When the Double Festival Meets Guangzhou: Immersed in the Ever-Spring Beauty of Huadu

📍 Guangzhou · 👁 5 reads · ❤️ 209 likes

Guangzhou is one of those rare Chinese cities that doesn’t feel like a copy of everywhere else. Tropical plants, arcade buildings, Cantonese drifting from bus, metro and mall speakers – even written on shop signs – everything stands out so distinctly.

It’s not a city of extremes, but it has its own cultural layers, and it’s remarkably inclusive. You’ll glimpse its glamorous side, yet its vibrant energy always shines through.

I love sharing and writing travel journals to record each trip. I’ve roamed many places in and around Guangzhou, and on a whim today, I decided to compile a round-up of the city through my eyes – scenic spots or places worth visiting. Guangzhou is vast, and many corners remain for future explorations, slowly and casually, never ticking boxes for the sake of it.

And indeed, this city is astonishingly big. Even after being here so long, I haven’t soaked in every beautiful scene. This Double Festival gave me a three-day break, perfect to first dive into Huadu District~

Day 1: Huadu Lake Park – Huadu Square – Sunac Paradise – Hongshan Village – Chencai Estate – Tongguding Park

Day 2: Huashan Town – Herb World – Jiulong Lake Resort – Guangzhou Folk Museum – Yuen Yuen Taoist Temple – Stone Story Mineral Garden

Day 3: Hong Xiuquan’s Former Residence Memorial – Furong Resort – Langtou Ancient Village – Baosang Garden

Huadu Lake Park lies right in Huadu District, one of Guangzhou’s “Six Lakes.” The lake is huge, the setting gorgeous, and it’s teeming with goldfish. Here you can capture blue sky over emerald water – boundless beauty. Thick vegetation and the stunning lake make it special.

There are many pavilions, wide leisure trails and cycling lanes ideal for hiking, jogging or riding to unwind. The spacious lawns invite you to lay down a mat, soak up the sun, and feel the youthful vitality. It’s truly a blend of leisure, entertainment and fitness all in one.

Huadu Square faces the district government building. Spacious and always guarded, when the wind picks up, kids fly kites; at night, it becomes a realm for square-dancing aunties. Big events happen here sometimes – once I stumbled upon a gala and Yang Kun was singing! You never know which celeb you might run into. The square is a Huadu landmark and a great photo spot; at night, you can capture the government building’s reflection in the river. Nearby is the Dolphin Club, hosting large academic conferences, and on the ground floor a gallery regularly shows art exhibitions – pop in if you’re passing by. It’s right outside the metro exit.

Then comes Huadu Sunac Paradise! The whole complex is divided into four sections – Sunac Theme Park, Sunac Snow World, Sunac Water World, and Sunac Sports World. The names speak for themselves: thrill rides on land, indoor skiing (even without real snow in Guangzhou, you can feel that rush 365 days a year), and summer water fun. Just thinking about it makes you want to dive in.

This is a village tucked away from the urban hustle, nestled at the foot of Wangzi Mountain in Timian, Huadu. The location is a bit remote, but well-developed, with vast flower fields and untouched mountains drawing crowds, especially during spring outings and weekends. There’s even a market inside the scenic area – delightfully down-to-earth! Two girls shared the ride with me.

There’s also a picking base at Chencai Estate – this season you can pluck grapes. If you’ve been long in the city, it’s a lovely escape with kids or a loved one.

I enjoy taking photos but can be a homebody; I rarely seek hidden gems. A girlfriend once invited me to Luochang Village, and only then did I discover such a place in Guangzhou’s Huadu. Luochang Village is also called Huashan Town. Strolling through the town takes just half an hour, but if you’re posing for photos, time stretches infinitely – haha!

It’s a quaint little arty ancient village, not large, with a few restaurants, charming tea and wine bars, some distinctive boutiques you can peek into, and old houses. In this season, clusters of longan hang heavy from branches, jackfruits cling to trunks. We wandered among old buildings enveloped in lush greenery, found a cozy tea bar and savored a pot of floral tea, basking in the fragrance and a leisurely afternoon.

The architecture leans Western or a blend of East and West. It’s said to be the largest and most intact group of fortified tower buildings in Guangzhou.

