Things to do in Kaiping

Historic district refurnished to become a tourist complex. A blend of history and modern shops and restaurants. There are free shows to watch but booking is necessary. A good place to go to, can spend up to half a day there.

Kaiping Diaolou and villages are listed as a World Cultural Heritage site, so I made a special trip to see them. They are indeed very unique. Merchants who went out to make money brought back architectural elements from all over the world and combined them with traditional Chinese culture to build unified yet distinctive Diaolou, providing security not only for their families but also for their neighbors. Now these buildings are also providing an income for the villagers. The ticket price for the scenic area is indeed not low.

Although visiting the Yinglong Tower was frustrating, the watchtowers in Zili Village were excellent, and the service at the scenic area was great, which eased my anger from the previous trip. Several large watchtowers can be climbed and visited, offering beautiful views. There are also watchtower cafes where you can cool off. Chikan Ancient Town was also very nice. Overall, I give my Kaiping vacation a good review.

I highly recommend it. I won't even mention the Kaiping Diaolou (watchtowers), but Chikan really left a deep impression on me. You absolutely must see the fire show; it's breathtaking. Don't rush off afterward, there's still a live performance – it's incredibly exciting!

Majianglong village is a hidden gem. While other sites like Zili Village can feel touristy, Majianglong offers a refreshingly quiet and authentic atmosphere. The real charm is in the slow pace. You can wander along peaceful, shaded paths, past watchtowers and Western-style villas. It’s a poetic and serene place—perfect for enjoying the vibe at your own leisure.

I think the value for money in Jinjiangli is average. Although there are beautiful watchtowers, the open space is limited and there are only two that can be climbed. The Ruishi Tower that attracted me here is closed and cannot be entered, which became the biggest regret of this trip.

The scenic area is large, the food is reasonably priced, the environment is clean, and the night view is beautiful.

Back at Hero Island, there were new things to do! The little one's world was brightened up! A staff member knelt down to talk to her and gave her a flashcard; she was ecstatic all day. She wasn't tall enough for the penguin roller coaster, so the staff gently recommended a gentler ride on the carousel and even played some interactive games with her. The three of us rode in one capsule at the Sea Monster Tower, and when we reached the top, my daughter pointed into the distance and said, "There are otters over there!" We bought a Pink Little Qi doll at the Pink Little Qi shop, and she wears pink clothes just like her. The whole area was clean and bright; even the ice cream that a child spilled was immediately cleaned up. The service truly understands families with children.

We had a fantastic day at Chimelong Safari Park! The park is beautiful, with amazing scenery and a huge variety of animals. It's enormous, so I strongly recommend arriving early to have enough time to explore everything without rushing.We expected to see more giant pandas, but there were only two, although they were incredibly cute! We also hoped to see red pandas, which were listed as being at the park, but unfortunately, there were none.The animal show was excellent and entertaining, even though it was entirely in Chinese. We also hired a wonderful guide who was friendly, helpful and made a real effort to ensure we enjoyed our visit. We appreciated her efforts so much that we gave her an extra tip, even though she initially refused it.Overall, a great experience and well worth visiting in Guangzhou. Just arrive early and check which animals are available to see before your visit!