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A beautiful getaway
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Li Dan
A PERFECT escape from the noise and crowds of Shenzhen awaits in the city of Zhaoqing, an ancient town on the western side of the Pearl River Delta. The city, about three hours away by bus, is renowned for its beautiful mountains and lakes, and for being the home of the Zen Buddhist figure Huineng. It has also long been a meeting point of China's central and southern cultures. Called Duanzhou before the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD), its present name in Chinese means "the beginning of peace and happiness".
Perhaps the most famous mountain in Guangdong Province, Dinghu, is one of the biggest reasons to visit Zhaoqing. Walking along the lush mountain paths, one cannot help breathing deep the fresh air. Encounters with rare plants that were around before the dinosaurs remind us why the area is considered "a live natural museum". The guides say that there are over 2,000 plant varieties. People love posing for photos in front of a "tree couple", two trees which over countless years have become intertwined. Meanwhile, gigantic fallen trees form a bridge across the cliffs.
Hidden among the rain forests, Qingyun Temple is a sacred place to Buddhists. Before each god and goddess figurine, strings of incense curl into the shape of umbrellas and burn quietly.
Reaching lake Dinghu atop the mountain is a wonderful experience. Soak it in, and remember it the next time the city's noise gets you down.
A small wooded island on the lake can be reached by boat.
The nearby Seven-star Crags should not be overlooked. Nicknamed "little Guilin", it includes seven crags dotting the star lake and quite a few limestone caves. With gorgeous scenery, the seven crags are often described as seven stars from the northern sky which fell into the lake. With a total area of 6,490 sqkm, the star lake is surrounded by a shore as long as 20 kilometres which make for a nice, leisurely stroll. Or you can hire a boat and spend a whole afternoon on the water. Fish is caught and cooked on spot, and visitors will be fascinated by the practice of cormorant fishing, or the use of trained sea birds to catch fish.
Large trees struggle out of the rocks and crags, giving proof of the vitality of nature. History and culture are also present in full strength, with most of the buildings clinging to the crags dating from the Ming Dynasty while scriptures carved into the rocks can be traced as far back as the Tang Dynasty.
If you are a lover of Chinese calligraphy, don't forget to bring back one or two locally-made stone ink pots, while gourmets will find zongzi (a food made with glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo leaves) of Zhaoqing most delicious.
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