Check in during the May Day holiday! Spring here is absolutely beautiful! Finally arrived at the fairy tale world hidden nearby!
In his memoir of Paris, 'A Moveable Feast', Hemingway wrote: 'When spring comes, you have only one question: where to spend the happiest moments?' Driving from Shenzhen or Guangzhou takes about 2 hours, and from Huizhou about 1 hour. Along the way, the scenery changes from urban high-rises to valleys and forests, and you arrive at Heyuan Bavaria Manor. Surrounded by mountains, Heyuan Bavaria Manor starts to come alive again with the arrival of spring.
The plan to visit Bavaria Manor came about because Mr. J and I had agreed to spend the Chinese New Year in Germany, but it was postponed due to the pandemic. Now that the pandemic has spread globally and international travel is unsafe, we wanted to have a romantic short trip over the weekend. Discovering that Bavaria Manor is a town centered on German charm was an unexpected delight, so Mr. H and I decided to come without hesitation!
Initial travel plan
While traveling during the pandemic, Mr. J and I mainly considered health and safety. When we were overwhelmed by choices, the room photos of the Argyle and Four Points by Sheraton caught our eye. Seeing their cozy hot spring rooms and the views from the windows instantly struck a chord. Both had their merits, making it hard to choose! In the end, Mr. J made the decision and chose the Four Points by Sheraton. Since we just wanted to relax for two days, we didn't make a very detailed itinerary. Here's a rough schedule I put together...
Day 1 (Saturday)
09:00 Departure
11:30 Check in at Four Points by Sheraton
13:30 Since we drove, Mr. J and I had already eaten a lot of snacks in the car, so we skipped lunch and started wandering. We went to the Sports Park at Bavaria Manor, which was really beautiful. After that, we returned to the manor and even ordered fried chicken at a bakery—it tasted pretty good! (We were so hungry that we didn't take a photo before Mr. J finished it, so no picture here.)
16:30 Our original plan was to watch the 'Home·Source' show, but it was closed due to the pandemic, so we went back to the room to rest. The hotel room was very comfortable. We booked a lake view room, and sitting by the bed, we could see the entire manor—it was truly relaxing.
The hotel also thoughtfully prepared Chinese herbal tea and herbal bath packs for us.
19:00 Back at the hotel, we slept for over 2 hours. Then we went out to find food. Not in the mood for a meal, we went to the Munich Music Bar & Restaurant and tried their draft beer and pork knuckles. Mr. J, who claims to be a beer connoisseur, found the beer richer and more flavorful than bottled beer. I don't like alcohol, but I thought the roasted pork knuckles were decent—chewy but not greasy.
20:30 After dinner, we strolled along the wheat-ear corridor by the river. Perhaps because of the pandemic, there were few people. Walking hand in hand and whispering sweet nothings gave me a feeling of youthful romance.
21:00 After the riverside lights went out, we returned to the room to grab our swimsuits and went to soak in the hot springs! We tried every pool—it was quite enjoyable.
11:20 Ended the day and went to sleep.
Day 2 (Sunday)
08:00 Hotel buffet breakfast
09:30 Fuyuan Temple, hidden on the mountaintop, exudes a sense of seclusion. Although it's currently not open to the public, visitors can still walk around the area. The surrounding forests completely separate the temple from the European-style town, giving it an ancient and elegant atmosphere. From the platform at the main gate, you can see the entire manor, and in front of the colorful windmill structures, taking photos is incredibly beautiful!
10:30 We went to the Black Forest Amusement Park, took a 20-minute cable car to the top, and tried various rides. Perhaps because we were on the mountaintop, even ordinary thrill levels felt doubled. Plus, the view from the top was stunning!
2:00 Lunch. After the pandemic, health and wellness have become trendy pursuits for young people. Mr. J and I also embraced this trend during our trip. I first saw the concept of 'health meals' on Bavaria Manor's official WeChat account—they customize meals based on nine body types. Curious, I asked Mr. J to fill out an online survey with me. One of us is a balanced type, the other is a qi-stagnation type, and we actually ended up with different set meals.
13:30 After lunch, we went to the lake behind the hotel for photo sessions.
16:00 Return trip.
When mentioning hills, the first thing that comes to mind is terraced fields and tea mountains with fragrant scents. But hidden deep in the mountains of Bavaria Manor, this vast green grassland shatters my fixed impression of Guangdong's mountains and forests. I've heard that every summer, the sky here feels especially close, making it the best spot for shooting sunrise, sunset, and starry skies. It attracts many photography enthusiasts every year for camping or RV trips.
Mr. J and I also tried croquet here. It's really a skill-based activity—after an entire afternoon, I still couldn't hit straight. If you bring kids, this activity is perfect—they can play all afternoon while parents have a picnic nearby.
The Black Forest Amusement Park is a popular attraction within Bavaria Manor, perfectly suitable for those with only a day trip. We came during the off-season, so it wasn't crowded. We started from the top and went down, trying: Strolling Coaster → Spinning Coaster → Hurricane Chair → Rotating Disco → Extreme Skiing, plus a few other rides.
The amusement park on the mountaintop is truly worth visiting. Because of the mountain's altitude, dangling over the peaks, spinning and soaring, you feel a flying sensation and the thrill of soaring through the sky!
I heard there are many exciting activities for the May Day holiday. Taking advantage of the short break, I want to go again with my family to enjoy the fresh air and joyful atmosphere!
(1) Greater Bay Area Tourism Kite Festival
(2) Northern Guangdong National Medicine Hot Spring Culture Festival
(3) Boundless Love Sports Games
(4) Tribute to Heroes Flash Mob
(5) Parades and Performances Including the Internet-Famous 'Unbalance Doll'
(6) Thousand-Acre Flower Sea in Bloom
(6) Farming Fun Picking
(7) Forest Oxygen Outdoor Hiking
(8) 'Spring' Themed Photography Contest
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