Great Family Getaway Destination | 广州翼•空港文旅小镇

Our second baby has been with us for some time now. From pregnancy, through the postpartum recovery, to seeing the little one finally take their first steps, I finally feel the weight lifting off my shoulders. Our eldest has also been doing great at school, which gives me a lot of comfort. With my husband having his annual leave, I thought, why not take the whole family on a trip somewhere around Guangdong to relax? While researching online, I found a spot near Guangzhou Baiyun Airport that’s perfect for family outings. It has a youth aviation science research center and JunTu expansion activities, which seemed ideal for broadening the kids' horizons. So I made plans with two close friends to bring our families to 广州翼·空港文旅小镇 for a getaway! Without further ado, we quickly packed our bags and set off!

We set off at 8 a.m., and the drive from Foshan took about 90 minutes. As soon as we got out of the car, we were greeted by the fresh scent of nature and buildings brimming with artistic flair. Each of our three families had booked hotel rooms according to our preferences, thinking how fun it would be to experience different hotel environments and visit each other’s rooms.

Our family stayed at 禾平里酒店, which we had booked online. As soon as we walked in, the exquisite décor caught my eye—artfully designed decorations, warm color schemes, and tasteful displays. My husband and I were both very pleased. The front desk staff was extremely warm and welcoming. Most importantly, the hotel offered attentive butler service. The front desk young man prepared lemonade, freshly baked cookies, and some toys for our two kids, who had a blast.

The butler escorted us to our room to drop off the luggage, then introduced the hotel’s features, room guidelines, and how to summon the butler. He was very conscientious, asking about our meal times, personal tastes, and thoughtfully prepared milk powder, diapers, and other necessities for the children.

The next morning, we had breakfast in our room. The butler delivered it on time and kindly asked if we had slept well and if there was anything that could be improved.

We were also lucky to meet the person in charge of 禾平里酒店. He introduced the hotel’s facilities and their customer-first philosophy. He mentioned that every room is equipped with AIYI brand space memory foam mattresses, available in various firmness options. This type of mattress automatically adjusts its firmness according to body temperature at different pressure points, and its slow-rebound properties help relieve body stress.

I also loved their pillow, a cervical pillow that not only helped me sleep soundly but also relaxed my body. Regarding the butler service, the person in charge said the butlers are professionally trained and available around the clock. You can tell them any of your needs, and they’re all-rounders who take care of everything from dining, laundry, travel, to housekeeping. I can’t praise the butler service enough—so thoughtful!

Actually, the main reason we chose this hotel was that when my husband booked online, he saw reviews praising its soundproofing. With two young kids who can be noisy, it’s a big concern when traveling—you don’t want to disturb others and risk complaints. When we asked the person in charge about this, he assured us that we needn’t worry. For soundproofing, 禾平里 employs a five-layer design: double-paned insulated glass floor-to-ceiling windows, triple-layered cross-noise-reducing curtains, thick walls coated with soundproof material, extra-thick flooring with in-floor heating, and high-thickness soundproof doors made with a novel bridge-hole mechanics panel. Since the hotel is near the airport, the roar of airplanes could disturb guests, so they’ve put a lot of effort into this.

My friend Xia Xia stayed at 大隐于市民宿. As a classic art and culture lover, what drew her was the story behind this inn: when creating it, the owner visited many guesthouses both at home and abroad for inspiration, and found that the unique location and cultural charm of 凤和村 aligned perfectly with his vision for the inn brand. With his painstaking renovation, the guesthouse transformed into the most eye-catching landmark in 凤和村.

I visited her on the second day. The exterior alone was eye-catching—bamboo-clad walls gave 大隐于市 a distinctive style, with large swaths of natural bamboo mounted on the walls accentuated by green plants. From the entrance on, every corner revealed the proprietor’s care: a walkway made of an old stone mill, a screen crafted from a traditional Chinese wooden door, an antique carriage full of vintage charm… Inside, the décor was unique, full of folk ballad spirit and Shangri-La hues.

Inside, the guest rooms were designed primarily with solid wood and stone. The whole room had an antique charm, with a big bed that looked soft and cozy, enhanced by warm yellow lighting. Xia Xia’s family stayed in the parent-child room, which, unlike other rooms, included a little tent for the kid to play in and a floor-to-ceiling window where morning sunlight streamed in. The staff told us that some rooms also have a small tatami, large french windows, a jacuzzi bathtub, and other features, so friends planning to stay should inquire carefully before booking. Xia Xia’s family was very satisfied—it satisfied her love for artistic style, and the kids had a wonderful time.

My other friend Wen Wen stayed at 朗汇酒店. The rooms were spacious, and the kids had a blast running around. Stepping into 朗汇, words like elegance, texture, and avant-garde popped into my mind. It incorporates traditional Lingnan elements, seamlessly blending Lingnan charm with modern business aesthetics. More impressively, it features a unique dual-bathroom setup, so kids and adults can enjoy bath time at their own pace!

The large vanity mirror really brightened our mood—several people could get ready at the same time without bumping into each other, saving time. The three of us stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, cups in hand, admiring the town’s scenery, feeling as if we were in a painting.

On the first day, following our schedule, we accompanied the kids to the Youth Aviation Science Education Base. Initially, we learned online that 小翼科普’s independent groups require 20 children, and we didn’t have enough, so we thought our plan might fall through. But when we called to inquire, the staff told us there happened to be a group having a class at 小翼航空文化馆 that day. With their help, we were able to join the group and participate in the one-day study course.

小翼航空文化馆 is Guangzhou’s first comprehensive aviation science base, where kids can get up close with the history of world aviation. Instructors used storytelling to share aviation knowledge, letting young people learn history in a fun way, satisfying their curiosity and sparking new dreams. The curriculum included classes on flight theory, flight simulator practice, and more, balancing theory and hands-on training. The kids were excited and listened attentively. Our eldest even told me that night that he wants to be a pilot when he grows up. I admire such grand ambition!

