A toddler's adventures in the hometown of overseas Chinese: In Jiangmen, childhood is imbued with the aroma of dried tangerine peel and the colors of ink painting.
For toddlers, we sought places that could fill both their eyes and hearts. This time, our adventure map turned to Jiangmen, the "Capital of Overseas Chinese." Here, there were no crowds, only the reflections of century-old arcade buildings, the tranquil water towns like ink paintings, and the pervasive aroma of dried tangerine peel. This was a slow-paced family trip through history and nature.
First stop: Xinhui Chenpi Village, imbuing golden childhood with the fragrance of aged tangerine peel. The fragrant memories of the journey were left in Xinhui Chenpi Village. Xinhui tangerine peel is the premier of the "Three Treasures of Guangdong," and this place is the epitome of tangerine peel. A sensory learning experience: eyes witnessed the intangible cultural heritage technique of "three-cut peeling," noses smelled the deep aromas of tangerine peel from different years, and little hands tried making a piece of tangerine peel or painting a Xinhui palm leaf fan. Finally, the taste buds voted: a cup of tangerine peel red bean soup and a tangerine peel ice cream—the sweet and mellow flavors became her sweetest attachment to this land.
Family-Friendly Slow Travel Tips:
Cultural Experience: Letting children participate in buying dried tangerine peel is more meaningful than buying souvenirs.
Second Stop: Qimingli, in the alleys of this century-old overseas Chinese village, listen to the stories told by the stones.
This is not a cold tourist attraction, but a living, vibrant, and bustling century-old overseas Chinese village. For my little traveler, every arcade building, a blend of Chinese and Western styles, is a three-dimensional storybook.
We slowed down to count the carvings on the lintels of the scholar's houses and imagined the bustling scene of merchants a hundred years ago in the commercial district's cultural square. The most interesting part was exploring the corners named after "alleys": learning about the craftsmanship of a palm-leaf fan in Kui Shan Alley and experiencing traditional celebrations in Xi Tie Alley. For her, history was no longer just words in a book, but tangible bricks and tiles and a source of curious exploration.
Family-Friendly Slow Travel Tips:
Fun Exploration: Play a "discover the differences" game with your child, searching together for the combination of Chinese gray carvings and Western-style columns in the architecture.
Third Stop: Thirty-Three Market Street, Strolling Through the Scenes of the TV Series "The Storm"
A short walk from Qiming Lane leads to Thirty-Three Market Street, widely known for its connection to the TV series "The Storm." Named after a 33-step bluestone staircase, it's considered the "origin of Jiangmen city."
Walking along the winding old street, lined with arcade shops bearing the marks of time, we followed the scenes from the TV series, stepping into the lives of the locals. We ordered a plate of rice noodle rolls at a time-honored shop and bought a handmade Jiangmen palm-leaf fan from a traditional souvenir shop. For children, it's a vivid window into everyday life; for parents, it's a nostalgic journey back in time.
Family Travel Tips: Scene Reenactment: Briefly recount scenes from "The Storm" with your children to make the visit more story-driven.
Fourth Stop: Heshan Gulao Water Town, Entering the Water Fairytale of the "Oriental Venice"
If the first three stops were lessons in cultural heritage and history, then Heshan Gulao Water Town is a journey into a natural painting. This area, crisscrossed by waterways, is known as the "Venice of the East."
What makes it a paradise for children is the Children's Dream Village Park. The most thrilling attraction is undoubtedly the first amphibious "Flying Fish Train" in China, a ride that feels like a fantastical adventure. On Mud Island, children can freely play in the mud and slide down giant slides; on Fishing Island, they can catch fish in various novel ways—children's natural instincts are fully unleashed here.
After playing, be sure to experience the "Heng Hai You Meng" (Dream Chase) boat trip. Take a small boat and cruise among thousands of acres of lotus ponds and ancient banyan trees, watching egrets soar and truly experiencing the poetic feeling of "boating on the green waves, people traveling in a painting."
Family-Friendly Slow Travel Tips:
Itinerary: It is recommended to allocate half a day to Gulao Water Town, combining leisure with a boat trip.
Itinerary Planning: It is recommended to allocate 2-3 days. Day 1: Visit Qimingli and Thirty-Three Market Street in Jiangmen City, stay overnight in Jiangmen; Day 2: Head to Chenpi Village in the morning, then to Gulao Water Town.
On this journey, we listened to the rain under the arcades, watched the clouds from a boat on the lotus pond, and understood the passage of time amidst the mellow aroma of dried tangerine peel. A toddler, with her tiny feet, measured the depth of history in this hometown of overseas Chinese; with her clear eyes, she captured the gentle beauty of the Lingnan water towns. Jiangmen is such a treasure trove of a city, perfect for holding hands and slowly discovering its charm.
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蹒跚小旅人 | Little Voyage Waddle Walker1