Ma Mali's Travelogue: A Summer Escape to a Fresh Cantonese Journey
Preface: A Few Words Before We Start
When simple, ordinary days stretch on too long, I find myself longing to travel. Life needs constant discovery and insight, and every departure brings wonderful inspiration. Embark on a fresh Cantonese journey β here, encounter a Guangzhou that's fun and delicious, enjoy your own elegant holiday.
Play in a Park: Baiyun Vanke Future Forest
This park is full of design flair, surrounded by residential buildings developed by Vanke. The small park embraces the concept of an urban forest, and it's already completed and open to the public. It's usually quiet, but on weekends and holidays, many parents bring their kids to play. It's easy to find β just search for "Baiyun Vanke Future Forest" and follow the navigation.
The park isn't big, but you can take many lovely photos. As soon as you enter, you'll be captivated by the mist! It's like a fairyland with swirling mist. Light-colored clothes or dresses look best in photos.
Inside the park, you'll see very modern benches and fitness rings, completely different from the usual setups in our neighbourhoods.
Near the residential area, there's also a modest basketball court with a great sense of space, giving photos a fresh, clean feel.
The metal slides have already been recommended by many young ladies! There are four metal slides in the park. Two are semi-enclosed, and once you slide in, it's pitch black β I was a bit nervous, so I skipped those. The other two are open-air. The one I photographed is a bit steep, and as someone afraid of heights, I got scared after sitting down. Another one is very short but has a small roller in the middle that speeds up the slide.
Connected to the open-air slide is a yellow house, like something out of a fairy-tale book, so dreamy.
In summer, the trees are lush, and the leaves are nature's perfect decoration. Strike any pose here and you'll look fresh and carefree.
Kids playing on the slides all climb up from here. Even little girls are incredibly brave.
Boys love the thrilling trampoline even more!
Also, there are some lovely reeds by the river! A bit short, but they make for very artistic photos.
Admission: Free.
Transport: Self-driving is recommended; there are parking spaces. You can also take the metro β from Metro Line 2, Baiyun Park Station Exit A, turn right and walk about 100 meters to take bus 929 to Xiaoping Station. After getting off, walk a couple of hundred meters and you'll see Vanke Future Forest. Or, from Metro Line 3, Yongtai Station Exit B2, turn left and walk about 100 meters to take bus 126 to Xiaoping Station, then walk forward a couple of hundred meters.
Visit a Scenic Spot: Yuexiu Park
After visiting Yuexiu Park, I realized that all the pretty young ladies who love taking photos are here.
I did my research before coming β Yuexiu Park is said to be one of the oldest parks in Guangzhou and the largest comprehensive park in the city! It's quite famous!
In June, Yuexiu Park is in full bloom, thronging with visitors. It boasts beautiful natural scenery rich in subtropical features, and it preserves various historical relics and sites. The newly built paths connect all the attractions.
The most popular activity here is boating. You'll see many children sitting in the boats, beaming with joy. Kids are easily contented and joyful. Even as an old auntie, standing nearby, I felt a little happy watching them.
As I approached the Korean Garden, I couldn't believe that such a tiny garden could attract so many lovely ladies taking photos, many even bringing their own props and photographers!
What kind of treasure place is this? Just a random shot of a beauty, take a look... Walking further inside, I even discovered groups of girlfriends coming together to take photos!
The architecture inside isn't complicated β just small pavilions and little corridors. Later, a young man wearing glasses next to me casually remarked, "Maybe it's because Guangzhou is far from Korea, so everyone is so obsessed with this place" ... That explanation makes perfect sense.
I randomly snapped a girl wearing Hanfu β her brows and eyes were carefully painted, and even her hair was meticulously styled in an updo.
Behind a corner courtyard wall, there was a pair of close friends playing with bubbles. Their outfits were deliberately coordinated as perfect "bestie outfits," and their props were the bubbles in their hands. Unlike the Hanfu-clad girl, they hadn't hired a professional photographer; they were taking photos of each other with their phones.
Throughout Yuexiu Park, the spot with the most beauties taking photos is the steps in front of the Korean Garden. The backdrop is gorgeous, and the pictures turn out great. Here, I'll share a few.
Wandering around Yuexiu Park, I met so many beautiful ladies β it's truly a magical park.
Stay in a Hotel: Xana Hotelle
Nothing matches this fresh-and-clean trip better than the hotel I chose, Xana Hotelle. This hotel combines many pleasantly refreshing elements β elegant and stylish design, youthful and vibrant color palettes, delicious breakfast, attentive service, and so much more. Absolutely adored it!
