Guangdong’s hidden “Little Guilin”! Heyuan 3-day 2-night guide, locals swear by it

Hey guys! Stop crowding to Guilin and Yangshuo! Guangdong hides a secret paradise where “waters are greener than emeralds, and mountains look like ink paintings” — Heyuan! Here you’ll find South China’s largest man-made lake, the world’s number one dinosaur egg museum, and authentic Hakka flavors that will get you hooked. All this for just 500 RMB per person, so good you won’t want to leave. Here’s the ultimate guide for you👇 🚗 Transportation Guide: 3 easy ways to get there - High-speed rail fans: Shenzhen North → Heyuan East in as fast as 40 minutes! From Guangzhou South, just 1 hour direct~ Taxi from the station to downtown costs 20 RMB, carpool to Wanlv Lake is recommended (30 RMB/person), enjoy the rice field scenery along the way 🌾 - Self-driving fans: From the Pearl River Delta, take the Changshen Expressway, 2.5 hours drive! Parking in the city is super convenient, Jianji Plaza charges 5 RMB/day, Wanlv Lake scenic area parking is free~ - Lazy travelers: Choose the direct shuttle “Heyuan East Station → Scenic Area,” covering Wanlv Lake and Bavaria Manor, 25 RMB/person, 3 trips daily with no waiting! 🏡 Accommodation Recommendations: 3 types of amazing stays to pick from - Lake view chillers: Highly recommend Wanlv Lake Misi Weldon Hotel (500 RMB/night)! Balcony faces Wanlv Lake directly, wake up to birdsong, open the curtains to a “painting of green waters and mountains,” and the hotel breakfast’s Hakka pickled noodles + stuffed tofu are so good you’ll want to take some home~ - Family fun seekers: Choose Bavaria Manor Four Points by Sheraton (600 RMB/night with breakfast)! 5-minute walk to Black Forest Park, rooms come with kids’ tents, and you can soak in private hot springs at night. Kids won’t want to check out~ - City convenience lovers: Jianji Borden Hotel (200 RMB/night) offers unbeatable value! Shopping center downstairs, 5 minutes from night market to bed, and don’t miss the hotel’s crystal chicken breakfast—tender skin and flavorful meat~ 🌟 Must-Do List: 5 top attractions to explore deeply 1. Wanlv Lake (Guangdong’s “Thousand Island Lake,” water so green it glows!) - ✨ Highlights: 370 sq km of water like spilled emeralds, cruising through 360 islands with mountains retreating like ink paintings~ Recommended to visit “Jinghuayuan” Island, walk the lakeside boardwalk to see schools of small fish, and at 3 PM the slanting sunlight makes the lake shimmer gold! - 💡 Tips: Choose the “Longfeng Island + Jinghuayuan” route (170 RMB/person including boat ticket). On Longfeng Island, try the freshly grilled lake fish (30 RMB each), sprinkle some salt and pepper, finger-licking fresh! Wear white clothes for photos, the lake’s reflection acts like a natural filter~ 2. Heyuan Dinosaur Cultural Museum (a must for families!) - ✨ Highlights: Home to over 17,000 dinosaur egg fossils, the world’s top dinosaur egg museum! See a 3-meter-long T-Rex skeleton, touch real dinosaur egg fossils (super smooth!), and enjoy the “Dinosaur Resurrection” 4D movie that kids scream through~ - 💡 Tips: Free admission! But book in advance via the “Heyuan Dinosaur Museum” WeChat official account. The basement’s “Dinosaur Footprint Interactive Zone” lets you step in matching footprints, perfect for social media~ Don’t miss the dinosaur egg ice cream (15 RMB), rich chocolate flavor! 