Guangzhou Flowers in a Day: Exploring Tianshan Shanshui Earth Art Park in Conghua, Guangzhou (and a Stop at Qiangang Ancient Village)

Tianshan Shanshui Earth Art Park, located in Conghua, Guangzhou, recently opened to the public. It's a comprehensive scenic area that combines dining, accommodation, and recreation. The currently open area, Yuying Valley, is still being developed and improved, and many facilities like hotels, RV parks, etc., are not yet completed or in use.

We visited on a non-weekend day, so there weren't many visitors. The ticket price of 198 yuan per person felt a bit steep, but each ticket came with a 100-yuan voucher that could be used at the park's restaurants. All in all, it didn't seem too expensive, especially since the park clearly invested a lot in its creation.

The main entrance was impressive, and as soon as we entered, staff came up to greet us and introduce the park.

Upon entering, the first thing we saw was a children's playground. The park also offers childcare services, so young parents can leave their kids with the staff and go off to enjoy themselves freely.


Yuying Valley is the first phase of Tianshan Shanshui's cultural tourism project. The park presents a harmonious blend of natural landscapes and carefully crafted artificial details, with every corner showing intricate design. Over 600 species of exotic flowers and plants from around the world are scattered throughout the scenic spots, making Yuying Valley particularly beautiful and romantic. Here, you can see rare trees and flowers such as the 1,000-year-old Spanish olive tree, 1,000-year-old crape myrtle, a king perfume rose, African baobab kapok, and Japanese iroha maple. No matter the season, you'll find an array of colorful blossoms, earning it the nickname 'the flower city within a flower city.' As the park's slogan goes, 'See all of Guangzhou's flowers in a single day.'


The park is quite large, and there are free sightseeing vehicles available—just call and they'll stop for you, making getting around very convenient. When we asked about the sightseeing cars at the entrance, the lady at the ticket counter quickly arranged one for us by phone. Our driver, surnamed Cao, was a very enthusiastic and attentive young man. Since we were the only two passengers, he drove us all around the park—from the riverside to the mountaintop—introducing each scenic spot in detail, stopping anytime we wanted to take photos, and finally taking us to a few popular Instagram-worthy spots. With Xiao Cao's guidance and company, we immediately felt we got our money's worth. His words were full of deep affection and pride for the park, which I think reflects a kind of corporate cultural confidence and sense of belonging.


The sightseeing car we rode had a cute little rabbit on its roof.


Traditional indigenous huts.


VIP reception hall.


'Carp leaping over the Dragon Gate' sculpture.


Wedding photo shoot base.


A small Japanese-style tavern at the hilltop.


There are three gardens with different styles inside the park; Garden No. 3 has a distinctly British feel.


This is an elevator, by the way.


The king perfume rose. Unfortunately, it wasn't blooming season, so we couldn't see the tree covered in blossoms.


In the distance is a Cantonese restaurant where you can use the vouchers.


Before leaving, we had a simple Western meal at the Clear Stream Market near the main gate, and surprisingly, it was very satisfying. There are several stalls offering both Chinese and Western food, all accepting the vouchers.


We felt the trip was well worth it. The only regret was the uncooperative weather—we couldn't take many good photos. As we were about to leave the park, the sun finally peeked out a bit, so we snapped a few more outdoor shots.


Leaving the scenic area, we followed this bamboo path to the parking lot, fetched our car, and drove away.

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On the way there, we passed by Qiangang Ancient Village and went in for a look.


'Qiangang Ancient Village is located in Qiangang Village, Taiping Town. The village covers over 50,000 square meters of building area, with over 900 houses. Most residents are surnamed Lu, and according to records, the Lu clan of Qiangang are descendants of Lu Xiufu, a chancellor of the Southern Song Dynasty. Most of the preserved houses were built in the Qing dynasty, with some structures still retaining Song dynasty architectural influences.'

Qiangang Ancient Village has four gate towers, nine academies, three ancestral halls, and four watchtowers. There is a 'village moat' outside. The lanes in the ancient village are numerous, deep, and winding, with houses, ancestral halls, covered pavilions, and ponds all present. It is a well-preserved representative of typical Cantonese vernacular architecture.

Inside the village is Guangyu Ancestral Hall, the clan hall of the Lu family from the Southern Song Dynasty. Built in the same year as the Forbidden City in Beijing, it has a history of nearly 600 years. Guangyu Ancestral Hall has been listed as a protected cultural relic by the Guangdong provincial government and in 2003 won first place for the 'UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Award for Culture Heritage Conservation,' demonstrating its exceptional historical value among ancient Chinese villages. (Excerpted from Ctrip)


Today's villagers have all moved into new homes outside the ancient village, leaving it completely deserted. The old village stands like an elderly person etched with the passage of time, silently witnessing centuries of changes and events. In this quiet and forlorn ancient village, we followed the signs, feeling as if we had traveled back through hundreds of years...


'Time falls silent; only stones can speak.'