From Guangzhou to UNESCO World Heritage Sites on a private adventure

Guangzhou is the capital and the sub-provincial city of Guangdong Province in the southern part of the People's Republic of China. The city is also known by an older English-language name, Canton. It is a port on the Pearl River, navigable to the South China Sea, and is located about 120 km (75 miles) northwest of Hong Kong. As of the 2000 census, the city has a population of 6 million, and a metropolitan population of roughly 8.5 million (though some estimates are as high as 12.6 million) making it the most populous city in the province and the third most populous metropolitan area in mainland China.

Kaiping is situated in south-central Guangdong near the city of Jiangmen in the southwest of the Pearl River Delta region. Many overseas Chinese originate from here. The town is famous for its multi-story watchtowers known as Diaolou, which have been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site with the surrounding villages. Other popular attractions include Li Garden, Chikan European Style Street, Nan Lou Memorial Park, and Kongque Lake.

Li Garden or Liyuan Garden was built in early 20th century by the overseas Chinese Weili Xie, based on the Daguan Garden described in “A Dream in Red Mansions” that is one of the Four Great Classical Novels in China. With the rich sculptures, frescos and more cultural calligraphic arts show everywhere, strolling in Li Garden is like relaxing in a wonderland. The whole Li Garden mainly consists of three parts, namely the Grand Garden, Small Garden and villa clusters, separated respectively and connected harmoniously. All the inner decoration and amenities were brought from overseas to tell the achievement of the overseas Chinese host, such as Italian terrazzo floor, exquisite Oriental ceilings, silver western tableware, bathtub, etc. Moreover, roaming in the Grand Garden and Small Garden, you can find more surprises hidden in traditional Chinese class gardens and learn some interesting culture from Chinese poems and calligraphies.

Majianglong Village or Maxianglong Village was built in early 20th century and mainly is the residence of Huang family and Guan family. The whole Maxianglong Village leaning the mountain and facing the water, with the 7 diaolous and 8 cottage-style villas dotted among the ancient bamboos and forests, and the enchanting image of birds, flowers, plants, etc., this village is extremely appealing like a hidden fairyland. In there, you can visit the Junlu Cottage and Linlu Cottage, which were built by overseas Chinese Chongjun Guan in 1936 after coming back from Canada. In Junlu Cottage, under the shrine that is used to worship their ancestors is designed in a pattern of a lion rolling the earth, which converges that the owner hoping all Chinese people thrive to develop widely among the world forest.

Zili Village in Kaiping, was named from the hope of “live on the hump” or “self-dependence”. It is a must visit diaolou village in Kaiping as it is the special western castle village of featured Lingnan countryside flavor, and the poetic idyllic sightseeing of pool, lotus pond, rice fields and grassland present you a so beautiful visual gift to appreciate. Keeping 92 residences in total, there are 77 traditional folk houses, 9 diaolou buildings and 6 cottage-style villas.