3. Bavaria Manor (pretend you’re in Europe!) - ✨ Highlights: Colorful pointed cottages + windmill lawns, wear a floral dress for photos and your friends will think you’re in Germany~ Must-try the “Black Forest Park” aerial swing for a bird’s-eye view of the manor, the evening light show is super romantic, and the Hakka-style hot spring is perfect for stargazing while soaking~ - 💡 Tips: Free entry to the manor, attractions charge separately! Recommended to buy a combo ticket (180 RMB includes 3 attractions + hot spring). Go after 4 PM to avoid the sun, bring swimwear for the hot spring, rental is expensive on site (80 RMB/set)~ 4. Yuewang Mountain (Danxia landform + thrilling via ferrata!) - ✨ Highlights: The place where Zhao Tuo once stationed troops, the red rock formations are spectacular. Walking the “skywalk” means cliffs underfoot and rice fields in the distance, like walking inside a painting~ Daredevils must try the via ferrata (180 RMB/person), climbing the rock face with breathtaking views that instantly relieve stress! - 💡 Tips: Ticket 70 RMB, arrive before 9 AM to avoid the heat~ Wear non-slip shoes! Some parts of the walkway are mossy, bring water as mountain prices are high (10 RMB/bottle)~ 5. Sujiawei (700-year-old Hakka ancient village, time slows down here~) - ✨ Highlights: Home to descendants of Su Dongpo, 18 Ming and Qing dynasty houses surrounded by bamboo groves and streams. Walking on the bluestone paths, you’ll see grandmas weaving Hakka cool hats at their doors, red lanterns swaying under eaves, like stepping into the scene of “Big Fish & Begonia”~ - 💡 Tips: Ticket 30 RMB, be sure to photograph the “Welcoming Banyan” at the village entrance, a 500-year-old tree with branches dipping into the water, very poetic~ Try the villagers’ “Hakka rice cakes” (5 RMB/bag), sesame-flavored and perfect with tea~ 🍜 Foodie Guide: 6 must-try dishes without fail - 🍜 Pig’s Trotter Rice Noodles: Go to the old shop “Quanji Pig’s Trotter Rice Noodles”! The trotters are stewed until tender with chopsticks, fatty but not greasy, noodles soaked in broth, add a spoon of local yellow chili sauce, the joy of slurping noodles is real (15 RMB/bowl)~ - 🥚 Stuffed Three Treasures: The soul of Hakka cuisine! Silky stuffed tofu, eggplant filled with meaty aroma, and slightly bitter then sweet stuffed bitter melon. Recommended at “Ketiantian Farmhouse,” cooked over a wood fire for extra wok flavor (50 RMB per person to eat until full)~ - 🍗 Crystal Chicken: The skin is transparent! Steamed with Heyuan’s local Sanhuang chicken, no water added, chicken juice so fresh it can soak 3 bowls of rice. Signature dish at “Old Heyuan Restaurant,” half chicken 68 RMB, must reserve in advance~ - 🍚 Nine-layer Skin Cake: Specialty of Lianping! Rice batter steamed in 9 layers, each wrapped with dried shrimp and radish, chewy with a bit of crunch, perfect with porridge. Street stall sells for 3 RMB/portion, best eaten hot~ - 🌰 Chestnut Braised Duck: A must in autumn! Heyuan chestnuts are powdery and sweet, braised with duck, rich sauce flavor, even the bones are finger-licking good. Signature dish at “Chestnut Hometown” restaurant, 58 RMB/large plate~ - 🍧 Fairy Jelly: Summer lifesaver! Made from fairy grass leaves, QQ chewy texture, with honey and mint water, 3 RMB/bowl, sold at Wanlv Lake scenic area entrance, refreshingly cool and perfect to cut grease~ ⚠️ Notes 1. UV rays at Wanlv Lake are super strong! Bring a sun hat + sunscreen + arm sleeves or you’ll get sunburned black~ 2. For souvenirs, look for “Heyuan rice noodles” and “Hakka yellow wine.” Jianji supermarket is 30% cheaper than scenic spots. Remember to check in yellow wine (low alcohol content, can be carried on high-speed trains)~ 3. Hakka food tends to be salty and savory; if you can’t handle too much salt, tell the owner “less salt” in advance. Most restaurants offer kids’ meals~ Heyuan is like Guangdong’s “green gem,” with both natural beauty and Hakka local charm. Three days is not enough! Save this guide, and go recharge your soul this weekend~