A Peaceful Day Trip to a Hakka Village

Morning: Ruan Xiaoxian's Former Residence; Noon: Sunshine Green Source Farm; Afternoon: Sujiawei; Evening: Sunshine Green Source Farm

Heyuan, though lacking the bustle of Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, boasts beautiful, lush, and charming landscapes, as well as little-known red stories.

Ruan Xiaoxian's Former Residence is a three-section Hakka enclosed house, featuring the characteristics and style of Hakka dwellings. Ruan Xiaoxian, one of the pioneers of the youth movement in Guangdong, was an important leader of the early peasant movement of the Chinese Communist Party. We drove with our child to Ruan Xiaoxian's Former Residence to trace the hero's footsteps, commemorate the martyrs, and revisit the red stories. The ancient alleyways are peaceful and profound; every brick and tile seems to quietly tell stories from long ago. While telling our child about Ruan Xiaoxian's revolutionary activities and some historical materials from his early life, we also viewed the displayed historical artifacts and photographs, experiencing the revolutionary spirit. Here, there is both historical depth and the warmth of the Hakka people. Stepping out of Ruan Xiaoxian's Former Residence, you can see the most authentic life of the Hakka people.

A ten-minute drive takes you to Sunshine Green Source Farm. Wooden gates, wooden houses, vegetable gardens, rice paddies... The farm has fresh air, birdsong and floral fragrance. Strolling through the farm with family, picking fruits and vegetables, fishing, experiencing the simple pastoral life, we taught our child by example to cherish food and love nature. We had lunch at the farm restaurant. The ingredients were really fresh, all grown on the farm. We specially ordered a local specialty dish — Yihe Duck, which was truly delicious.

After lunch, we checked into the farm, took a short rest, then drove to Sujiawei Hakka Village Tourism Area. Sujiawei is the residence of descendants of Su Dongpo, the great literary figure of the Song Dynasty. The village has 18 enclosed houses, of which five are Ming Dynasty buildings. The oldest one is the Dongshan Su Gong Ancestral Hall, built to commemorate Su Dongshan. Walking on the Yingqin Bridge, bamboo rafts are moored at the shore. The bamboo forests on both banks are dense. Walking along the bamboo-lined path, you can hear melodious bird calls, and beside you, the leisurely Dongjiang River flows.