A 2-Day 1-Night Family Trip in Zengcheng: Fruit Picking at the 1,500-Mu Wanguo Fruit Town
Children growing up in the city want for nothing, yet often miss out on the chance to get close to nature. Last weekend, our family took our two daughters to Sanying Hot Spring Hotel in Paitan Town, Zengcheng, for a wonderful weekend getaway.
The Sanying Hot Spring Hotel, encircled by mountains
This hotel is nestled among mountains, blending seamlessly with nature! Located near the Baishuizhai Scenic Area in Zengcheng, it backs onto Nankunshan Forest Park and Conghua Shimen Forest Park. From the hotel, you can even see the waterfalls of Baishuizhai, making the air almost sweet to breathe.
We stayed in a Tingquan Pavilion Hot Spring Twin Room. The room was spacious, over 50 square meters. The balcony even had its own hot spring pool! Looking out from the balcony, the lush greenery was truly refreshing!
Hot Springs in the Deep Mountains: The Air Tastes Sweet
I've stayed in many hot spring hotels and tried many springs, but the ones here still feel special. My daughter said that after bathing here, her skin felt silky smooth!
The source of these hot springs is the thermal water beneath Shirenling at the southern foot of Nankunshan Forest Park, gushing out over 1,000 tons of water daily with temperatures up to 75°C.
The hot spring area is vast. Besides the pools halfway up the mountain, there's a deep-mountain hot spring zone that requires a short hike to reach. At a higher altitude, the air is fresher—and truly a little sweet!
Don't miss the cave hot springs, which have an adventurous feel! Under colorful lights, the cave looks exceptionally beautiful.
There's also a children's hot spring area, complete with slides and other facilities, fulfilling kids' winter wish to play in the water!
Abundant Buffet Feasts
The hotel is no longer just about sleeping; great food is essential. Sanying Hot Spring Hotel's buffet is rich and exquisite, bringing together world cuisines, even catering to picky eaters!
The most popular items at the buffet are, of course, the various fresh seafood, dazzling in abundance.
Beyond seafood, there are plenty of meats too. The steak is grilled to perfection, with a crispy, charred exterior and tender, juicy interior.
Don't skip the desserts either. Each one is beautifully crafted, a feast for the eyes even before tasting. They're delicious, with just the right sweetness, never cloying. Ending the meal with a dessert brings immense satisfaction.
Next to Sanying Hot Spring Hotel lies Wanguo Fruit Town. This is an agricultural project near Wenquan Road in Paitan Town, covering 1,500 mu, with fruits like golden tangerines, spring honey oranges, and seedless Orah mandarins available for seasonal picking!
It happened to be strawberry season, so my kids and I went to the Strawberry Station, which includes both greenhouse and outdoor strawberry fields. My two little ones preferred the greenhouse—no bending down to pick strawberries! So convenient! And despite their small size, those strawberries were quite sweet!
Sunflower Base
Villagers told us that this year at Wanguo Fruit Town, we were in for a visual treat because they had newly planted sunflowers. Thousands upon thousands of sunflowers face the sun, forming a sea of yellow blossoms! Linked with the blue sky and mountains, it's a perfect spot to snap lively photos of your kids.
Near the hotel, there are many farm-to-table restaurants. I tried a few and they were all good—affordable and satisfying!
Roast chicken is a must-order dish! Crispy outside, tender inside, and perfectly seasoned. Well worth trying!
There's also pan-fried stuffed tofu. Maybe because the water here is so good, the tofu is exceptionally silky!
For the last stop of our Zengcheng Paitan family trip, we chose to buy local specialties. Locals recommended Paitan Market, the largest wholesale market for vegetables and meat in Paitan Town, and a must-visit for residents doing their daily shopping.
Zengcheng's black olives, silk seedling rice, late-season choy sum, and residue-free arrowroot are renowned far and wide.
At the market, the prices were super cheap. Sweet, starchy sweet potatoes at just 3 yuan a pound, and a huge variety—Bread King, Big Leaf Red, One Dot Red, and many more I'd never heard of. My mom immediately went into shopping mode! Also, the cured meats here, made by villagers themselves, are highly worth buying!
Paitan boasts three 'mosts': the country's greatest single-drop waterfall, Zengcheng's highest peak, and Zengcheng's highest staircase. After this two-day, one-night trip, our kids felt they hadn't had enough fun. We've promised them a return trip to Paitan during the May Day holiday.
Guangzhou Sanying Hot Spring Resort:
No. 2 Wenquan Road, Gaotan Village, Paitan Town, Zengcheng District, Guangzhou
Wanguo Fruit Town:
Dongdong Village, Paitan Town, Zengcheng District, Guangzhou (navigate to Wanguo Fruit Town)
Sunflower Base:
Opposite the South Gate of Gaotan Jinxiu Xiangjiang Health Valley, Paitan Town, Zengcheng District, Guangzhou
Paitan Market:
No. 42 Jiaoyu Road, Paitan Town, Zengcheng District, Guangzhou
