Guangdong people are the most enthusiastic campers nationwide, and Qingyuan, a city in Guangdong, ranks among the top in camping popularity.
Image: Icey Subingbing
I’m not surprised that camping is popular in the big cities of Guangzhou and Shenzhen, but Qingyuan was indeed unexpected.
In a way, it’s a place that has been under my radar—after all, a place just 26 minutes away from Guangzhou by high-speed train shouldn’t be that obscure. But like Wenchang in Hainan, a chicken from Qingyuan is more famous than the city itself.
Driven by curiosity, I did some research and found that although Qingyuan is a neighbor to Guangzhou and Foshan, it has a completely different vibe from any other city in Guangdong I’ve visited before.
Surrounded by cities in the Pearl River Delta, Qingyuan’s green mountains and clear waters stand out so much that it could easily be mistaken for Guilin or Yangshuo if you cover the location.
Not only is the scenery beautiful, but Qingyuan also offers a plethora of activities.
In winter, you can visit the only officially recognized “Chinese Hot Spring City” in Guangdong to soak in the hot springs; in summer, Qingyuan transforms into a natural amusement park, home to some of the best rafting in Guangdong.
Qingyuan also excels in the culinary tradition of “deliciousness,” representing the pinnacle of Guangdong’s farmhouse cuisine.
In addition to the famous Qingyuan chicken, there are Yingde black tea, bamboo shoots, free-range black goats, and black-feathered geese, as well as roasted Zhouxin pork and Dongpo bacon. With such high-quality ingredients, any randomly chosen restaurant on the map is bound to be delicious.
In these years of navigating the pandemic, I’ve particularly enjoyed places that are lush with greenery. If you’re tired of the modern metropolis, let Qingyuan’s refreshing natural scenery heal you.
1
The Pinnacle of Guangdong’s Scenic Beauty
Qingyuan is vast, the largest prefecture-level city in Guangdong.
How vast? One Qingyuan is equivalent to 16 Shenzhens, so a trip to Qingyuan is usually planned for 3 days and 2 nights or longer.
Despite its size, Qingyuan is dominated by mountains with little flat land. Except for the main urban area of Qingcheng District, which is entirely flat, the other seven districts are mostly rolling hills and mountains, offering a rare, pristine landscape in Guangdong that is very refreshing for the lungs and eyes.
So, how to plan the itinerary? The classic way to experience Qingyuan can be summarized as “one soak, two rafts, three chicken feasts.”
For good food, old shops, legendary shops, and hole-in-the-wall eateries are most densely concentrated in the urban area of Qingcheng District, where you could spend 24 hours from dawn to dusk and still not try everything.
Which shops are reliable will be discussed in a separate section later.
Qingyuan is known for its abundance of mountains and rivers, with significant elevation differences, making it particularly suitable for rafting. Compared to rafting in Qingyuan, other water parks and amusement parks seem like elementary school activities in terms of excitement.
However, there are numerous rafting spots in Qingyuan, so it’s best to visit just one at a time.
Gulong Gorge Rafting is the most famous and thrilling, holding 12 “world’s best” records. It boasts the highest rafting drop in Guangdong and hosts international rafting competitions.
The entire scenic area is vast, offering not only rafting but also glass bridges, jungle ziplines, paragliding, and other attractions. In recent years, it has also become a hotspot for internet celebrities with its Sky Buddha Hand and Sky Ladder.
Huangteng Gorge Rafting offers the best experience, divided into three sections: the extremely thrilling Brave Rafting, the moderately challenging Warrior Rafting, and the more relaxed Warrior Rafting, which is mostly about water fights, catering to all tastes.
The scenic area also features various activities such as cable cars, alpine scooters, and glass walkways, ensuring a full day of fun. The iconic Sky Gate Suspension Corridor is a musical waterfall, resembling a large shower.
For those who cannot handle extreme thrills (Gulong Gorge and Huangteng Gorge have certain risks), Bijia Mountain Rafting with its lower drop is recommended.
This area offers the best scenery, with the babbling brooks in summer providing a naturally cool environment. There are also many outdoor activities to choose from, such as hiking, rock climbing, and floating boats, making it a great destination even outside the rafting season.
