Bringing the Kids to Conghua's New Landmark for a Different Vacation Experience

Conghua's hot springs have always been very famous. Located on the Tropic of Cancer, Conghua is lush with forests and has long been the favorite backyard escape for Guangzhou residents. Soaking in a hot spring here, enjoying the fresh air and lush greenery, and feeling the warm spring waters—this has always been a favorite weekend getaway for many in Guangdong.

This time, I brought Little Roubao to Conghua, hoping to enjoy the natural beauty and fresh air of the mountains and waters with him before National Day, and to share a blissful weekend together.

For this trip, Little Roubao and I chose to stay at the new Shangshui Boutique Design Hotel. The hotel just opened and is in its trial operation phase. I heard it’s a high-end boutique hotel in Conghua, so of course we had to come and try it out.

A high-end hotel always provides the best vacation experience, and at Shangshui Boutique Design Hotel, every detail has been meticulously crafted. Nestled by the Yadong River in Liangkou Town, this hotel is a boutique retreat set amidst Conghua's landscapes.

Getting There

Getting from downtown Guangzhou to Liangkou Town in Conghua is very convenient. Take the Airport Expressway and transfer to the Daguang Expressway; in just over an hour, you can leave the bustling city and arrive in the green mountains and clear waters of Conghua.

Hotel Environment

Here, you won't find towering buildings that seem to pierce the sky. Even the main building's guest rooms are only four stories high, so they don't block the distant green mountains, nor do they obscure the blue sky and white clouds. It feels like returning to the wild, elegant and charming.

Right next to the hotel is the Yadong River. Besides hot spring bathing, playing in the water is also a great option.

LOFT Rooms

Little Roubao and I chose a family room with a loft design. The two-level space is spacious enough, offering plenty of room for a family to move around.

The first floor has a tatami area, which became Little Roubao's little haven. The bedding is cartoon-themed, very cute. For him, sleeping in such a cartoon setting feels like being hugged by cartoon characters as he drifts off.

Behind the bed is a large openwork shelf filled with adorable dolls. For Little Roubao, these dolls became his buddies during our two-day stay, keeping him company as he played and slept in the room.

On the second floor of the loft, there's a comfortable king-sized bed. Looking out the window, you see green trees and lawns. Waking up to the sunlight and the fresh Conghua morning view is a truly blissful experience.

The room also has its own private outdoor hot spring pool.

The pool is quite large; for Little Roubao, it's like a small swimming pool where he can splash around. Even with a cute floatie added, it doesn't feel crowded.

Or you can add flower petals to the water and enjoy a wonderful hot spring time—another great option.

Sipping on a glass of sweet juice, eating some fresh fruit while the warm spring water caresses your skin—it's pure happiness.

Moreover, the hot springs help relieve fatigue, treat rheumatism, and various skin conditions. Lying here, letting the warm water flow over you, washing away the exhaustion of daily life—resting here is always warm and soothing.

The room details are full of little surprises. All the toiletries are from a niche French brand, pampering your skin after a hot spring dip.

The room also has dried longan and dried lychee, and every guest room has a bowl of fresh fruit, making your time in the room even sweeter.

The minibar in the room is stocked with various sodas and beers that you can enjoy freely. Best of all, everything in the room is complimentary—from the dried fruits to the drinks—so help yourself!

Common Spaces

The hotel's common spaces are filled with a sense of art and design.

The hotel follows a green, eco-friendly architectural design concept, repurposing abandoned old factories and an old school. This not only reuses resources but is also a great experiment. Through a fusion of modern and stylish elements, the over 100 guest rooms are transformed into spaces full of fashionable design.

If I had to use one word to describe the design style here, 'simplicity' would be very fitting. The buildings feature geometric straight lines, with black, white, and gray as the main colors. The geometric lines and clean hues give the architecture a simple yet direct beauty.

Whether in the lofts or standard rooms, this simple and straightforward design concept is evident everywhere.

You can also clearly see that even the plants and trees have been meticulously pruned, giving them unique shapes that are very delicate.

Actually, during a trip, reading a book or just daydreaming is a small pleasure.

The Shuijuexuan Book Bar here is the perfect spot for that.

The Shuijuexuan Book Bar is vast, with floor-to-ceiling glass walls on all sides. Sitting inside, you can gaze out at the beautiful scenery: the flowing Yadong River, the green mountains and clear waters compose a stunning picture on the glass.

There are plenty of books inside, from light novels to more thought-provoking reads—you'll find something here.

They also offer an exquisite afternoon tea—order a selection of delicate pastries and a refreshing cold drink, then just sit and daydream. Time slips away unnoticed, but wasting it like this is the happiest kind.

Yadong River

Guangdong has many rivers, and the Yadong River is definitely one of the lesser-known ones. Probably only the nearby residents know it—after all, in Conghua, the Liuxi River steals most of the attention.

But precisely because of that, the Yadong River feels like a hidden gem. With few people knowing about it, it retains a sense of tranquility and plenty of beautiful spaces.

The section of the Yadong River next to the hotel has gentle, clear water. Taking off your shoes and stepping into the river to feel the coolness on a still-hot day is a blissful experience.

There are also two small weirs where the water cascades down, creating mini waterfall-like scenes that are very pretty.

If you don't want to wade in, the bridge spanning the river is a great spot to watch the flow; walking on the bridge and seeing the water rush by is quite interesting.

Dining

The green mountains and clear waters of Conghua nurture many high-quality ingredients. Here, these ingredients are carefully prepared by chefs into a variety of exquisite dishes.

Cantonese people love chicken, and the free-range chickens from Conghua's forests have tender meat and crispy skin. Whether served plain boiled or wrapped in lotus leaves and baked, it's absolutely delicious.

Conghua is an important water source protection area for Guangzhou, so it naturally produces high-quality fish. The fish here needs no complicated cooking; just steam it and add a dash of soy sauce, and it's already incredibly sweet and tender.

The other dishes are also delicious, featuring many local specialties that are skillfully cooked by the chefs to bring out the natural flavors. Enjoying the rustic ingredients here and savoring the original tastes bursting on your palate is a true delight.

Afterword

At Shangshui Boutique Design Hotel, whether it's the clean and beautiful lines in the morning or the warm lights under the clear night sky, I feel incredibly comfortable. Staying here, there's no need to rush through an itinerary. Just empty your mind, breathe in the fresh air, and feel the gentle sunshine—that's already enough.

Hotel: Shangshui Boutique Design Hotel

Address: By Yadong River, Ecological Design Town, Liuxi New Hot Spring Tourism Resort, Conghua District

Distances: 1. About 60 minutes' drive from downtown Guangzhou and Baiyun Airport; 2. About 10 minutes' drive from the Wenquan exit or Liangkou exit on Daguang Expressway.