Zhaoqing
People's Republic of China · Asia
About Zhaoqing
Zhaoqing, alternately romanized as Shiuhing, is a prefecture-level city in Guangdong, China. As of the 2020 census, its population was 4,113,594, with 1,553,109 living in the built-up (or metro) area made of Duanzhou, Dinghu and Gaoyao. The prefectural seat—except the Seven Star Crags—is fairly flat, but thickly forested mountains lie just outside its limits. Numerous rice paddies and aquaculture ponds are found on the outskirts of the city. Sihui and the southern districts of the prefecture are considered part of the Pearl River Delta.
Formerly one of the most important cities in southern China, Zhaoqing lost its importance during the Qing dynasty and is now primarily known for tourism and as a provincial "college town". Residents from Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and the other cities of the Pearl River Delta often visit it for weekend excursions. It is also a growing manufacturing center.
Zhaoqing was known to the Qin as Sihui (四会) and Han as Gaoyao (高要). It was renamed Duanzhou (端州) from its role as the seat of Duan Prefecture under the Sui. The present name, meaning "Beginning Auspiciousness", was bestowed on the area by Emperor Huizong of the Song in 1118. "Zhaoqing...
Zhaoqing travel guide
Getting there
By plane There is a long-distance intercity bus service from Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport to Zhaoqing. It is convenient and safe.
By train 1 Zhaoqing rail station (肇庆火车站). 2 Zhaoqing East Station (肇庆东站). High-speed rail station. There are buses and taxis (30 min, 70 yuan circa) available to reach the city center.
By bus Buses from Guangzhou leave frequently. You can catch them from Yuexuenan (越秀南) or from the bus terminal near the train station. Buses to Kaiping leave from the downtown bus terminal. Buses from Hong Kong and Macau arrive nearby on Duanzhou 4th Rd.
3 Long distance bus terminal (肇庆长途客运站). Next to the rail station. 4 Downtown bus station (Zhaoqing Yue Yun Bus Terminal) (at the intersection of Duanzhou 4th Rd and Wenming Rd).
Getting around
There are various city bus routes. Fares are from ¥2 to ¥4.
Bus 12 links city train station and main bus station Bus 21 goes to the Dinghu Shan reserve from the main bus station
See
In the city
1 Seven Star Crags Park (七星岩公园; Qīxīngyán GongYuan; Qixingyan Garden) (just north of downtown Zhaoqing). Seven rocky peaks (crags) sit here in the middle of a beautiful lake. The arrangement of the peaks resembles the Big Dipper constellation, so the crags are known as the Seven Star Crags, and the lake as Star Lake. The site is sometimes known as "little Guilin" due to its resemblance to the spectacular Guilin scenery. There are also some temples and pagodas in the park. 2 Water and Light display (音乐喷泉). A big fountain with songs playing. The show takes place every day at 20:00, in Star Lake, opposite to the big plaza at the end of Tianning Rd (天宁路). 3 Piyun House (披云楼) (on the north side of the ancient city wall, west of People's Road). A fancy looking three-storey building, built as a lookout in the year 1118 AD (Song Dynasty). 4 Yuejianglou (阅江楼; Yuèjiānglóu). A Ming Dynasty-period mansion that served as the headquarters of the Fourth Revolutionary Army, commanded by Ye Ting, in the early 20th century. Now, the Zhaoqing city museum is located in this building (or possibly a building very close by - unsure). Judging by pictures online, it seems that this museum has some interesting exhibits, but they are only described in Chinese. The leaning pagoda (Yuankui Pagoda, 元魁塔 Yuánkuí Tǎ). Not as steep as Pisa but not straight either. Sharon White Mother Temple (白沙龙母庙). White Dragon Temple in Duanzhou District in the western suburbs of turtle mountain east, South West, Jianyu Ming Wanli fifteen years (1587). The temple is the only church, Dragon Pavilion and the part, the" eight Zhaoqing roof turtle song Yin" and" white moon" not far from the temple. Dragon Pavilion building area of 28 square meters, blue glazed tile Xieshan Ding, column inscribed " book gives Long Zhangen the country; inscriptions parent Deze Pei Chinese" poetic couplet; the only remaining Dongxiang, an area of 56 square meters. The temple of Zhaoqing city in 1984 was classified as heritage conservation units. Ling Hill Fort (羚山炮台) (on the east city outskirts). Xijiang Antelope Canyon entrance north of antelope hills. One of seven forts built in Zhaoqing in 1920 by Luo Yang to defend against Lin Hu. Baogong temple (包公祠). Zhaoqing Bao temple is west of Zhaoqing, is an imitation of buildings, except the church, mountain door, and hall, East, West Peidian, bell tower, Drum Tower, pavilion, corridor, such as well, covers an area of 11500 square meters, and other Baogong compared, its size at the forefront, but also reflects the ridge South ancient architectural
Buy
Street Market, Wenming rd, (文明路). A street market selling mostly clothing and footwear. Lakeside mall (湖滨商场).
Eat
Zhong Hua Dim Sum (中华茶楼) (China Tea House), Zhaoqing, Duanzhou District, Tanggang Rd, 棠岗路星湖尚景苑2期东城汇2层 邮政编码: 526060. Classic cantonese dim sum restaurant not far from the lake. 60-70¥. (updated Feb 2024)
Sleep
1 OYC. Classified as 5-, 6-, or 7-star depending on what brochure you read, this luxury resort, next to "Seven Star Crags" lake, has a large series of artificial hot springs in the basement. Mostly frequented by rich Chinese. ¥1,000 (basic);¥100,000 (presidential). Zhang Shan Hotel (江山大酒店; Jiāngshān Dàjiǔdiàn), 40 Jianshe Road (建设路40号; Jiànshèlù). Doubles for ¥90 and tripples for ¥120
Go next
Deqing County, Guangdong Guangning County Sihui, Guangdong Kaiping, a good base for visiting the diaolou-towers
Overview adapted from Wikipedia, travel guide fromWikivoyage (CC BY-SA)。Photography via Wikimedia Commons.