2-Day 1-Night Self-Drive Trip to Zengcheng, Guangzhou: Soak in Hot Springs, Stay at a Guesthouse, and Savor the Time Amidst Miles of Rice Fragrance

As a Guangdong local, I've studied and lived in Guangzhou for eight years, yet I never visited Zengcheng. I heard its natural scenery is quite nice, so this weekend, I took a short trip with my bestie to Zengcheng for a two-day getaway to relax.

Due to our hectic work schedules, we hadn't seen each other in a while. Even when we did meet, it was just a quick meal before rushing off. So for this trip, she took the wheel as the driver, and I mapped out the route and served as the photographer.

Our itinerary and activities: Self-drive from downtown Guangzhou — Soak in hot springs at Forest Sea Hot Spring Resort Hotel — Check in at Maikeheke Boutique Guesthouse — Try Zhouji Liangfen (grass jelly) at Tanyun Tianju Guesthouse — Snap photos in the rice fields at Wanruo Guli (Just Like Home) Rice Fields — Picking passion fruit at Lai Laodie Passion Fruit Orchard — Shopping for farm produce at Paitan Market

1. Forest Sea Hot Spring Resort Hotel

Driving from Guangzhou to the Forest Sea Hot Spring Resort Hotel in Paitan Town, Zengcheng took about an hour, and parking was free. The hotel’s exterior exuded a Southeast Asian flair, which immediately piqued our curiosity. The hot springs here are said to be among the best in the area, and the Instagram-famous boat-shaped and birdcage-shaped pools draw many visitors. The weather in Guangzhou right now is perfect for a soak.

2. Maikeheke Boutique Guesthouse

After the hot springs, we arrived in the afternoon at our pre-booked Maikeheke Boutique Guesthouse. We chose it because of the rice paddy and infinity pool right at its doorstep. A pity the weather was a bit too cool for a dip, or we’d have snapped gorgeous shots in the pool. Still, we got a group photo by the poolside. As dusk fell, the sunset was stunning. Taking photos in the rice fields outside the guesthouse at golden hour was absolutely breathtaking. We were so lucky to have picked a fine day, and the sunsets in Guangzhou these two days were truly gorgeous.

While shooting the sunset, a little girl from the village came over and played with us. She wasn’t shy at all and even showed us around the village.

Dinner was at the guesthouse, and the farm-to-table dishes were delicious and fresh. The fish in the sour cabbage fish stew was especially tender. After a tiring day of hot springs and photos, this meal instantly healed our fatigue.

We were a bit tired from the day’s activities, so we rested early. The guesthouse was very quiet at night, and we slept soundly.

The next morning’s breakfast was also good—a Cantonese-style nutritious spread, with organic sweet potatoes and corn.

Since it was a rare getaway, we checked out right after breakfast to make the most of the weekend and explored the surroundings for more photo ops.

3. Zhouji Liangfen (Grass Jelly) in Paitan, Zengcheng, Guangzhou

Not far from the guesthouse, Tanyun Tianju Guesthouse sells Zhouji Liangfen, whose traditional preparation technique is listed as a representative item of the sixth batch of district-level intangible cultural heritage in Zengcheng. Its main ingredient is leaf of the mesona chinensis, also known as ‘fairy grass’ or ‘grass jelly plant.’ Together with lychee, silk rice, and black olive, it’s one of the ‘Four Treasures of Zengcheng.’ It’s a premium ingredient for making grass jelly and herbal tea. Paitan Town in northern Zengcheng produces the most and the best quality. As a famous Cantonese snack, it brought back a flood of childhood memories. When I was little, my mom would make this dessert for me every summer. It still tastes just as smooth and refreshing.

4. Wanruo Guli (Just Like Home) Rice Fields

After the cool jelly, we headed to the nearby Instagram-famous spot: Wanruo Guli Rice Fields. Here, another stretch of paddies features a wooden boardwalk and a small photo hut, making pictures simply gorgeous. Sitting alone on the boardwalk, feeling the breeze stir the rice waves, inhaling the scent of grass and greenery, I was immersed in a carefree pastoral moment that instantly transported me back to cherished childhood days. Such a scene perfectly matched my style as a solo photographer. Shooting while strolling here, you can capture magazine-worthy shots in minutes. Plenty of others around us were also snapping away in the fields. It seems nobody can resist taking beautiful photos.

5. Lai Laodie Passion Fruit Orchard

After the rice paddies, we went next door to Lai Laodie Passion Fruit Orchard to pick and taste fresh passion fruit. The freshly picked fruit was incredibly delicious. It’s a honey passion fruit variety, truly sweet and not sour at all—completely flipping my impression that passion fruit is always tart. We just planned to take some fun photos in the orchard, but we ended up bringing home a bag of passion fruit as a bonus.

6. Paitan Market

By then it was nearing noon, time to grab lunch and head back to Guangzhou. Before leaving, we passed by Paitan Market and bought some fresh farm veggies and sweet potatoes. The greens here are much cheaper than in Guangzhou, and most importantly, they’re farm-fresh, sweet, and tasty.

This trip was just a brief two-day, one-night getaway, but the simple joy of traveling and taking photos with my bestie was a truly happy moment—and a record of our youth at this very moment. We even said that when we’re old, we’ll make a photo album of all the places we’ve visited together over the years.

On a journey, you don’t have to see breathtaking seas, snowy mountains, or vast grasslands, nor travel far. As long as you’re with the right person, having fun and creating special, wonderful memories is what matters most.