HAVE you been working hard for a long time and are feeling desperate for a break? Well you are in luck, as the holidays are about to arrive — the three-day holiday for the Mid-Autumn Festival and the seven-day holiday for the National Day! If you haven’t figured out where to spend your time, why not take a look at the top tourist attractions in Guangdong. Currently, there are 11 national 5A (the highest rating) scenic areas in Guangdong, which are all options for the upcoming holidays. Yearning Tea Plantation Meizhou If you want to travel to a place a bit far away from the city center without going outside of Guangdong, why not consider the Yearning Tea Plantation in Meizhou City? The Yearning Tea Plantation was rated as a national 5A scenic area in 2011, the first one in eastern Guangdong to receive such an honor. Situated in the hometown of Ye Jianying, a well-known Chinese general in the 20th centuary, it’s home to over 2,000 tea plants and 14 villas. With vast tea terraces, numerous winding ridges and fresh cool air, this tourist attraction is an ideal place for nature lovers to escape from the hustle and bustle of cities. Add: Yanyang Town, Meixian District, Meizhou City, Guangdong Province Buses: There are two buses at the Meizhou Bus Station that go to Yanyang Town Baiyun Mountain Resort Guangzhou The Baiyun Mountain (White Cloud Mountain), located 15 km north of downtown Guangzhou, is more than a national 5A scenic area. Over the course of history, it has earned the titles of Top Beauty of Guangzhou and First Mountain of Lingnan. The mountain, covering an area of 28 square kilometers, is made up of about 30 peaks with its highest peak Moxing Ridge reaching 382 meters high. In autumn, the mountain’s peaks are shrouded in mist which looks like a white veil, from which came its name. Autumn is the best season to visit as you will have a chance to see the misty dreamlike mountain while enjoying the cool, fresh weather. Add: South Road of Baiyun Mountian, Guangyuanzhong Road, Guangzhou Buses: 24, 63, 240, 245, 285, or 522 (Yuntai Garden Stop) Lianzhou Underground River Lianzhou Situated some 26 kilometers northeast of Lianzhou and opened to the public since 1988, the scenic area boasts a spectacular subtropical karst cave called Dakouyan (Big Mouth Cave) and an underground river which remained undiscovered for ages. The three most famous gorges in this scenic area are the Longmen Gorge, Lianhua Gorge and Xiangjiao Gorge. Inside the gorges, you can opt to drift along in a boat through the 1,500-meter underground river, where you can admire the colorful stalactites that line the cave. Add: 181 Huiguang Road, Lianzhou, Qingyuan, Guangdong Buses: Take a bus from the Futian Coach Station to the Lianzhou Coach Station, and then take a taxi. Danxia Mountain Scenic Area Shaoguan Covering an area of 292 square kilometers, the 5A scenic area and world natural heritage site Danxia Mountain is situated in an intermountain basin in the south of the Nanling Mountain range. It is formed by red sandstone and is characterized by red rock walls and cliffs. As one of the most famous mountain sceneries in Guangdong, it is certainly worth a visit. Add: Danxia Mountain Scenic Area, Renhua County, Shaoguan City, Guangdong Province Buses: Take a bus from the Futian Coach Station to the Shaoguan Railway Station, and then take a taxi. (Jane Chen) | 