Xana Hotelle is a real gem. Designed by the team behind luxury brand stores, its signature Xana blue hue instantly possesses a magical charm that captures the hearts of countless young women. Together with meticulously refined furnishings and warm, tasteful decor, it makes you feel utterly at ease and ready for a selfie at any moment.
The most iconic feature in the lobby is the blue trolley stocked with new skincare and bath products, as well as a multitude of masks and lotions that many girls rave about and repurchase. You feel like you don't even need to bring your own skincare β you can just buy them at the hotel!
The lobby isn't very large, but the lounge area is spacious enough and beautiful enough!
On a sweltering summer day, order a cold drink, chat with a friend, and cozy up on the sofa β pure bliss!
The guest rooms are also stunning! Heavenly beauty!
The room gives a very comfortable overall feeling, perfectly blending modern design with traditional art, boasting a unique style.
Fairy-style cups, a bit vintage, a bit cute.
My favorite is the set of photo frames by the desk β black borders with vintage patterns, photogenic from every angle.
I stayed in a small suite with a little living room, and the sofa was also Xana blue, looking so comfortable!
The king bed, work area, and bathroom are cleverly divided, the decor very practical and modern.
I also loved the lamps and lanterns in the hotel, all with a retro and metallic feel, incredibly pleasing to the eye.
The bathroom in the suite is also carefully designed, with dry-wet separation and ample space!
The bed is soft and large enough, the linens are exquisite, guaranteeing a peaceful night's sleep.
The next morning, I had breakfast on the hotel's second floor.
The restaurant is not very large, but simple without being dull. The sofa material and feel are the same as in the lobby, with vibrant colors that give a sense of liveliness. Dining in such a lovely environment puts you in a great mood!
The restaurant's overall decor is stylish and chic, adorned with various modern art pieces, elegant yet charming. Lines and lighting create a trendy style.
It offers simple Chinese and Western buffet meals, including the ever-popular millet congee, freshly baked bread, and a variety of tasty side dishes. Noodle lovers can also enjoy a delicious clear broth noodle soup here, adding condiments to your own taste. I really loved the noodles β I thought I could never finish such a big bowl, but they were so good I even slurped up every last drop of broth.
The service in the restaurant is also thoughtful. The staff members, though few, are very quiet, creating a very comfortable dining atmosphere that delights every guest from near and far.
Savor an Old Eatery: Taotaoju Restaurant
Discover the city's beauty and explore its culinary culture. While traveling in Guangzhou, don't miss delicious local snacks: boat congee, shrimp wonton noodles, offal soup (beef tripe, liver, and meatball soup), assorted beef offal, beef brisket rice noodles, dry-fried rice noodles, Wenchang chicken, roasted goose, double-skin milk with vermicelli rolls, radish cake, white-cut chicken... Guangzhou's culinary delights are simply countless!
The delicacies at Taotaoju Restaurant are truly unforgettable!
Roasted goose β I'd been longing to eat roasted goose since arriving in Guangzhou! Finally, I got to try it at Taotaoju! The meat is thick and succulent, the skin fragrant and crispy. The candle underneath keeps it warm, making the warm meat even more delicious! With rice, it's incredibly satisfying!
Crispy tofu bites β I didn't order these at first, but added them later. Many people like to dip them in sauce, but I think they're amazing even without sauce! Bite into one and it's like the panda tofu from "ChΕ«ka Ichiban!", unbelievably tender inside with a crispy, fragrant coating.
Large shrimp dumplings β a signature dish you absolutely must order. They're huge, packed with shrimp meat. Ask the server for red vinegar. A serving comes with three, and after eating them, you'll crave more!
Water milk pineapple buns β another signature here. The pineapple bun's crust isn't very thick, and the pastry is wonderfully fragrant. When you bite into it, there's a light, milky aroma. After finishing one, you don't feel greasy at all β it's a great dessert for all ages!
Signature milk tea β a small cup for 18 RMB. Incredibly smooth and silky, I've never had milk tea this good.
There's also a dry-pot lettuce stir-fried with shrimp paste, a great dish that goes perfectly with rice.
All this came to just over 200 RMB, and we two were completely satisfied.
Perhaps, in the post-pandemic era, flying off to the other side of the world isn't so easy. But you don't need to go too far β Guangzhou is one of the best destinations. Here, it's carefree and laid-back, delicious and a joy to explore β just what travel should be.
