soothing place to visit!
Highlight 1: May Snow Petal Tung Blossoms
Late April and early May mark the blooming season for tung flowers. Their pure white petals flutter to the ground, rivaling cherry blossoms!
Tung flowers have a romantic nickname: "May Snow." From a distance, they look like snowflakes falling on the ground and rooftops!
Inside Erlongshan Garden, more than 1,000 tung trees burst into bloom, creating a spectacular sight of clustered white blossoms!
Highlight 2: Dutch windmills, flower seas, centuries-old trees
Stepping into Erlongshan's flower sea feels like entering a paradise:
Colorful Dutch windmills stand out against the lush green forest;
A white European pavilion is surrounded by blooms, and the nearby glass skywalk adds a fairy-tale touch;
Under the ancient trees are flowers and benches, evoking the romance of a Korean drama.
Highlight 3: Back-to-nature fun for families
Bringing the kids to this giant natural oxygen bar for fun is a brilliant choice. The area raises chicks and ducklings, so parents and children can pretend to be farm owners and feed the little animals!
What's more, families can try the old-fashioned stone mill and let kids see how delicious mountain-water tofu pudding and mugwort rice cakes are made!
Site name: Guangzhou Erlongshan Garden
Specific address: Dengshan Village, Xiaolou Town, Zengcheng, Guangzhou
Ticket info: 20 yuan
April 23 to May 5: 9:00–17:30
May 6 to December 31: Open on Sundays only, 9:00–17:30
Menghuabu Village, a paradise within the city
Menghuabu Village in Zengcheng, with over 200 years of history, boasts many titles: "Guangdong's most beautiful village along the Zengjiang River," a city-level beautiful village, a civilized model village, and an eco-friendly demonstration village. On our trip to Zengcheng, we decided to take a walk and unwind.
Recommended activity 1: Picnic and kite flying by the Zengjiang River
After driving through the residential guesthouses of Macun Village, Menghuabu Village appears before your eyes like a hidden paradise.
You can run freely on the grass or fly kites, sit on the riverbank for photos or fishing, and even bring a tent, picnic mat, and snacks to enjoy a picnic or barbecue in this natural oxygen bar—fishing in the nearby reservoir is also a popular pastime!
With the dam, reservoir, arch bridge, blue sky, white clouds, and green trees all around, your mood will be on cloud nine!
Recommended activity 2: Digging in the sand on the beach
A beach isn't exclusive to coastal cities—Menghuabu Village has rare fine sand in the Lingnan region, forming a natural 2-kilometer-long beach.
The river water below the beach is very shallow, almost tailor-made for kids to dig in the sand. Children can bring their digging tools and fill the air with laughter, but parents should always keep a close eye on them for safety!
Recommended activity 3: Wandering through the ancient village
During the pandemic, advance reservations are required to enter Menghuabu Village. Inside, old houses, ancestral halls, and towering ancient trees are well preserved—everything is tranquil and serene, letting you experience the beauty of returning to simplicity.
Site name: Zengcheng Menghuabu Village
Specific address: Menghuabu Village, Zhengguo Town, Zengcheng
Visit duration: Half a day
Ticket info: Free; advance reservation required during the pandemic
Baishui Village, marvel at the majestic waterfall
Baishui Village Scenic Area features rare natural ecological resources in Guangdong, such as virgin forests, shallow wetland, and canyon tarns. Its most eye-catching feature is the Baishui Fairy Waterfall, with a drop of 428.5 meters—the tallest waterfall in inland China.
Its graceful form resembles a fairy descending to earth; legend has it that it is the incarnation of He Xiangu, one of the Eight Immortals. Baishui Village is also a natural oxygen bar, with the forest-and-waterfall area boasting an incredible 112,500 negative air ions per cubic centimeter, ranking first among Guangdong's scenic spots.
1. Waterfront boardwalk
Walking along the waterfront boardwalk is incredibly refreshing!
The path is shaded by greenery, and invigorating fresh air, gentle mountain breezes, and warm sunshine accompany the lush mountain scenery and the murmur of streams!
2. First Ladder Under Heaven
After not exercising outdoors for too long, climbing the First Ladder Under Heaven is just right!
The First Ladder Under Heaven has 9,999 steps along a 6.6-kilometer trail, totaling over 19,000 steps. It spans three mountains and connects two large tarns—you won't know how great you are until you take on the challenge!
3. Baishui Fairy Waterfall
The Baishui Fairy Waterfall is the star of Baishui Village. The mountain is 828 meters high, and the waterfall's drop is 428.5 meters—truly the country's top flying waterfall.
The fairy waterfall cascades from the mountaintop, like a maiden's skirt fluttering in the wind, its beauty breathtaking.
The Dafengmen area is a branch of the Nankun Mountain range, with numerous streams, dense layered forests, and rolling peaks shrouded in mist. Amid cliffs and ravines, streams gurgle, making you feel as if you're in a fairyland—a unique and wonderful sensation.