If you’re bringing children for rafting, Qingquan Bay is suitable.
The rafting here is not too intense, with a section passing through bamboo forests. Qingquan Bay also has a dynamic water city, an aquatic playground, suitable for younger children.
A day of rafting and a day of dining, including travel time, can be a very relaxing 3-day trip.
Another way to enjoy Qingyuan is by visiting scenic spots, though this is best suited for. The most worthwhile attractions include the following:
Millennium Yao Village
Millennium Yao Village is my favorite scenic spot in Qingyuan for photography. Liannan is a Yao Autonomous County, and this village is known as the “First Yao Village.”
It is the largest and oldest Yao village, with residents since the Song Dynasty.
The entire village is built on a mountain 808 meters above sea level, facing a panorama of mountains. The classic karst landforms combined with over 300 old houses create a spectacular view from above.
Millennium Yao Village is a well-developed tourist destination with many guesthouses and small restaurants. It also offers experiences such as the Swaggering Song Hall, Long Drum Dance, and Yao Marriage Customs, all listed as national intangible cultural heritage. Compared to the Miao villages in Guizhou, this place is less “template-like” and quite lively and fun.
Image: @Cola
Shijiao Ferry Port
As mentioned earlier, camping is very popular in Qingyuan, with the “main battlefield” being the Shijiao Ferry Port in Qingcheng District. It’s just over an hour’s drive from Guangzhou, attracting many campers from Guangzhou on weekends.
Image: @Lynn
Locate the iconic banyan tree, and you’ll find yourself surrounded by a vast “urban lawn” that stretches as far as the eye can see. Along the river, there’s a long strip of beach that’s not particularly clean but is better than nothing.
Shijiao Market, like Qingyuan itself, is very rustic. Occasionally, you’ll see cows and horses strolling around. The camping environment here is great, but you’ll need to bring your own equipment and entertainment.
Image: @
Yingxi Peak Forest
Another famous attraction in Qingyuan is in Yingde. The Yingxi Peak Forest actually refers to a 20-kilometer-long corridor of karst landscapes, covering a vast area that includes several scenic spots. The tickets aren’t cheap.
In the Peak Forest Town, you can take a small train through the lotus ponds, especially during the summer flowering season. The Dongtian Fairyland, also known as “South China’s First Natural Pit,” features spectacular karst caves, making it a comfortable place to escape the heat. In the town of Huanghua, you can ride hot air balloons to get a bird’s-eye view of the Yingxi Peak Forest, which is much more impressive than on the ground, though this isn’t available every day.
Nearby, you can also visit the Degao Xin Tea Garden to sample Yingde’s famous black tea. There are also dedicated camping sites here, so it’s recommended to stay at least one night in the Yingxi Peak Forest.
Peach Blossom Lake
On the way from Qingcheng to the Millennium Yao Village, you’ll pass by Peach Blossom Lake. Originally a reservoir, it has been commercially developed with more guesthouses and restaurants, hence the name change. However, I find the scenery still very natural and unspoiled. The “barefaced” Peach Blossom Lake without any (photo spots) is actually quite beautiful.
Image: @
Peach Blossom Lake is also characterized by karst landforms with conical hills, somewhat reminiscent of Yangshuo’s Ten-Mile Gallery.
There are many lakeside guesthouses in the area with decent views, and you can also camp by the lake. However, since Hangzhou already has Qiandao Lake, I don’t find it particularly special. Just stop by for a quick look if you’re passing through.
Image: @_Nono
To sum up, a 3-day, 2-night itinerary can be arranged as follows for a smooth journey, with no more than 3 hours spent on the road each day:
Day 1: Shijiao Market → Peach Blossom Lake → Millennium Yao Village
Day 2: Millennium Yao Village → Yingxi Peak Forest
Day 3: Yingxi Peak Forest → Qingyuan City
2
The pinnacle of Northern Guangdong farmhouse cuisine
Finally, we’ve reached my forte. If you thought Qingyuan was just a place with beautiful scenery suitable for camping after reading the above, you’re mistaken. As a city guide for Guangdong, the ultimate destination in the universe is the exploration of food.
