Daytripper is a regular column that aims to help people get the most out of their PRD experience by proposing fun excursions that can be made in a single day to explore the local culture and nature of the region.
To the north of Guangzhou is Conghua District, famous for its blossoming lychee trees and natural hot springs. Running through the 14 square kilometers of lush, rolling hills is Liuxi He, the eponymous lake of our destination this month.
Open to the public in 1986, the recreational Liuxihe National Forest Park in northern Conghua can be reached in two hours from downtown Guangzhou. The sheer variety of vegetation bred in the park bestows upon it phenomenal scenery, which changes with the seasons. Southeast Asia’s largest plum tree orchard is tucked away here, turning white with cotton-like blossoms come winter.
The forest park extends from the southern shore of Liuxi He, with small islands dotting the lake, one of which is dedicated to breeding macaque monkeys. Co-founded by the International Fund for Animal Welfare, the ‘monkey island’ is home to hundreds of macaques, most of which are fed and trained by humans. They greet visitors who approach the shore with wide eyes, eager to be fed. Watch them perform and feel free to take photos, just don’t wave your hands at them – macaques consider it aggressive.
Another area worth exploring is ‘peafowl island,’ a secluded expanse featuring over 300 peafowls of different breeds, including the green, Indian and albino varieties.
Makeshift huts and cottages dot the grassy setting, each adorned with flowers and cradled by the sweet melodies of morning birds. The ferry to this enchanted section of the park will only take large numbers of visitors across, so you may need to wait a good half hour until it fills up with likeminded tourists.
Surrounded by mountains, the highest of which rises 1,147 meters above sea level as the second tallest peak in Guangzhou, Liuxihe National Forest Park suits aspiring hikers. A 2-kilometer gallery road and 7-kilometer bike lane offer easy views of the park. Strolling around the lake’s perimeter, scorching rays of sun are thinned by a canopy of trees that line the road.
Be sure to pack fishing gear – casting lines into the lake is permitted, and restaurants outside the park will be happy to cook up your catch.
As you step through the placid scenery, try not to follow in others’ footsteps. Make your own trip, your own experience. There’s so much to see, do and relish within Liuxihe National Forest Park – it’s better to explore without a plan.
How to get there:
Take the Conghua express bus in any major coach station (Guangzhou Passenger Transport Station, Tianhe Coach Terminal or Guangzhou East Coach Terminal) to Conghua Coach Terminal. Then take a taxi to Liuxihe National Forest Park (plan to spend RMB130 on transportation and RMB40 on a ticket to enter the park).
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