Site name: Zengcheng Baishui Village
Transport: Self-drive or take bus No. 13 from Conghua Bus Station to Zengcheng Baishui Village
Ticket info: Full ticket 60 yuan; free for children under 1.2 meters
Opening hours: 8:30–17:30
For foodies, one of Zengcheng's most enticing features is its rich cuisine.
Paitan roast chicken, with its crispy skin and juicy meat bursting with aroma, is no exaggeration to call "unforgettable at first bite."
Free-range chickens raised in the traditional way get plenty of exercise, resulting in meat that's firm but not dry. The moment you tear into the chicken, a flood of juice bursts into your mouth!
Plus, the unique local secret roasting method makes the chicken salty and flavorful, with even the bones worth chewing on!
Black bean sauce stir-fried yellow sand clams, steamed river shrimp, steamed grass carp, and black bean sauce stir-fried mountain-pool fish and snails are all signature Zengjiang river fresh dishes.
I'm especially fond of the steamed Zengjiang river shrimp. Don't be fooled by their finger-tip size—once in your mouth, you'll taste an incredible, indescribable sweetness!
Zengcheng has roughly half locals and half Hakka people, so the Hakka flavors here are very authentic.
Hakka-style pan-fried then baked goose lets the spices seep deep into the meat, making it rich but not greasy.
In May, the aroma of mugwort leaves fills the air—the perfect time for eating mugwort rice cakes.
Zengcheng locals pick fresh mugwort leaves, clean them, and mix them with glutinous rice flour to form a dough for mugwort rice cakes.
The filling can be peanut or sesame, then they wrap the mixture into dark green little cakes and steam them. That’s how the well-known Hakka mugwort rice cake is made.
The cake is soft and sticky, bursting with fragrance, both nourishing and delicious.
Hong Kong Typhoon Shelter fried crab
Inside the 1978 Movie Town in Zengcheng, I finally got to taste the Hong Kong Hei Kee Typhoon Shelter spicy fried crab I've been craving for so long.
This restaurant is widely known, with many Hong Kong celebrities having dined here.
The taste is authentically from Hong Kong, but the price is much more affordable than in Hong Kong.
Signature Typhoon Shelter spicy fried crab
Typhoon Shelter fried crab is pretty much a must-order signature dish.
The crispy fried garlic bits make the crab wonderfully fragrant and slightly spicy, really whetting your appetite.
The claws are the most popular part—dip the crab meat in the fried garlic and savor the endless flavors!
Typhoon Shelter salt-and-pepper tofu
"Crispy outside, soft inside" perfectly describes this salt-and-pepper tofu, which transforms the silky tofu into a completely different experience.
There are many more Typhoon Shelter dishes, like Typhoon Shelter pork ribs and beef cubes, but my favorite remains the Typhoon Shelter fried prawns.
The crispy garlic bits blend perfectly with the fresh prawns, making it a great dish with rice!
Guangzhou Zengcheng's trendy hotel: love at first sight
After being surrounded by concrete and steel in the city for so long, I craved a hotel where I could truly relax with friends and family—soak in a tub, fish, sip tea, and chat.
The Yunshuijian Boutique Guesthouse on the Zengjiang River in Zhengguo Town, Guangzhou Zengcheng, fits the bill perfectly. It’s love at first sight.
The Yunshuijian Hotel has a low-key, understated exterior with simple grey cement walls. After passing through rows of bamboo, you’ll be amazed by the hidden wonders inside.
This hotel was converted from an old factory. Without any pretentiousness, its American industrial design style exudes a unique charm.
When you push open the door to your room, the surprises keep coming.
From layout and décor to facilities and views, the rooms deliver unexpected visual delights.
What I love most is the bathtub with a 180-degree unimpeded river view. Fill it with warm water, sip some red wine while half-reclining and enjoying the Zengjiang River views—it's pure bliss!
The rooms are spacious and comfortable, with wooden furniture that adds a Zen touch of rustic simplicity.
At the Yunshuijian Hotel, time is meant to be "wasted"—quietly watching the sunset, taking photos among the fountain grass, reading and sipping tea in the sun. Everything is just perfectly relaxing.
With fresh, natural tones, every view could be your wallpaper.
Hotel name: Guangzhou Yunshuijian Hotel
Specific address: No. 21 Jiufeng Road, Zhengguo Town, Zengcheng, Guangzhou
Highlights: Back to basics, lung-cleansing relaxation, light luxury experience
Price reference: From 588 yuan
Additionally, Zengcheng Senlinhai Hot Spring Hotel and Mujiyun Xishanju are also great choices for accommodation!
Visit Zengcheng for wellness and fresh breaths: eat well, play well, breathe well
Zengcheng, with its lush forests, crystal-clear streams, pristine blue skies, and cool, tranquil climate, is a true "forest oxygen bar."
On weekends or short holidays, you can drive just one hour to reach Zengcheng—for wellness and lung-cleansing, good food, fun, and fresh air!
