Qingyuan Trip
Days: Two
Places Visited: Four
Driving Distance From Zhuhai: 204 km
Time Taken: 2 hours 45 minutes
Toll: RMB 189 one way
Pumps and Pitstop: Sinopec, Fanhu Service Station
Accommodation: Hampton by Hilton
About Qingyuan
Qingyuan is in northern Guangdong province, China, and is known for its rich natural and diverse landscapes.
The city features a subtropical monsoon climate; 'meant to' because on the two days we spent there, the temperatures ranged from 30 to 35 degrees centigrade.
Famous for its hot springs and Qingyuan chicken, the key attractions we visited were Bijia Mountain and Three Crops.
Driving To Qingyuan
We drove across the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge on a bright Friday morning to the town of Qingyuan.
Compared to last week, when there was heavy traffic due to a public holiday on Friday, the traffic was light on the bridge and immigration, so we were able to skip through with no hassle.
The journey is a highway through built up areas with little of the sweeping scenery we saw the previous week when driving to Shanwei.
We stopped at the Fanhu service station, which features the standard amenities of a highway pitstop—ample parking, toilets, EV chargers, petrol pumps, and a well-stocked shop selling snacks, hot and cold drinks, car stuff, and more.
[Notably, all the highway stations we've visited in China have maintained excellent cleanliness, with no litter or overflowing bins, unlike what is often found in the UK or other European equivalents.]
China Accommodations
Before we head into the post, a quick overview of the accommodations found in China in case you're unfamiliar with what is, commonly, on offer.
There is a mix of accommodation options including 1-5 star hotels, holiday accommodation (more common in coastal areas), hostels, short stays in private homes, university dorms when not in use, villas often in gated communities (I've stayed in one in a mixed development owned by home appliance giant, Midea), traditional houses with courtyards, serviced apartments, and inns. All vary in quality, cleanliness, and security.
Inns are stylish, have a unique look and feel, and are a unique experience from a hotel, yet with a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Sometimes an inn can be more pricey than a hotel.
1. Qingyuan Waiyu Boutique Minsu
Rather than drop our bags off at the hotel, we headed straight for Bijianshan (Bijian Mountain) and to the famous waterfall. After driving through a village, you turn right onto the mountain road which is broader and less windy than others we've driven on. After five minutes, the road flattens out and on the corner is a set of black wooden doors.
Behind these doors is the extraordinary Qingyuan Waiyu Boutique Minsu inn. Drive up to the doors, beep, wait, and the door will open to reveal a car park. Drive up the road on the right and park at the next parking spots.
From the front, the inn is covered with ivy, but once you enter and go to the back; you get a superb view of Bijian gorge on a wooden deck with an attached enclosed tea room and has a cabinet stocked with an impressive collection of whiskey.
We had a coffee and sat on the open air terrace, admiring the view before exploring the inn. You can tell this place was lovingly created / renovated with careful attention to the aesthetics and environment. The big surprise was the swimming pool.
This hidden retreat costs in the region, we were told, of RMB1,000 per night and is about a twenty minute walk to the famous waterfall.
There are no shops nearby. There is a restaurant beside the car park. Preferring to stay in the town, we continued our journey by car to the waterfall.
Find Qingyuan Waiyu Boutique Minsu here.
2. Bijiashan Tourism Area (Bijia Mountain)
An important point about this park is its excellent management, allowing visitors who want to walk to the waterfall to coexist peacefully with those interested in rafting or crossing the glass or rope bridges.
The park offers activities and things to see and do to the young and old alike.
After parking, head to the ticket counter (it's cheaper to buy online but we paid RMB68 per person for the minimal extras), where you'll find snack stalls, battery chargers, a water play area, restaurants, and hotels—all well laid out, tidy, and with plenty of seating.
Proceed to the entrance and follow the concrete path through a beautiful bamboo forest that opens to a small garden overlooking a section of the rafting route (which was closed during our visit). From here, begin the climb to the waterfall. The steps are easy, though some sections are steep.
Along the way, you'll encounter rope bridges, tightropes, pond swings, and various activities, with an alternate path for those who prefer a less adventurous route. Staff are present at all activities.
When you first glimpse the waterfall, you may be tempted to take photos, but the higher you go, the better the views. At one point, you can even go behind the waterfall.
After enjoying the sights and taking photos, the circular route continues up the mountain beside a creek until you reach a toilet, snack stall, children's play area, and seating.
Finally, take the long, winding path down, passing a glass bridge, a tube ride, and a pond with glass-bottomed boats, leading you back to the entrance. It’s a thoroughly enjoyable 2-3 hour experience.
Find it Bijian Mountain Resort here.
3. Hampton by Hilton Hotel
We stayed at the Qingyuan Hampton by Hilton, located in the Qingcheng District, which is a brand new hotel and under an hour from Guangzhou's Baiyun International Airport.
It's in the centre of where we visited making it convenient for what we wanted.
The room was excellent - gotta love a nice bed and power shower after the drive.
Best for: no bathtub, separate toilet, USB and plug sockets, excellent breakfast, smooth check in, gated parking out front. Oh, and the robot who comes to your door to drop things off.
Find Hampton by Hilton here.
4. Three Crops
I didn’t discover which three crops were grown at Three Crops—or if there were more than three. Upon entering, you can’t help but be awed by the greenery and the striking contrast of the blue sky with mountains in the background.
The approach is along a dusty dual carriageway, flanked by unremarkable buildings, making your arrival at Three Crops all the more surprising.
The main building is a farm that has been tastefully renovated into something truly unique—far from what you might expect.
The old farmhouse has been transformed into a single-level inn, featuring a stunning library with tall ceilings that evoke a church-like look and feel. At the back, a sunken courtyard with a path cutting through the middle creates the illusion of walking on water.
Adjacent to the inn, the café/restaurant has glass walls that flood the space with natural light while offering generous views of the lush crops. Everything about Three Crops is simply remarkable, and they warmly welcome visitors to explore.
The library, in particular, is an extraordinary highlight.
Find Three Crops here.
- If you liked this post, try these:
Discovering Shanwei, China
Discovering Hailing Island, China
Driving in China's Greater Bay Area
About Ivan Theodoulou
I am the founder of Eight PR, a PR agency in Hong Kong and first visited Mainland China in 1987 by train from Hong Kong to Guangzhou. Since then, I've been fortunate to travel extensively in China and in the Greater Bay Area (GBA). I fulfilled a long-held dream of being able to drive in China by obtaining my driving license there in March 2024.
The cities, towns and provinces I've visited in China (by car, plane, train, high speed train, ferry, coach, bus) include: Beijing, Beijou, Chengdu, Dali, Daya Bay, Dongguan, Foshan, Ganzhou, Gaoming, Guangzhou, Hainan, Hailing Island, Heishan, Huizhou, Junan, Kunming, Lijang, Longjiang, Nanhai, Qingyuan, Shanghai, Shanwei, Shenzhen, Shilin Yi, Shunde, Wuzhou, Xiamen, Xiqaio, Yingde, Yinghe, Zhuhai, and Zhaoqing.
All information for general purposes only.
Check out more posts and photos on my WeChat.
Reminder: To drive in China's Greater Bay Area from Hong Kong, you need a multi-year visa, China and HK driving license, China and HK car insurance, and a Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge permit if you intend to access via Zhuhai like I do.