Guangdong Grand Loop: Diaolou, Peaks & Danxia Landform
Starting from Guangzhou, loop through Kaiping, Zhaoqing, Yingxi, Yao villages, and Mount Danxia to experience the best of Guangdong's landscapes and heritage.
This is an in-depth loop of inland Guangdong commonly favored by travel agencies. Start with Guangzhou's old town and the Kaiping Diaolou, then head north via Zhaoqing to the Yingxi Peak Forest, Liannan Yao Village, and Lianzhou. Conclude with Mount Danxia and Nanhua Temple, finishing with a relaxing hot spring stay in Conghua. Most driving days involve 2–3 hours of travel, making a chartered car with a driver highly recommended. This route is designed for returning visitors who want to see inland Guangdong in one go, bypassing the coastline.
Summer is great for rafting but is hot and rainy. Winter in northern Guangdong can be quite cold. Spring and autumn offer the most comfortable weather.
每日安排
第 1 天 · Arrive in Guangzhou & Explore the Old Town
Upon arrival at Baiyun Airport, take the metro or a taxi (approx. 1 hour) to Yuexiu to check in. Walk around the Beijing Road area in the evening.
住宿：越秀/北京路
第 2 天 · Guangzhou Old Town & Pearl River Night Views
廣州主城（南越王博物院（王墓展區）、陳家祠、沙面島、廣州塔、珠江夜遊）
Get around via metro and taxi. Visit museums and ancestral temples in the morning, explore Shamian Island in the afternoon, and head to Canton Tower and the cruise wharf in the evening.
If the Museum of the Mausoleum of the Nanyue King is closed, you can visit Yongqing Fang instead.
住宿：越秀/北京路
第 3 天 · Kaiping Diaolou & Chikan Ancient Town
Take a chartered car in the morning to Tangkou (approx. 2 hours). Sights within the Diaolou villages are a 10–15 minute drive apart. Head to Chikan in the evening to check in.
住宿：赤坎古鎮
第 4 天 · Head to Zhaoqing for Mountains & Lakes
Take a chartered car from Chikan to Dinghu Mountain (approx. 2 hours). Transfer to Seven Star Crags in the afternoon (approx. 40 mins) and stay by the lakeside in Yanqian.
住宿：七星巖周邊
第 5 天 · Song Dynasty City Wall & Gulong Gorge
Explore Zhaoqing's old town on foot in the morning, then take a chartered car to Gulong Gorge (approx. 2.5 hours). Drive to Jiulong Town in the evening (approx. 1 hour).
Gulong Gorge rafting is only open in summer. Check official announcements for the glass bridge opening status.
住宿：英西峰林九龍鎮
第 6 天 · Yingxi Peak Forest to Thousand-Year-Old Yao Village
清遠·英德（英西峰林走廊） → 連州·連南（連南千年瑤寨（南崗古排））
Take a leisurely stroll along the Yingxi Peak Forest Corridor in the morning. Take a chartered car in the afternoon to Nangang in Liannan (approx. 130 km, 2 hours).
Accommodations in the Yao village are basic, and temperatures on the mountain can be cool in the mornings and evenings.
住宿：南崗千年瑤寨
第 7 天 · Wanshan Chaowang & Lianzhou Underground River
Descend the mountain to visit the Wanshan Chaowang viewpoint, then head north to the Underground River (approx. 1 hour). Take a boat ride through the cave before returning to Lianzhou town center.
The cave maintains a constant cool temperature; bring a light jacket.
住宿：連州城區
第 8 天 · Huangchuan Three Gorges to Mount Danxia
連州·連南（湟川三峽） → 韶關（陽元石、錦江（竹筏·遊船））
Visit the Huangchuan Three Gorges in the morning, then take a chartered car to Mount Danxia (approx. 250 km, 3 hours). See the Yangyuan (Male Energy) Stone in the afternoon.
Mount Danxia entry tickets are valid for 48 hours and can be used over two consecutive days.
住宿：斷石村與瑤塘村
第 9 天 · Zhanglao Peak Sunrise & Nanhua Temple
Climb Zhanglao Peak in the early morning. After descending, drive about 1 hour to Nanhua Temple, then drive about 3 hours to Conghua Hot Spring Town.
Go to bed early the night before if you plan to watch the sunrise. Check official announcements for cableway operating hours.
住宿：溫泉鎮
第 10 天 · Conghua Hot Springs & Return to Airport
Spend the morning soaking in the hot springs and walking around the town. Take a chartered car to Baiyun Airport in the afternoon (approx. 1 hour) or back to the city center (approx. 1.5 hours).