As a flower lover, I’ve visited Herb World about six times. In the early days, it was a grand garden with patchwork fields of blooms – roses, sunflowers, lavender and more. I’d bring a gang of friends, dash into the flower fields, and the shutter clicked nonstop. Taking photos among blossoms is exquisite, and each visit yielded heaps of pictures. Later on, every trip showed changes: the park’s layout kept evolving, with new facilities; flower plots shrank while amusement areas grew. Last time there was a candy-colored house so cute for photos, and a shooting gallery where you could play at taking down ‘Japanese devils.’

Beyond beautiful scenery, Herb World offers unique dining – rose-themed cuisine with rose petals in dishes, and rose petal pastries incredibly fragrant. What I love most is staying in the wooden cabins right inside the flower fields. Sitting by the window with a cup of tea, gazing out at the vast blossoms, is utterly soul-soothing. To fully experience sleeping among flowers, book a two-day tour and explore Herb World thoroughly.

No matter how you tweak camera settings, you’ll always get stunning shots.

Jiulong Lake Resort

The scenery is superb, with an oddly shaped lake perfect for boating and soaking in the views. European-style buildings make it a photographer’s paradise and now a popular wedding photo base. Some buildings house shops; there’s a kids’ play area, making it great for family outings. There are also villas for weekend getaways.

This little town is formed by dozens of European-style buildings – authentic German architecture and creatively designed garden villas, love nests nestled among greenery and blooms. For a moment, you truly feel you’re on a street in Germany. This is Guangzhou Jiulong Lake Resort’s European Town. Step inside and you’ve seemingly crossed into medieval Europe, forgetting you’re in China. Strike a pose and shoot away!

Guangzhou Folk Museum

This site is a well-preserved and restored Qing Dynasty ancestral temple complex – a treat for architecture buffs. Besides history and architecture, there are several mini exhibitions: a display of revolutionary-era newspapers, books and posters with some Mao Zedong memorabilia; a Huadu cloisonné exhibition; a Lingnan grey-plaster art show; a Cantonese opera culture exhibition. But the highlight is the introduction to the temple’s original owner, a Senior Grand Master, whose story is inspiring.

Location and history: Built in the second year of Emperor Tongzhi (1863), this Grand Master’s Ancestral Temple complex sits in Sanhua Village, Xinhua Town, Huadu District, next to the Guangzhou-Qingyuan Expressway. It covers 18,000 square meters with a main building area over 6,000 square meters – a “three rows, three entrances, six corridors” artistic complex. Most locals are surnamed Xu, with Xu Hengzhi as the ancestor. During the Tongzhi reign, cousins Xu Fangzheng and Xu Biaozheng served in the Ministry of War and won imperial favor. The emperor granted titles of Grand Master to Xu Fangzheng’s grandfather and father, and to Xu Biaozheng’s father. To flaunt this honor, Xu Fangzheng built the Grand Master’s Shrine and archway; Xu Biaozheng built Nanshan Academy and another archway. Later generations added the Hengzhi Ancestral Shrine, rear buildings and auxiliary halls, resulting in over thirty ancient structures. It’s the largest ancestral temple complex discovered in Guangzhou and one of the best preserved and grandest in Guangdong.

Cantonese opera performances happen every Tuesday and Thursday. There’s no convenience store inside, so bring your own drinks and snacks.

The temple is dotted with lovely miniature potted plants and a big lotus pond in front – it’s most beautiful when the lotuses bloom.

Yuen Yuen Taoist Temple, one of Huadu’s new eight sights, is located near Bi Village in Xinhua Town. It’s the center of Taoist activities in Guangdong and a tourist attraction. Initially funded by Hong Kong’s Yuen Yuen Institute, it’s a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to Taoist academic research, worshipping deities, honoring ancestors, supporting the elderly and young, and promoting education. The first phase opened in 1998; after expansions, it now spans nearly 100 acres.

I’ve visited three times. The grounds are large – besides Taoist buildings, there’s a man-made lake with swing benches where you can relax and swing; a garden filled with flowers and plants for a leisurely stroll and a taste of rural charm.

Stone Story Mineral Garden

Earth itself is a stone; only with stones does the world exist, and with the world come stories. Beautiful stones are the treasures crafted by the earth over hundreds of millions of years. Since humans began, all cultural and historical records relied on stone inscriptions to survive millennia. Scientists trace the planet’s origins and life’s footsteps through stones. Stones freeze fragments of history, preserve nature’s secrets, and expand our vision. Every stone has a mysterious journey, every stone a wondrous tale.

