Zhaoqing's Hidden Valleys: From Ziyun Streams to Hualong Drifting

As the city with the highest forest coverage in the Greater Bay Area, Zhaoqing is the ultimate "backyard" for urbanites seeking fresh air and a summer escape. While everyone knows about the karst landscapes of Seven Star Crags and the negative ions of Dinghu Mountain, Zhaoqing has many hidden gems tucked away in its mountain valleys. Today, let's embark on an in-depth tour full of cool streams and wild nature.

The Serene Canyon of Ancient Inkstones: Ziyun Valley

Our first stop is Ziyun Valley, located in the southeast of Dinghu District. To get here, you must first take a ferry across the West River. Ziyun Valley is not only peaceful but also the location of the ancient pits for "Duan Inkstones," the most famous of China's four great inkstones. The valley is heavily forested. Walking upstream, you will find the creek water is crystal clear, and the stones at the bottom are highly colorful. In summer, bringing water gear to play in the icy stream or exploring the ancient stone-mining caves hidden in the mountains is a fantastic way to beat the heat while experiencing deep historical heritage.

An Ecological Treasure Trove of Bamboo: Guangning Baoding Mountain

Leaving the city, we drive northwest to the Baoding Mountain Scenic Area in Guangning County. Guangning is China's famous hometown of bamboo, and Baoding Mountain is the largest bamboo culture ecological park in the country. Over 150 rare species of bamboo are planted here, ranging from giant Moso bamboo to the peculiar Buddha-belly bamboo. Besides taking a bamboo raft on the lake, you can also visit an ancient papermaking workshop to see how bamboo was used to produce paper—one of China's Four Great Inventions. The park is highly educational and culturally rich.

The Hermitage of the Sixth Patriarch: Sihui Zhenshan

On the second day, we travel to Sihui City in eastern Zhaoqing to climb its local spiritual sanctuary: Zhenshan Mountain. Named after a virtuous Tang Dynasty woman, the mountain is covered in mist year-round and boasts extremely dense vegetation, making it an incredible natural oxygen bar. Beyond the beautiful scenery, the Liuzu (Sixth Patriarch) Temple at the foot of the mountain is a sacred site where Huineng, the Sixth Patriarch of Zen Buddhism, once lived in seclusion and practiced for 15 years. The temple's architecture is majestic, and the incense burns brightly, attracting many believers to pray and meditate, adding a strong Buddhist atmosphere to the green mountains.

Wild Thrills Deep in Dinghu: Hualong Gorge Drifting

For our final stop, we head to Fenghuang Town in Dinghu District to experience Zhaoqing's most popular outdoor activity for young people: Hualong Gorge Drifting. Hidden deep in the Dinghu Mountains, Hualong Gorge features a natural river course several kilometers long with incredibly clear water. Put on a life jacket, hop into a rubber raft, and rush down the rapid currents. You will pass through multiple steep drops, dangerous shoals, and deep canyons, with water splashing everywhere amid non-stop screaming. In the hot summer, this is the absolute best way to release stress and feel the wild charm of nature.