West Along the River: Zhaoqing, Yunfu and Wuzhou

A journey through former centres of power

The source connects Guangzhou with Zhaoqing, Yunfu and Wuzhou, following places once associated with the administration of Guangdong and Guangxi. The appeal is the contrast between historic cities and the landscapes around them. Use each city as a base rather than rushing the entire route in a weekend.

Zhaoqing

Allow two or three days for a mixture of heritage and scenery. The old city wall, Piyun Tower, Yuejiang Tower and Mei'an introduce different periods of the city's history. Seven Star Crags and Dinghu Mountain add lakes, limestone and forest.

For food, look for guozheng steamed rice parcels, river fish and local rice noodles. Stay near the central lake and archways for restaurants and city walks, or near Dinghu Mountain if the surrounding nature sites are your priority.

Yunfu

Yunfu is a quieter stop between the larger river cities. The source highlights Yunwu Mountain, Panlong Lake and Cave, and Tianlu Mountain, where seasonal plum blossom is part of the attraction. Xinxing's Guoen Temple gives the area a strong Buddhist association.

Local food includes Luoding fish tofu and vegetarian dishes. Accommodation clusters around the urban area and Xinxing, including hot-spring properties. Match the hotel to your actual stops rather than the city name alone.

Wuzhou

Across the provincial boundary in Guangxi, Wuzhou preserves a strong Cantonese-speaking river-trading culture. Explore the arcaded old town on foot, looking for guild halls, former customs buildings and everyday street life.

Morning tea, paper-wrapped chicken, Bingquan soy milk and guilinggao herbal jelly feature in the source's food suggestions. Give the old streets a morning or evening walk as well as a daytime visit: the town's appeal lies in its pace as much as its monuments.

From the source gallery