Top Choice for a Family Getaway near Guangzhou: A Hotel with Great Value!

Family-friendly hotels: companionship, and even more, education. In this age of anxiety, as parents, we all hope for our children to succeed—'sons to be dragons, daughters to be phoenixes.' Not wanting our kids to fall behind at the starting line, I’ve noticed that many friends who were once as easygoing as me are no longer so calm: some enroll their children in three or four extracurricular classes, others at least one. Everyone generally believes that the more skills a child has, the brighter their future.

To say I haven’t been swayed at all would be false. But after careful discussion with my husband, we feel that since our daughter hasn’t yet shown a strong desire or deep interest in any particular activity, we’ll stick to our original intention of giving her a happy childhood and spending more time with her as she grows.

A weekend hotel getaway is a wonderful opportunity for both education and companionship. The whole family can enjoy a beautiful, uninterrupted time together without rushing from one attraction to another. A secluded-style vacation offers plenty of quality time with the kids.

This weekend, we came back to the Guangzhou Evergrande Hotel, not far from home—a hotel our daughter picked herself. As children grow, they develop their own thoughts, preferences, and opinions, so I always fully respect her choice of hotel and ask her to tell me why she chose and liked it, which helps me understand her thinking.

She said the Guangzhou Evergrande Hotel is luxurious inside and out, has a kids’ play area and robots, and the steak at the buffet is super delicious. I didn’t expect our daughter’s opinion to match mine so perfectly!

Every time our car enters the grounds of the Guangzhou Evergrande Hotel, the sight of the Baroque-style hotel building amid lush gardens always feels exceptionally grand.

The magnificent hotel lobby is one of our daughter and her little brother’s favorite spots. Here, there’s Xiao Heng, a robot who can introduce the hotel, sing, dance, tell stories, chat—you name it—and he always makes the siblings burst into laughter.

The two can play and dance to their hearts’ content here. Every time I see how lovingly they get along, my heart is filled with warmth.

Perhaps because the hotel knew we are loyal Evergrande fans, our booked room was upgraded to a suite—we were absolutely thrilled!

While the river-view rooms at Evergrande Hotel are quite nice, after staying in the deluxe suite, we realized this is an even better choice!

The moment you open the door, you’re greeted by a suite of almost 80 square meters, complete with a spacious living room, bedroom, balcony, walk-in closet, and two bathrooms.

The living room can seat eight or more. The wall paintings, crystal chandeliers, and fabric sofas seem to put on a show together, making you feel as if you’re in a palace.

In such an unrestrained setting, our daughter is more willing to share things that happen at school—whether funny, sad, or happy—and we can communicate openly.

The bedroom’s sense of space is also a pleasant surprise. The two-meter-wide bed is big enough for our family of four.

The hotel’s bed sheets are incredibly comfortable—soft, dense, gentle on the skin, so you don’t need to worry even when staying with little ones.

With a gentle press of the electric curtain button, the view of the Pearl River and the majestic 200,000-square-meter imperial-style garden unfolds before your eyes.

After the kids fall asleep, you can enjoy the breeze and stargaze on the balcony. Sometimes, travel doesn’t have to mean going far away; a change of scenery can bring a fresh mood.

Golden door handles, golden faucets, golden mirror frames—every little detail exudes grandeur.

Slipping on the robe and thick, soft slippers, you feel as comfortable as at home.

I especially love the large mirror in the walk-in closet—perfect for those occasional moments of self-admiration!

For parents traveling with kids, the bathroom is definitely an important place! Because the bathtub can be a playground for little ones!

Sprinkle blue bath salts into the tub, switch the TV to a cartoon channel, and the siblings’ water party officially begins!

This trip had barely started, and our daughter was already telling me to book the next hotel getaway at Evergrande again! I was laughing so hard I could cry!

Although my husband and I consider ourselves foodie couple, our daughter is a downright picky eater.

As she’s grown, I’ve found that buffets are the best 'cure' for her picky-eating habit.

At home, there’s not much choice for the kids in terms of what groceries to buy, how things are cooked, or how much to eat. But at a buffet, the child is the boss. They can freely pick whatever they like, take whatever portion they decide, and feel a special sense of pride and appreciation when eating the food they’ve fetched themselves. Cleaning the plate is so easy!