Every time I visit places like Mogan Mountain or Anji in the mountains, I indulge in a “big feast.” The same goes for Qingyuan.
The city is abundant with superior ingredients, including the famous Qingyuan chicken. The farmhouse dishes, though not particularly refined in environment or presentation, are undoubtedly worthy of five stars for their taste.
To make it convenient for you to check in (and enjoy multiple places in one go), I’ve chosen restaurants in Qingcheng District. Enjoy!
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8:00 A.M.
Auntie Ji’s Zhouxin Congee
📍No. 14 Ximengtang Street, Qingcheng District
Although Qingyuan is not far from Guangzhou, it has its own unique breakfast culture. The classic combination is Zhouxin congee with pork blood soup.
A bowl of authentic Zhouxin congee with large pieces of meat includes pork lean meat as a base, along with pork large intestine, liver, heart, kidney, and intestines, making it much more sumptuous than the regular pork offal congee.
If you find Mingji too far away, consider Auntie Ji’s, a small shop located downstairs in a residential area. The first impression of this breakfast place is that it’s always crowded; if you find a seat, grab it quickly.
The congee base is very smooth, with crispy intestines and tender liver. If you can manage, order a plate of beef fried rice noodles.
Image: @Dingdangmao
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12:00 P.M.
Wishing you good luck and prosperity, it’s time to eat chicken for lunch. Tourists from out of town often request to eat Qingyuan chicken when visiting, but locals swear by the Yangshan chicken (from Yangshan County under Qingyuan).
The classic preparation is the best: boiled chicken;
Only a high-quality chicken can be used to make clear soup chicken;
The most tempting and long-lasting soy sauce chicken;
And the roasted chicken cooked over charcoal in a hanging oven, making it impossible to choose between restaurants or even cooking methods.
Under the Bridge Chicken Hotpot
📍No. 68 Shizi Lake Avenue, Qingcheng District
Compared to the four traditional methods of preparation, the chicken hotpot from Qingyuan and the steamed chicken with mulberry leaves from Shunde are the two chicken dishes I most want to promote to other provinces.
This Under the Bridge Chicken Hotpot is one of the most popular in Qingyuan, and its taste truly lives up to its reputation.
Image: @Kimisyr
Chunks of Qingyuan chicken are laid over vegetables, and you can’t rush the chicken hotpot experience. Cooking it longer in a traditional earthen pot over charcoal makes it even more delicious.
The chicken meat is firm, the skin crispy, and what’s rare is that a rich chicken broth bursts out with each bite. At the end, mixing the remaining soup with a packet of instant noodles, even the convenience food tastes like Michelin-star quality.
Image: @
Auntie Huahua’s Braised Goose Life Hall
📍Multiple locations
Qingyuan chicken is so famous that people often overlook the local braised goose.
Unlike traditional braised goose, braised goose here uses Qingyuan’s black-bellied geese. The cooking process involves repeatedly pouring sauce over the goose, ensuring it is well-seasoned and the meat is tender and easily falls off the bone.
Braised goose is a common dish in small restaurants in Qingyuan, and Auntie Huahua’s is a representative shop that has successfully made braised goose its specialty, with several branches already opened in Qingyuan.
If you don’t eat offal, order the signature braised goose. If you want to try more parts, go for the braised goose platter. The goose meat here isn’t as salty as that in Chaozhou-style braised goose; it has a sweet and fresh flavor that is hard to find elsewhere.
The downside of their dishes is that the portions are too large for two people, but the value for money is excellent.
Image: @Nono💫
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3:00 P.M.
Afternoon snack time, and I’d like to recommend a street to you directly—Xuegong Street.
The street is not wide, with both sides lined with old, affordable snack shops, many of which carry the flavors of Qingyuan people’s childhood memories. Moreover, Xuegong Street itself is in the old part of the old city. If you like the authentic urban atmosphere, this entire area is worth exploring.
Uncle’s Fried Skewers, which dominates the old city, has seen its signature dish, the Bifengtang Fried Eggplant Box, remain perennially popular.
