LIVING in a city of concrete, many urbanites like to take a break from their busy and stressful lives and visit some remote yet beautiful places. You don’t need to travel far to enjoy a wonderful escape from the city. There are many wonderlands in Guangdong Province that are not only close by but are hidden gems.

    Shuikou Lianjiang Gallery,

    Lianjiang

    Located in Qinglian, a small town in Lianjiang, Shuikou Lianjiang Gallery is a well-known scenic spot for its beautiful and painting-like landscapes.

    The gallery is about 10 kilometers away from Yangshan Township, with scenic mountains, ancient village houses and green fields. It was called a “natural gallery” by well-known Chinese painter Guan Shanyue.

    A recommended way to enjoy the beautiful scenes is to take a boat along the Lianjiang River. The river has a 90-degree turn, which offers a stunning experience for those who are tired of the stone forest of the city.

    The Dubu Flyover on the Qingyuan-Lianjiang Expressway is another exciting spot for drivers as it is described as “a roller coaster in an ancient Chinese painting.”

    There are also many rafting places there such as Huanglong Valley, Tianlong Valley, Gulong Valley and Xuanzhen Valley. You can also tour ancient temples around Beishan Mountain.

    If you think spring is too cold for rafting, you can also tour Yangshan Mountain, the highest mountain in the province. In springtime, the mountain is the perfect place to see plum blossoms. At Pingdong Village, there are beautiful white plum trees covering an area of 33 hectares.

    Transport: Drive to Shuikou on the Guangzhou-Shenzhen Expressway, Guangzhou-Qingyuan Expressway and Qingyuan-Lianjiang Expressway.

    Changtan, Meizhou

    Located about 5 kilometers away from Jiaoling County, Meizhou City, Changtan Natural Protection Area is a valley known as the “Sun Moon Lake in South China.”

    The area is a natural museum for rare species. There are more than 21 types of rare plants and 31 protected animals. Nearly 2,000 ancient trees can be found in the area.

    There are several designated plant zones in the area as well, including Ancient Pine Tree Zone, Mother and Son Trees and Lover Trees.

    Well-known spots include Hongshebi, Yashizhang, Zhengtouji, Xianren Peak and Qianma Mountain.

    Hongshebi is a mountain located in the north of the area. It has steep cliffs with many ancient roads. The ruins of an ancient temple can be found there. On the mountain, there is a tree aged more than 1,000 years. The tree, with a height of more than 30 meters, is known as “No. 1 tree in eastern Guangdong.”

    Transport: Drive to Changtan via Guangzhou-Shenzhen Expressway, Guangzhou-Heyuan Expressway, G205, Yumei Bridge, X046 and Changtan Avenue.

    Shendushui, Shaoguan

    Shendushui in Shaoguan City is one of the seven ethnic minority autonomous counties in the province. It also has an old military base.

    The Shendushui Landscape Corridor is known as the mini Jiuzhaigou. Along the corridor, there are mountains and the beautiful Qinghua River. It will also lead you to several popular scenic spots, including Mantang Hakka Round House, Huaguo Mountain Spa and Chebaling.

    The Shendushui Ecological Zone is about 20 kilometers away from downtown Shixing. There are more than 10 mountains in the zone. Among them are Jiangjundong Mountain, Jigong Mountain, Wuzhi Mountain, Huangchaodianbin Mountain and Wenhao Mountain.

    Mountains and rocks in the area normally have very strange shapes. Most of the area is still undeveloped, which makes the small town an ideal place for those who enjoy a quiet escape.

    The place is also home to the Yao and She ethnic groups. There are many special cultural events in the local villages, such as Chaowang Festival, which features singing, dancing and traditional worship ceremonies.

    Transport: Drive to Shendushui via Guangzhou-Shenzhen Expressway, Beijing-Zhuhai Expressway, Hanzhou-Shaoguang Expressway, and S244.(Wang Yuanyuan)