The most headache-inducing part of traveling with kids is meals—you can’t let them eat too much ‘heaty’ food, but if it’s too bland, they won’t touch it. So home-style cooking is the best bet. While planning, I found that there are several restaurants here specializing in home-style dishes. So we took the kids and went on a foodie adventure, let’s go!

Our first stop was 惠心私房菜, a Cantonese restaurant. It’s located in one of the town’s most characteristic century-old green-brick house attractions. The restaurant has private dining rooms and elegant seating, and since we were a large group from three families, we chose a big private room. As soon as we entered, we saw a Chinese knot with the character ‘福’ (fortune) hanging in an alcove, and classic rosewood tables and chairs added a touch of elegance. The private room on the second floor had large floor-to-ceiling windows offering views of the rooftops of the neighboring green-brick houses—a different perspective altogether. The dishes arrived one by one. Here’s a picture of my favorite, chopped chili fish head. The spiciness wasn’t overpowering, carrying that distinct Guangdong-style mildness. We also had fish head soup, white-cut chicken, roasted pigeon… The kids ate their fill. Thumbs up for this place!

Next was 关中印象. Xia Xia’s husband is from Shaanxi and has lived in Foshan for many years. He said Shaanxi cuisine is definitely worth trying. 关中印象 is a Shaanxi-style eatery serving specialties like hulu chicken, liangpi (cold noodles), roujiamo (meat buns), and saozi noodles. The menu is heavy on noodles, and all dishes are freshly stir-fried to order, so you don’t have to worry about cold or stale food. The kids clamored for roujiamo, while the adults each ordered a bowl of saozi noodles—thin, even, and satisfyingly chewy.

After we’d all eaten our fill, we decided to explore the cultural scene around the town. We each searched on our phones and after a discussion, settled on the 24-hour Late Night Study. It’s a free reading room that never closes. Housed in a century-old green-brick building, you need to swipe your ID card to enter. Inside there’s a reading room, a children’s area, and a lounge. The study features various intangible cultural heritage elements—lion heads, drums, clay sculptures… and you can still see traces of traditional Lingnan architecture. At the entrance, there’s an ATM-style book lending machine; with just a few steps, you can borrow books. This self-service machine is linked with the Guangzhou Library, so you don’t have to worry about returning books only at the Late Night Study. The kids pored over history books and storybooks in the children’s area, while some adults chose books in the reading room and others relaxed in the lounge. Do stay quiet if you visit!

After the study, we meandered over to 翼空间·春睡画园. Wen Wen’s son was captivated by the exterior and kept tugging at her: “Mommy, I want to see this!” From a distance, 翼空间 looked like a unique ‘green-brick box’. Once inside, we discovered it’s an art gallery, with an entrance that’s a ceremonial time tunnel flanked by several charming Manchurian windows and carved wooden doors echoing each other. We heard it was transformed from an old ancestral hall—hard to believe!

Inside, numerous paintings were on display, each exquisite and imbued with poetic beauty. 翼空间·春睡画园 has three floors, mostly featuring elegant Lingnan garden arch designs, graceful and full of charm.

When afternoon tea time arrived and the kids were tired, we all stepped into a tea shop called 挞柠. Its sign read ‘A cup of addictive lemon tea.’ I decided to try their Ya Shi Xiang (Duck Shit Aroma) lemon tea. The Ya Shi Xiang tea has a mellow, subtly fragrant taste, paired with lemon slices for a refreshing, non-cloying drink. I also loved the packaging—handy carry design, perfect for on the go. The shop also offers many snacks, like garlic-sauce tofu, crispy fried chicken steak… Overall, it’s pretty good. If you love lemon tea, I recommend this place!

Xia Xia was drawn to another tea shop called 东喜 and ordered her favorite fruit tea. The fruits were fresh, cut on the spot, and tasted refreshingly clean.

After getting our drinks, the little foodies begged for desserts, and we set our sights on 帝猫山. This shop specializes in durian-based desserts and snacks, smooth and creamy, perfect for a durian lover like me. So satisfying!

Early on the third day, we arrived at 广州翼·空港文旅小镇’s 军途拓展基地, and everyone was full of anticipation. Because our group was small, and there was a school group of students and parents preparing for a parent-child team building, the base coordinator arranged for our three families to join separate classes. First, the host kicked off, forming everyone into 5 teams. Each team had 20 minutes to come up with a name, slogan, and team song, breaking the ice. Then each squad took turns introducing themselves, boosting their morale. Finally came the team battles: each member participated in a foam ball fight and a tag-ripping game, frantically protecting their name tags and wary of sneak attacks from behind. It was hilariously fun! The most anticipated part was the live CS, where a coach provided hands-on instruction. The game felt incredibly real and boosted the kids’ confidence and teamwork skills!

After the ‘battle’, we had an outdoor BBQ together. After a busy day, seeing all that delicious food made everyone’s mouth water! Remember for next time, if you join 军途拓展 as a group, meals can be included.

Our three-day mini break ended just like that. At departure, the butler had prepared little souvenir gifts for us. The kids were still not ready to leave. Here’s to the next trip! At 广州翼·空港文旅小镇, all three families had a wonderful time relaxing, and the kids broadened their horizons—truly a worthwhile experience. Transportation is convenient, not far from Baiyun Airport, and hotels usually offer airport transfer services, so friends coming from out of town needn’t worry about arriving late without a ride to the hotel.

Location: 广州翼·空港文旅小镇, Fenghe Village, Renhe Town, Baiyun District, Guangzhou Transportation: Guangzhou Metro Line 3/9, Gaozeng Station, Exit D