Stone Story Mineral Garden is a scenic area where you can wander parts for free; only the Stone Story Exhibition Hall charges admission – 60 yuan on-site, or 48 yuan online if booked an hour in advance. The garden is pleasant, with various stone sculptures and a free orchid greenhouse filled with stunning orchids. There’s a jewelry zone showcasing many gems and jade pieces; you can purchase if interested, but browsing is welcome too – staff don’t push sales, focusing on display.

I went into the paid hall with a little beauty. The 60 yuan ticket felt totally worth it. We saw so many rare stones: a meteorite from ancient times, crystal-clear quartz, a “pork belly” stone that looked real, a white hair stone I’d never encountered before, a fossilized conch, and a “Manchu Han Imperial Feast” carved entirely from jade. We marveled nonstop – an eye-opening experience. Indeed, I felt like a bumpkin, and it was a perfect science lesson. The exhibit lighting is so well done that phone photos turned out beautifully, so if you love photography, charge your devices. Opposite Stone Story is Bangkok Garden; if you stay until evening, the night views there are gorgeous.

During holidays, many parents bring kids for this educational treat – the children listen with utter fascination.

Hong Xiuquan’s Former Residence Memorial

It chronicles Hong Xiuquan’s rise to power, with high-tech 3D slide shows that are very engaging. Visiting with kids is truly educational.

The high-tech recreations of past scenes are quite something to see.

Located in Huadu District, entry is free. There are waterfalls and lakes. Furong Mountain isn’t tall; you can reach the summit in about half an hour from the base. Climb at night to see distant lights and the lakeside, with trail lamps adorning the lake in the dark. A small temple sits at the top; nearby is the highest point. There’s a Temple of Heaven with a Whispering Wall – speak and hear your echo. A large plaza at the summit is accessible by car.

Air quality is excellent with little pollution, and nature abounds: shady trees, cascading waterfalls. “Tofu pudding” made with local clean spring water is delicate, smooth, sweet, and healthy, suitable for all ages. Below the waterfall, a mountainside swimming pool offers a refreshing dip after the climb. Here you can “listen to pine breezes and birdsong, view heavenly and earthly scenes, wash away worldly dust, and contemplate life’s twists and turns.”

On this season’s morning, we climbed early – the weather was cool and pleasant, the air fresh, visibility high. Guangzhou’s low latitude means mountain plants stay green all year. Photography lovers can snap to their hearts’ content.

Below the Taoist temple is the waterfall’s source. From there, you overlook the man-made lake and sweeping views for over ten kilometers.

Langtou Ancient Village lives up to its name – a genuine ancient village with many Qing Dynasty buildings protected from demolition. As houses aged, villagers moved out, leaving these old homes preserved and now a free attraction.

A few old houses have been styled as exhibition halls where you can wander and taste a bygone era. The village has a WeChat public account; scan and listen to the audio guide. Every house has a story – walking through while hearing its history adds such flavor! Visitor numbers are still modest, so it’s easygoing. The place is large and uncrowded, perfect for photos. My girlfriend often drives her Audi over, and we thread through ancient lanes, snapping self-indulgent portraits.

Langtou has a cultural activity room where you can watch documentaries about the ancient village, and a village restaurant serving local farm-style dishes. Last time, the food my girlfriend and I ordered was just too good. I adore the ambiance here and have visited five times, always with at least two others, just seeing, eating and taking piles of photos.

Baosang Garden features an open hill with lush grass. On a breezy sunny day, kite flying here is idyllic. Or you can try stilt-walking on the hill, grass sledding, and down below, a tiny lake awaits for a relaxing ride in a little swan paddle boat. The park also offers dynamic 5D movies, bumper cars, a carousel, a haunted house, boats, sandpit treasure hunts, shallow-water fishing, team-building activities, basketball, tennis… lots of kids have a blast here, some even bringing their little electric cars to ride around.

A little one...

At mealtime, head to Baosang Garden Restaurant for mulberry cuisine. Mulberries add high visual appeal, though their sweetness isn’t quite savory. The Baosang Garden shop sells mulberry juice and wine – tasty and affordable. Sometimes I buy a few bottles to take home.

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