Autumn is a charming season for hiking. As one of the most popular tourism destinations in China, Guangdong has many places which are great for an autumn hiking trip. Here are some more recommendations: Hakka round houses, Meizhou City Located in the northeast of Guangdong Province, Meizhou City neighbors Jiangxi and Fujian provinces and is a main area inhabited by Hakka people. As the “capital of Hakka people,” Meizhou is an ideal place to experience Hakka culture and customs. From Meizhou to Shaoguan City, there are many traditional Hakka round houses, also known as tulou, a traditional communal residence mostly found in rural areas in Guangdong. Tulou is one of the five special ancient architectural styles of China. There are different types of round houses in the area, and travelers can experience the long history and the special lifestyle of Hakka people by visiting these houses. It is better to ride a bicycle when visiting the area. The recommended route is to ride from Luokeng to Liancheng, or from Nankou Overseas Chinese Village to Hua’e Building in Dapu. Transport: Take a coach from Shenzhen to Meizhou and rent a bicycle in Meizhou. Nanling National Forest Park, Shaoguan City Located about 70 kilometers from downtown Shaoguan, the Nanling National Forest Park is the largest forest park in Guangdong Province with a total coverage of about 300 square kilometers. Many of the province’s highest peaks are located in the park. The mountains also have an abundance of waterfalls, springs and rivers. The water has never been exposed to pollution. The park is great for autumn hiking. The recommended route is from the front gate of the park to Shikengkong Peak via Ti’er Power Plant, Qinshui Valley and No. 4 Forest Lane. Fresh fruits, such as berries, kiwis and litchis, are all must-tries in autumn. Transport: Take a coach from Shenzhen to Shaoguan and transfer to a direct bus to Ruyuan County. There are buses from Ruyuan to the park. Beaches, Zhanjiang City Lying along the Leizhou Bay, Zhanjiang is a city with long coastlines, beaches and islands. The well-known Donghai Island, Nansan Island and Techeng Island are the most popular spots for travelers. There are lots of beaches with soft sand, beautiful coconut trees and a blue sky on these islands, which are perfect for leisure activities. Hikers can also stay in tents on the beaches. Transport: Take a train from Shenzhen to Zhanjiang and get coaches to the tourism destinations. Islands, Zhuhai City Zhuhai has more than 100 islands with beautiful views. These islands are all great places for hiking and water activities. Recommended islands include Jiuzhou Island, Dong’ao Island, Hebao Island, Wailingding Island, Qi’ao Island, Guishan Island and Miaowan Island. All of these islands have high mountains with beautiful but strange rocks and large beaches with good water quality. The islands also have full facilities and travelers can easily find hotels and rent surfing equipment and boats. Other activities such as diving, parasailing and inflatable rafting are also available. Transport: Take a coach from Shenzhen to Zhuhai and get to the islands by boat. Diaolou, Kaiping City Kaiping is a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its unique diaolou culture and the influence of overseas Chinese culture. The diaolous were built at the beginning of the 19th century, mostly by overseas Chinese. These immigrants saved money and returned to their homeland to build the unique Chinese homes using knowledge they learned from Western architecture. At that time the area was infested with thieves and mountain bandits, and the buildings were designed to be difficult to infiltrate. Tangkou, Chikan and Xiangang are the three must-visit towns. The best way to visit these buildings across the fields is by bicycle. It is also recommended to take a camera to record the beautiful autumn scenes in rural Guangdong Province. Transport: Take a coach from Shenzhen to Kaiping and rent a bicycle there. (Wang Yuanyuan) | 