Traveling Guangdong with JO's Family: Guangzhou & Zhaoqing

📍 Guangzhou · 👁 4 reads · ❤️ 239 likes

Hello everyone, long time no see~

On this trip, besides Qingqing (my dear mom), my sister Lexie joined us. The three of us, mother and daughters, took advantage of the weekend to visit Zhaoqing, where grandma lived in her youth, and also to soak in the hot springs at the famous Baishuizhai. As a driver with five years of experience, I may have accumulated more kilometers than some middle-aged drivers. Once again, it’s me, Jingjing, taking the family on a road trip~

1. Travel duration: 3 days, 2 nights | Mid-May 2021

2. Departure and transport: Shenzhen | Self-drive

4. Main goals: Hot springs (for Qingqing & Lexie) · Driving & hotel & photography (for me)

Qixingyan (Seven Star Crags) is where my mom and grandma lived in their younger days, and every time we come here we stay right by the crags. There’s a shopping mall downstairs, and luckily we have a cousin who lives in Zhaoqing (it's nice to not have to plan everything and just follow a local around sometimes).

In the evening, you can walk or drive into Yanqian Village—the scenery along the way! One side is lined with guesthouses, restaurants, and bars, and the other side offers sunset views of mountains and lakes. It may not have the fame of major attractions, but it’s full of leisurely charm. Remember this spot!

Strolling along the lake, you see health-conscious joggers, and you suddenly feel that this is what life is all about. Whether you’re tired or happy, go for a walk in a place you love, exercise, and breathe fresh air.

Lingji Art Space has three floors. It’s nice to come here in the evening for cocktails and waffles (service hmm... you know what I mean). Window seats need to be reserved in advance. Yanqian Village has a ton of bars—you can check them out as you walk, but if you want a window seat, book ahead.

～ Day 2 ～

Ronghua Restaurant, which opens at 7 a.m., is right next to the Dinghu Mountain scenic area parking lot. Here you can try Zhaoqing’s famous wrapped sticky rice dumplings (guozheng zong) and Cantonese morning tea. If you like them, you can buy some as souvenirs for relatives and friends on the way out of the scenic area.

You can park at the Dinghu scenic area parking lot: 15 RMB per entry, pay before parking. It’s about a 6–10 minute walk to the entrance (though it might take 10 minutes because the path is lined with restaurants and snack shops—you’ll want to stop and look!).

Dinghu Mountain summit — outside Qingyun Temple

You can take an electric shuttle up the mountain; one ticket covers the round trip. Mom wanted to go up to pray, so we first took the shuttle to the summit temple. While Mom and my sister went to worship, I relaxed in the shade of a tree. It was summer, and they were selling fresh guavas—after paying respects, everyone can buy some from the stall. They were super fresh, sweet, and soft! Sitting under the tree was so pleasant~

After the temple, you can take the shuttle directly to midway attractions, such as Feishui Pond and the Butterfly Valley with Tongxin Island (the one in the portrait photo). Since we still had to go to Baishuizhai in Guangzhou, we conserved energy and only chose the easier Butterfly Valley (four-square grid).

Families with kids can visit the butterfly area on the island—there really are a lot of butterflies!

Walk to the end of Tongxin Bridge, and you’ll find the small waterfall in the photo above (supposedly the oxygen level here is very high). But the best part of Tongxin Island is still Dinghu—it’s stunning in photos, like a miniature Jiuzhaigou.

A simple lunch~ We randomly ordered a few dishes at the first restaurant by the scenic area entrance.

You don’t need to eat too much for lunch, because on the way back to the parking lot there are so many delicious snacks.

In the afternoon we arrived at our second stop:

As soon as we entered the lobby, we were captivated by the view! The afternoon sunlight was so full of positive energy.

At certain times in the afternoon (when there are no kids’ activities), the lobby’s outdoor terrace is peaceful and comfortable.

You can order a drink, read a book, and simply enjoy the lush greenery and blue sky with white clouds—it’s so relaxing.

Moreover, the hotel security service was absolutely top-notch and left a deep impression. Before entering the hotel, they thoughtfully pointed out the underground parking and lobby directions, helping guests decide whether to unload luggage at the lobby first or go straight to the parking lot. You think that’s it? The security guards at both the ground and underground lots would greet you warmly, and even enthusiastically tell you the best photo spots. (It made arriving guests feel right at home, and parents with kids could rest easy!)

Thanks to the front desk lady for upgrading us to a garden-view room for free. In the afternoon, there was such beautiful light and shadows, and a gorgeous view outside the window. As the designated driver, once I saw this cozy and spacious room after arriving, all fatigue vanished instantly. After a quick wash, I could sit on that vintage yellow sofa and read (actually, I couldn’t resist taking a selfie first). At that moment, I truly felt the relaxed vibe~ of a vacation~

Qingqing and my sister, of course, immediately changed into swimsuits and went to soak in the hot springs. (The hot spring lounge provides free snacks and drinks; outdoors, you can buy hot spring eggs—remember to bring your phone for mobile payment.)

There were many types of hot springs: a herbal medicine area, a karst cave area, a hilltop area, and a fun splash pool. Mom fully enjoyed the pools both on the first day after check-in and before checking out on the second day~

~ Hotel buffet dinner ~

Choosing to have dinner at the hotel this time was such a great decision! (I hadn’t had a buffet since getting my braces off, so I was extra excited.)

Since it’s a family-friendly hotel, there’s a dedicated kids’ dining area—the food and decorations were so adorable (there was live singing, and the atmosphere was extremely cheerful).

They also served freshly grilled lamb chops, garlic oysters, fresh Japanese sashimi, and seafood. The Chinese soups really hit the spot for Cantonese taste buds.

~ After-dinner stroll around the hotel ~

In addition to the kids’ playground and game facilities, in the evening there were also singing and dance performances and fun quizzes on the left side of the lobby.

~ Buffet breakfast ~

I wonder if anyone else likes to wake up early for the hotel breakfast buffet (well, our whole family does!)

Just to enjoy some peace and quiet... ^_^ (Breakfast starts at 7 a.m.)

Dining options outside the hotel: About a 5–10 minute drive toward the highway from the resort area, there are many farmhouse restaurants. Smaller ones serve food quickly, while larger ones are crowded and a bit slower. When traveling, you don’t need to plan every meal; sometimes just go with the flow—be happy if you find something delicious, and if it’s just average, don’t be too disappointed.

Traveling with family is actually a test of patience for every child. Plan ahead before the trip, and if during the trip, two out of three things—accommodation, restaurants, and leisure activities—please your family, and one pleases yourself, that’s already a perfect trip. When we were little, our parents took us out to play; now that we’ve grown up, it’s our turn to take them to see the world.

Thank you all for reading to the end. If you have any questions, leave a comment for me~ Thanks again ^_^

Travelogue Contents

1. Introduction

2. Xing Hotel Zhaoqing

3. Zhaoqing Dinghu Mountain Scenic Area

4. Guangzhou Baishuizhai Jiahua Hot Spring Hotel

Travel Information

Hotel Index

Guide Index

Flight Ticket Index

Website Navigation

Tourism Index