[2025 Guangzhou Attraction] Travel Guide for Gualingcun (Updated Jul)

It's lychee season, so of course, it's time to head to Zengcheng for some lychee feasting! Besides picking lychees, you can also visit Gualing Village, Guangzhou's only Qing Dynasty water village architecture cluster. It's truly a delightful experience! 📍Address: Gualing Village, Xintang Town, Zengcheng District, Guangzhou 🚇Transportation: 1. **By Car**: Navigate directly to "Gualing Village." There’s a parking lot at the village entrance (¥3/hour), making parking very convenient. 2. **Public Transport**: From downtown Guangzhou, take Metro Line 13 to Xinsha Station (Exit A), then transfer to Zengcheng Bus No. 22 and get off at Gualing Village Intersection. Walk about 10 minutes to enter the village. 📸 Photo Spots: 1. **Ningyuan Tower (Water Watchtower)**: The only water watchtower in Guangdong, surrounded by water on all sides. Its iron drawbridge is particularly unique. With the watchtower and water as your backdrop, you can capture photos full of historical charm. 2. **Century-Old Lychee Grove**: From June to July, when lychees ripen, the contrast of red fruit against green leaves and old brick houses creates a stunning palette. Standing under the lychee trees with freshly picked lychees in hand makes for a vibrant photo. 3. **Ancient Banyan Tree**: Near Tangyin Tower, there’s a 158-year-old banyan tree with a sprawling canopy, perfect for ethereal forest-themed portraits. 4. **Huang Clan Ancestral Hall**: A classic Lingnan-style ancestral hall featuring ornate "wok ear" walls, wood carvings, and brick carvings. Photos taken at the entrance or courtyard exude timeless elegance. 🍉 Tips for Your Visit: 1. Arrive early in the morning for fewer crowds and ideal lighting for photos. You can also catch the morning market at the bridgehead, where locals sell fresh fruits and vegetables. 2. The village has many lychee stalls offering varieties like Xianjin Feng, Gui Wei, and Fei Zi Xiao at great prices—perfect for snacking while exploring. 3. Light-colored or vintage-style outfits photograph best. Props like small fans or bamboo baskets can add charm to your shots. This lychee season, come to Gualing Village and immerse yourself in the dual charm of Lingnan’s water town and its legendary lychees!

Gualing Village This is an ancient town with rich history and culture. There is a water tower (Ningyuan Tower) here, which is very distinctive. The air in the village is fresh. Walking along the paths in the village, you can see ancient buildings and traditional crop cultivation. Here, I feel the beauty of slow life, away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Address: Gualing Village, Xintang Town, Zengcheng District, Guangzhou #AprilGoodDestinations2025

#guangzhoutrip 📍 Location: Gualing Ancient Village, Zengcheng, Guangzhou Did you know? In Zengcheng, there's a 500-year-old village that’s the only remaining water-based Qing dynasty residential complex in Guangzhou! It's a classic Lingnan water village, with tranquil canals encircling the village and lush lychee groves along the riverbanks. 🌿🍃 The village still preserves many historical buildings, including: Ningyuan Tower & Tangyin Tower – two striking watchtowers (diaolou) Over 20 traditional houses from the Ming and Qing dynasties Tourists are few and far between, meaning less commercialization and a peaceful vibe. It's the perfect weekend escape to soak in the rustic charm and riverside serenity. 🏞️ ☕️ Village Highlights: A few small eateries, coffee shops, and cozy guesthouses Great for relaxing, photography, and experiencing authentic local culture ✅ Recommended Route: Yuxu Palace (currently under renovation) Lychee Forest Ningyuan Tower Gualing Bridge Ancient Temple Street Cuizongbocheng Archway Tangyin Tower Nanhua Academy Shifang Book & Pottery House 🌟 Must-See Spots: Ningyuan Tower: The only water-based diaolou (watchtower) in Guangzhou, built in 1929. A 4-story tower with mini fortresses at each corner—highly valuable for historical and cultural insights. Tangyin Tower: Another impressive diaolou (see photo 9!). Ancestral Halls: Gualing Village houses several, including Songgao Huang Hall and Luofeng Huang Hall. Most have a two-hall layout and showcase the simple elegance of Lingnan architecture. Ancient Residences: From "wok ear houses" to mini villas, the village homes brim with nostalgic charm. Lychee Forest: On the east riverbank, this century-old forest offers shaded lawns perfect for picnics or camping. #thingstodo

#Guangzhou Itinerary There are two beautiful places full of charm around Huangpu, namely Baihua Ancient Temple and Gualing Ancient Village. Each place has its own unique charm and is worth a visit. 🌸Baihua Ancient Temple When you step into Baihua Ancient Temple, you will be overwhelmed by the solemn atmosphere. The temple is full of towering ancient trees and is quiet and peaceful. Every brick and tile tells a long history. The Main Hall is magnificent, and the Buddha statues inside the hall are compassionate and peaceful, which makes people feel awe. Walking in the temple, the occasional sound of bells and chimes adds a sense of sacredness. This is not only a place for Buddhist believers to practice meditation, but also a good place for tourists to find spiritual comfort and experience the culture of ancient temples. 🏮Gualing Ancient Village Gualing Ancient Village is like an ancient painting that unfolds slowly. As you step into the ancient village, you can see ancient buildings full of Lingnan characteristics, blue bricks and black tiles, carved beams and painted buildings. If you take a closer look, you can feel the exquisite craftsmanship of our ancestors. The watchtowers in the ancient village stand there, witnessing the vicissitudes of time. Walking on the stone road, it feels like traveling through time and space, and you can get a glimpse of the life scenes of the past. Moreover, the water town scenery of Gualing Ancient Village is also particularly charming, with winding rivers and leisurely boats, and it is full of the flavor of life everywhere. If you want to take a tour around Huangpu where you can experience history and culture while relaxing, the Baihua Ancient Temple and Gualing Ancient Village around Huangpu are definitely not to be missed. #GuangzhouAttractions #Good Places for Families #Historical Buildings #Weekend Trip

The visual experience of Gualing Ancient Village is not much different, but a parking lot has been set up at the entrance of the village. It costs 6 yuan per hour. It was free before. This can bring some extra income to the village, but the overall price is still slightly high. 3 yuan per hour is more reasonable. After looking at the village's business vision, it is thought that it will be an ancient village integrating cultural creativity, food, drink and entertainment. However, after a tour, I found that the results were minimal. The village's plan to move mcn, short video and e-commerce companies in is still a bit of a fantasy at the moment. If it is commercialized, the atmosphere is not strong enough, but small shops are still enough. However, the advantage of not being commercialized enough is that more original things can be preserved. There are two dragon boats in the village. Due to the material of the boats, they cannot be soaked in water or exposed to the sun for a long time, so they were set up in a shady place. They can seat about forty or fifty people. The word "Huang" written on the drum in the middle corresponds to the fact that all the ancestral halls in the village are named after the Huang family. The two watchtowers, Ningyuan Tower and Tangyin Tower, are worth seeing. They have many years of history. If you don’t have time to go to Taishan, Jiangmen, you can come here to take a look. Just treat it as a mini version. In addition, Gualing Village is also a famous overseas Chinese hometown. The villagers are very simple and honest. Many elderly people enjoy the cool under the big trees. This is what life should be like. Navigation: Gualing Ancient Village Metro: Xinsha Station on Line 13, walk 2 kilometers after exiting Food: Some shops in the village can meet your food needs Activities: Fishing, cool off, water viewing, and ancient houses are all available Time: About 2 hours is enough to visit the entire village