The Xuegong Chicken Fillets are a continuation of the former Grandma’s Chicken Fillets, offering crispy and crunchy fillets at a great price. Despite having tasted many delicacies, there’s still nothing quite like this.
Weitailang has been recommended numerous times for its variety of classic Hong Kong-style snacks often seen on TVB shows, perfect for satisfying cravings.
Pair your meal with the local, affordable tea drinks from Q Yi Zu, where a large bucket of fruit tea costs just 12.9 yuan.
Streets like Xuegong Street, densely packed with snack shops, can also be found in Qingyuan’s urban areas, such as Cang Hou Street, Beimen Street, and Nuren Street. Particularly at Nuren Street, there is a night market with illuminated stalls, allowing you to eat from day to night.
Image: @Vinny51
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6:00 P.M.
Ju Xian Farmhouse
📍 Beside Jingshan Lake Scenic Area, Fengxiang North Road, Qingcheng District
For dinner, it’s worth traveling a bit further. In Qingyuan, both Zhouxin and Dongcheng are treasure troves of farmhouses, where parking lots are usually full during meal times.
This farmhouse has an edge in its environment—located by Jingshan Lake, surrounded by numerous orchards with strawberries, green dates, and guava! There are several outdoor tables set under starfruit trees, which is quite charming.
Image: @Lavender is Candy
Farmhouse cuisine is all about the ingredients, and Ju Xian’s chicken and fish are commendable, showcasing the freshness of the ingredients. If you walk to the back courtyard, you’ll see chickens so lively they can climb trees.
However, since all dishes are made to order, the serving speed is often criticized.
Image: @Kangding Love Song
Image: @Dancing on Clouds
Dongcheng Family
📍 Beside Lifeng Hotel, Jinbi Road, Dongcheng District, Qingcheng District
Dongcheng Family is well-known in the Dongcheng area, located in a city village, specializing in farmhouse dishes using local Qingyuan ingredients.
The signature dish, Large Tray Chicken in Bamboo Basket, is a must-try. The chicken used is their own farm-raised, oversized capons, one serving is enough for 5 or 6 people, filling the bamboo basket to the brim. Even the Chen Village noodles underneath, soaked in chicken oil, are exceptionally fragrant.
In addition to the signature Bamboo Basket Chicken, the Farmhouse Barbecue series is also worth ordering.
Dishes like Big Wang Roasted Pig Head and Crispy Hanging Roasted Chicken are classic Qingyuan cuisine. Moreover, Dongcheng Renjia is not far from the riverbank, so their Beijiang River Seafood and Steamed Large Tray Fish are also good options, with an average cost of around 50 RMB per person, offering excellent value for money.
Image: @Qingyuan WeChat Alliance
Besides being fun and delicious, Qingyuan is also great for hot springs.
Guangdong province is rich in hot spring resources, and Qingyuan is particularly abundant. Places like Conghua, Yangjiang, Longmen, and Enping are known as the “Hometown of Hot Springs” in China, while Qingyuan is the only “City of Hot Springs” in Guangdong.
It seems that Qingyuan doesn’t even leave a gap for the off-season!
Who would have thought that Qingyuan, which has been low-key for so long, would suddenly gain popularity through camping? Waiting for a good weather weekend to set off~
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/Travel Tips/
Public transportation in Qingyuan is quite convenient. There are high-speed railway stations in both Qingyuan city and Yingde. It takes less than 30 minutes from Guangzhou, with frequent daily services, and you can also take the Guangqing Intercity Railway directly from Baiyun Airport to Qingyuan.
For those coming from surrounding cities, self-driving is actually more recommended. It takes about 1.5 hours from Guangzhou. This is because the attractions are quite far apart, making taxis inconvenient and not cost-effective.
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/Accommodation Recommendations/
Hotels in Qingyuan vary by region. If you want to stay in the city center, Atour is a good choice, having opened in 2020, located in a bustling area of Qingcheng District.
For those planning to go rafting, consider Zhongkai Huafu Holiday Hotel and Hampton by Hilton, both of which are not far from Gulong Gorge and Bijia Mountain.
