Charm of Gaozhou · Elegance of the Ancient County
Gaozhou District, Maoming — a millennium-old ancient county with a long history, the birthplace of Madam Xian culture, and China's Lychee Township. It integrates profound historical heritage with beautiful pastoral scenery, and is an important cultural tourism destination in western Guangdong. This 3-day 2-night itinerary includes visiting historical sites, tasting lychees, and exploring ecology.
Xian Tai Temple
National Key Cultural Relic Protection Unit
Baoguang Pagoda
Landmark of Ming Dynasty Ancient Pagoda
Genzi Lychee Cultural Tourism Zone
"China's First Town of Lychee"
Immortal Cave Natural Scenic Area
Summer Resort in Western Guangdong
3-Day 2-Night Cultural and Ecological Tour in Gaozhou District
Historical sites + Lychee Township customs + Natural exploration, experience the millennium charm of Gaozhou
Trip Duration
3 Days 2 Nights
Main Destinations
Xian Tai Temple, Baoguang Pagoda, Genzi Lychee Cultural Tourism Zone, Immortal Cave, Gaozhou Reservoir, Zhongshan Park
Suitable for
History and culture enthusiasts, parent-child families, nature explorers, food lovers, photography enthusiasts
Per Capita Budget
¥600-¥1000
01
Exploration of Ancient County Culture
Experience of Madam Xian Culture and Ming Dynasty Architecture
Trip Highlights
Experience the millennium historical and cultural heritage of Gaozhou throughout the day
Attraction Arrangement
Gaozhou Xian Tai Temple
First built during the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty, it is the largest and best-preserved memorial temple dedicated to Madam Xian in China, and a National Key Cultural Relic Protection Unit. The temple preserves many precious stone inscriptions and cultural relics, showing Madam Xian's historical achievements of "Reconciling the Baiyue Tribes".
Baoguang Pagoda
A pavilion-style brick pagoda built during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty, with a height of 65.8 meters, it is one of the tallest existing ancient pagodas in Guangdong. Climbing the pagoda offers a panoramic view of Gaozhou urban area. Baoguang Park is located next to the pagoda, which is an important place for citizens' leisure and cultural experience.
Zhongshan Park
The oldest park in Gaozhou, first built in 1925. The park preserves landscapes such as the statue of Madam Xian, the Nine-Curved Bridge, and pavilions. It integrates garden art with historical and cultural elements, and is a window to understand the modern development history of Gaozhou.
Practical Information
Travel Tips
- It is recommended to hire a commentator at Xian Tai Temple to deeply understand Madam Xian culture
- Pay attention to safety when climbing Baoguang Pagoda, some staircases are steep
- Attractions in the urban area are concentrated and can be visited on foot or by bike
Accommodation Recommendations
- Central hotels in Gaozhou urban area
- Featured homestays near Xian Tai Temple
- Landscape hotels on Yanjiang Road
02
Experience of Lychee Township Customs
Millennium Lychee Culture and Pastoral Scenery
Trip Highlights
Taste the unique charm of "China's Lychee Township" throughout the day
Attraction Arrangement
Genzi Lychee Cultural Tourism Zone
Known as "China's First Town of Lychee", it has a millennium-old ancient lychee forest "Tribute Garden" with a history of lychee cultivation exceeding 2000 years. It is equipped with facilities such as a lychee museum and viewing platforms, and is a resort to experience lychee culture and pastoral scenery.
Red Lychee Pavilion
A viewing pavilion located at the commanding height of Genzi Lychee Garden. Climbing the pavilion offers a bird's-eye view of the scenery of ten thousand mu of lychee gardens. Especially during the lychee ripening season, the branches are full of red lychees, the scenery is spectacular, and it is an excellent location for photography and check-in.
Baiqiao Ancient Lychee Garden
An ancient lychee garden with rare lychee varieties such as "Zhonghua Hong". Among them, there are 39 ancient lychee trees over 500 years old in the "Tribute Garden", which is one of the oldest existing lychee gardens in China, witnessing the history of lychee cultivation in Gaozhou.
Practical Information
Featured Experiences
- Experience the fun of picking lychees during the lychee ripening season (May-June)
- Participate in lychee deep-processing experiences (making dried lychees, lychee wine)
- Taste featured lychee feast
- Buy authentic Genzi lychees as souvenirs
Itinerary Suggestions
- Genzi Town is about 20 kilometers away from Gaozhou urban area, 30 minutes by car
- It is recommended to visit the lychee garden in the morning to avoid the scorching sun in the afternoon
- You can choose to dine at farmhouses in Genzi Town to experience rural cuisine
03
Natural Ecological Exploration
Landscape Scenery and Primitive Forest Exploration
Trip Highlights
Experience the beauty of Gaozhou's natural ecology throughout the day
Attraction Arrangement
Immortal Cave Natural Scenic Area
An original ecological scenic area located in the northern mountainous area of Gaozhou, with an altitude of 1380 meters. It has natural landscapes such as waterfall groups, primitive forests, and bamboo seas. The average temperature in summer is 25℃, making it a famous summer resort and hiking paradise in western Guangdong.
