East of Shenzhen, Huizhou offers a gentler side of Guangdong: its own scenic West Lake, the sacred Luofu Mountain, and quiet beaches around Xunliao Bay — a favourite weekend escape from the megacities.
History & culture
Praised by the exiled Song poet Su Dongpo, who lived here and loved its West Lake, Huizhou was long a cultured prefectural town and a centre of Hakka and Cantonese settlement.
What to see & do
- ◆Huizhou West Lake gardens and causeways
- ◆Luofu Mountain, a Taoist and Buddhist sacred peak
- ◆Xunliao Bay and Double Moon Bay beaches
- ◆Su Dongpo cultural sites
- ◆Hakka villages in the hills
What to eat
- ●Hakka salt-baked chicken
- ●Stuffed tofu (niang doufu)
- ●Mei cai kou rou (preserved-veg pork)
Getting there
High-speed rail (Huizhou South and North) connects to Shenzhen and Guangzhou in under an hour; buses reach the coast.
Avoid the pitfalls
- Beaches get busy on summer weekends and holidays — book coastal stays early.
- Luofu Mountain is a half- to full-day outing; start in the morning.
- It's relaxed rather than packed with marquee sights — pace accordingly.
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