Zengcheng's Paitan Town, just an hour's drive from Guangzhou city center, an eco-town away from urban hustle

Recently, I discovered another great getaway near Guangzhou: Paitan Town in northern Zengcheng District. It's well worth a visit, with tasty food and fun things to do. There are plenty of local guesthouses, and you can really connect with nature. Best of all, it's super close to Guangzhou – just an hour's drive. A perfect weekend two-day, one-night self-drive escape, so grab your buddies and hit the road!

Start your morning from Guangzhou and drive straight to Paitan for a delicious breakfast. Then slowly explore the nearby sights, have a special Paitan roast chicken for lunch, check into your guesthouse in the afternoon, relax with tea, or continue exploring. The next day, browse the Paitan market for local produce before leisurely driving back to Guangzhou.

Shengji Breakfast, address: 12 Gaotan Road, average cost: 10 yuan per person

On the first morning, navigate directly to Shengji Breakfast and try the authentic Paitan classics: gaizai rice noodles, winnowing fan rice rolls, and pig offal congee. Everything is made fresh daily by the owner, and you can watch the preparation – it's quite special. The gaizai rice noodles are a local specialty: first steamed in a winnowing basket, then cut into strips and wok-fried with your choice of toppings. It looks a bit like fried rice noodles, but the texture is different. Highly recommended. Paired with a steaming bowl of pig offal congee, it's perfect. They also have beef brisket noodles, wonton noodles, and other snacks worth trying.

After breakfast, we drove leisurely toward our pre-booked guesthouse, soaking in the scenery along the way. Passing Hanhu Village, we came across a vast field of rice nearly ripe – a countryside view you'd never see in the city. We couldn't resist pulling over and walking down the rural paths to breathe in the fragrance of the paddies. Instantly, our spirits lifted. It was a pity that the weather didn't cooperate; it was overcast with light drizzle, so the light wasn't ideal. But rainy days have their own misty beauty. With a relaxed and optimistic mood, every situation can be enjoyable.

Next, we visited Shimalong Wetland Park, right outside the entrance of Baishuizhai Scenic Area, just a stone's throw away. The park is centered on Shimalong Reservoir, where the water from Baishuizhai's waterfall collects. That day, with a steady drizzle, a veil of mist hovered over the distant shore, creating a hazy, ink-wash painting scene. Shimalong Wetland Park is lovely, with mirror-like water, lush greenery all around, and complete facilities: a pier, hexagonal pavilions, greenways, and even free parking. If you have time, you can circle the reservoir on foot; when tired, rest in a pavilion – there's one every stretch along the path. Address: Shimalong Reservoir, Baishuizhai Avenue, Zengcheng District, Guangzhou, Guangdong. Admission: free.

After exploring the wetland park, you can cross the road to the Crystal Palace Orchard to pick fresh red dragon fruit. Zengcheng is known for dragon fruit, especially the red-fleshed kind. They're not huge, but the flesh is vivid red, juicy, and sweet – even fresher when picked right off the plant.

Continuing toward Baishuizhai, you'll find our special guesthouse, Congxinyin Art Design Guesthouse, right next to the scenic area entrance. Lunch is convenient at the nearby Baishuixian Farmhouse. Congxinyin address: 79 Beishan Road, Shangjiubei, Paitan Town, Zengcheng District. This guesthouse is a well-known internet sensation: comfortable, attentive service, and full of design flair by a Singaporean royal architect. There's a pool, a lawn, a cozy lobby with sofas and a tea-brewing area – step inside and you feel at ease. Spending the afternoon in the lobby or courtyard with fruit, tea, and idle time is pure bliss. The rooms are simple yet elegant, bright and super comfortable, each with a bathtub and imported smart toilet. The guesthouse even thoughtfully provides bathtub liners – a detail many big hotels overlook. Most rooms offer a direct view of Baishuizhai waterfall from the window. Unfortunately, it was cloudy when we visited, and the waterfall was shrouded in mist, so we missed its dramatic cascade. Still, we could sit by the floor-to-ceiling windows, brew tea, chat, and enjoy the scenery. When time slows down, you feel your mood lift and relax completely. This is definitely the place to forget work worries and reconnect with your true self.

For dinner, head to the nearby Hongkelai Restaurant for Zengcheng specialties. The farmhouse roast chicken and perilla-fried mountain snails are must-orders. Pair them with a bowl of Zengcheng's silky rice, and you've got a distinctive farmhouse meal. The chicken skin is crispy, the meat tender and juicy. The mountain snails, wok-tossed with perilla, are so tasty you can't stop eating.

Before returning to Guangzhou, I suggest visiting the Paitan market. It's packed with local produce, all grown or made by locals – truly natural. Look for Zengcheng silky rice, Mishi red persimmons, black olives, mountain snails, Paitan arrowroot powder, Paitan white tea, and more – you'll want to take some home. Mishi red persimmons are highly recommended: orange-red, plump, and appetizing. Just break them open and eat – the flesh is sweet, soft, and glutinous. If you like snails, try the mountain snails; they have pointed shells and live in mountain streams, making the meat sweeter than regular snails. At the market, sellers will even trim the tails for you. Just wash them back home and stir-fry with a bit of perilla. If you skip the market, on the road back to Guangzhou you'll encounter stalls selling local specialties like honey passion fruit, free-range eggs, Zengcheng choy sum, red dragon fruit, and more – a good variety of fruits and veggies. Paitan's honey passion fruit is famous: juicy, fragrant, and refreshingly sweet. Eat it straight or steep it in water, healthy and delicious, and very affordable.

With the pandemic over the past two years, I've cut back on long trips and now prefer exploring around my own city. It's relaxing, more convenient, and less exhausting, so you can return to work fully refreshed. Paitan Town in Zengcheng District is an excellent choice – not too crowded, letting you immerse in local life. Grab a few friends and take a road trip when you can.

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