Gaozhou Reservoir
The second largest reservoir in Guangdong Province, composed of Liangde Reservoir and Shigu Reservoir. The reservoir has a vast water surface, surrounded by rolling mountains, with beautiful lakes and mountains, making it an ideal place for lake viewing, fishing and leisure.
Changpo Old City Ruins
The ruins of the ancient Dianbai County City first built in the Liang Dynasty of the Southern Dynasties, it was the political, economic and cultural center in Gaozhou's history. The existing cultural relics include city wall ruins, city gate ruins and Madam Xian's meritorious monument, which have important historical value.
Practical Information
Travel Suggestions
- The mountain roads in Immortal Cave Scenic Area are rugged, it is recommended to wear non-slip sports shoes
- The temperature in the mountainous area is low, so it is necessary to prepare a thin coat even in summer
- Swimming is prohibited around the reservoir, pay attention to safety
- Changpo Old City can be visited in series with the reservoir
Return Suggestions
- Immortal Cave is about 50 kilometers away from Gaozhou urban area, 1.5 hours by car
- Gaozhou District is about 35 kilometers away from Maoming Station, 40 minutes by taxi
- You can purchase specialties such as dried lychees and longan meat in Gaozhou urban area before returning
Must-Try Cuisine in Gaozhou District
Gaozhou Salt-Baked Chicken
A classic famous dish in Gaozhou, made from local Sanhuang chicken using the salt-baked technique. It has crispy skin, tender meat, rich aroma, and tight, juicy meat. It is a representative variety of salt-baked chicken in western Guangdong and is renowned in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao.
Gaozhou Rice Noodles
Traditional rice products in Gaozhou, made from high-quality local rice through traditional craftsmanship. They have a rich rice aroma and a smooth taste, can be cooked in soup or stir-fried, and are a favorite breakfast choice for Gaozhou people.
Ai He (Artemisia Cake)
A traditional festival pastry in Gaozhou, made by mixing wormwood juice with glutinous rice flour for the outer skin, wrapped with fillings such as peanuts, sesame seeds, and shredded coconut, and steamed. It has a soft and glutinous taste with the delicate fragrance of wormwood, featuring local characteristics.
Lychee Mushroom
A unique fungus in Gaozhou, which only grows under lychee trees during the lychee ripening season. It has a delicious and sweet taste, making it a rare seasonal delicacy. Common cooking methods include stir-frying or boiling in soup, reflecting the close connection between Gaozhou's diet and nature.
Travel Tips for Gaozhou District
Best Season
- May-June: Lychee ripening season, suitable for experiencing lychee township culture
- July-August: Best time for summer vacation in Immortal Cave
- November-December: Cool climate, suitable for visiting historical sites and outdoor activities
- During the Spring Festival: Experience traditional New Year customs in Gaozhou
Travel Suggestions
- It is recommended to visit Genzi Lychee Cultural Tourism Zone during the lychee flowering period (February-March) or fruiting period (May-June)
- It is recommended to reserve half a day to a full day for Immortal Cave Scenic Area, and you can choose multiple hiking routes
- Folk activities are held at Xian Tai Temple on the first and fifteenth day of each lunar month, you can experience traditional sacrificial culture
- You can visit old traditional food stores in the old street area of Gaozhou urban area to experience authentic flavors
Practical Information
- Transportation to mountain attractions is inconvenient, it is recommended to drive by yourself or join a local tour group
- Although lychees are delicious, they are easy to cause excessive internal heat, so it is recommended to eat in moderation
- Mobile phone signals are weak in some areas of Immortal Cave Scenic Area, inform your itinerary in advance
- Respect local religious beliefs and folk customs, especially when visiting temples
Transportation Guide
- It takes about 4 hours to drive from downtown Guangzhou to Gaozhou District, or take a high-speed train to Maoming Station and then transfer to bus/taxi
- You can take township buses from Gaozhou urban area to various attractions, about 30 minutes to 1 hour
- Urban transportation is mainly by bus and taxi, with a starting fare of 6 yuan for taxis
- It is recommended to drive to scenic spots such as Genzi Town and Immortal Cave, with good road conditions