As parents, of course we don’t miss this golden opportunity to guide her! We can tell her that food doesn’t come easily and to cherish it without waste; we can tell her to queue up when taking food—rushing and pushing is wrong; we can teach her the names and types of dishes, encouraging her to try more foods.

As soon as she heard dinner was a buffet, our daughter jumped for joy and insisted I take her photo.

With beer, juice, and champagne all available to our hearts’ content, what story shall we tell today?

The steak, with clearly visible marbling and a sizzling aroma from being cooked to order, is utterly intoxicating. Our daughter gobbled up three pieces in one go.

Meanwhile, I loved the grilled oysters from the same grill station.

The chef is not stingy with garlic at all; putting a whole grilled oyster coated in garlicky aroma into your mouth is one of life’s great pleasures!

I remember last time we came to Evergrande Hotel for the buffet, it was during a Thai-themed promotion. Dishes like spicy sour chicken feet, mango shrimp, and Thai-style grilled fish left a deep impression. I thought I wouldn’t get them this time, but to my surprise, my favorites were still there. Being able to eat what you love is a small blessing on a journey.

The sushi, sashimi, and seafood counter is a huge attraction for me at the buffet, but our daughter couldn’t understand why Mom is so fond of these seemingly cold dishes.

I explained to her that taste buds change as you grow older. When you’re older, you’ll fall in love with salmon’s melt-in-your-mouth texture, and you’ll adore the subtle sweetness hidden in the briny taste of seafood.

Even after indulging in sumptuous wine and delicacies, if you skip dessert and fruit, it can’t be called a perfect ending.

The Western restaurant offers a wide selection of desserts. The cakes are colorful and exquisitely crafted, and both adults and kids absolutely adore them.

Listen up! Important tips for the buffet at Guangzhou Evergrande Hotel:

① The dinner buffet is only available on Friday and Saturday evenings.

② It’s really so easy to run into Evergrande football stars at the hotel!

We’ve been traveling abroad with the siblings since they were 11 months old. Our daughter, not yet four, has already been to five countries.

Many friends ask whether kids even remember trips and whether it really changes them.

In truth, our daughter has forgotten many trips, but that’s okay. What matters in travel isn’t the outcome, but the process of growing up together. I remember the smiling faces during the journeys, and that’s enough.

Travel isn’t a magic potion that makes kids obedient, but it definitely has positive effects. They just aren’t immediate; they take time and subtle influence.

This time, playing with the siblings in the imperial-style garden at Evergrande Hotel, I was surprised to see our little miss striking even more poses than before.

Today, let’s talk about how to get kids to pose nicely for photos!

1. Pay attention to clothing

If you want the photos to have a theme or tell a story, prepare an outfit for your child. Since Evergrande Hotel’s garden is dominated by greenery, I deliberately chose a red dress to make her stand out.

2. Don’t be stingy with praise

Many parents say things like “Don’t move” or “Look at the camera” when taking photos. I prefer to let our daughter move freely, but what I keep saying is, “Wow, you look so beautiful!” Praise builds their confidence, and the photos turn out better.

3. Shoot at the child’s eye level

When photographing kids, squatting down to their height is key. That way, you won’t make them look shorter in the photos.

4. Look at model poses together

Although screen time isn’t good for the eyes, occasionally I’ll browse children’s clothing on Taobao or kids’ videos on Douyin with her. You really can learn poses and discover angles of beauty.

5. Capture expressions and actions

If posed shots feel too forced, capturing spontaneous expressions and movements is a great choice—more natural, lively, and memorable.

Near the Guangzhou Evergrande Hotel, there’s a 4A-rated scenic spot, Mengli Shuixiang Baihua Garden, so we took a romantic stroll through flower fields. Breezes carrying floral scents, enjoying a romantic summer embrace.

Foshan’s Mengli Shuixiang Baihua Garden is located in Lishui, Nanhai, about a 20-minute drive from the Guangzhou Evergrande Hotel. Situated between Guangzhou and Foshan, it’s the backyard garden of both cities. Covering 750 mu, the park is themed around flower seas and water-town lodgings, blending people, flowers, and life into one floral paradise.

Besides the enchanting flower viewing, you can ride a mini train or pedal a single, tandem, or triple bicycle around the garden, weaving through floral seas and taking in all the beautiful sights. On Swan Lake, pedal-powered fun like little yellow duck boats and bamboo rafts are also a blast!