Unlock Guangdong’s “Stone Capital Wonderland”! A Slow Travel Guide to Yunfu: Mountains, Water, Zen, and Culinary Surprises

If you’re tired of the fast-paced urban hustle of Guangzhou and Shenzhen and want to find a place to catch your breath and slow down to savor life, I think Yunfu is a great choice. Unlike those popular tourist cities crowded with people, it has a quiet and beautiful charm, like a hidden gem waiting to be discovered. I recently took a trip there, and you definitely need to keep this hot and fresh travel guide! What’s worth seeing in Yunfu? First, don’t be intimidated by its title as the “Stone Capital of China” and think the city is full of stone factories. Yes, Yunfu’s stone industry is impressive, but its natural scenery and cultural heritage are the real treasures that make people linger. Stop 1: Guoen Temple — Find Inner Peace This is the highlight of our trip! Guoen Temple is located in Xinxing County, Yunfu. It is the former residence and place of passing of Huineng, the Sixth Patriarch of Zen Buddhism, and is known as the “Number One Sacred Site in Lingnan.” Simply put, it holds a very high status and is bustling with worshippers, but it doesn’t feel commercialized. Walking into the temple, you immediately feel a solemn and reverent atmosphere. Ancient trees tower overhead, incense smoke curls in the air, and listening to the wind chimes at the eaves while watching devoted worshippers, your restless heart will quietly calm down. Be sure to check out the Bao’en Pagoda inside the temple and the legendary lychee tree personally planted by the Sixth Patriarch. Even if you’re not a Buddhist, experiencing the spiritual aura of this thousand-year-old temple is a very special experience. I sat there for quite a while and felt like all my anxiety from the past six months just melted away. Stop 2: Panlong Cave — Experience an Underground Art Palace After leaving Guoen Temple, you can conveniently visit Panlong Cave in the city. This is a typical karst cave that stays warm in winter and cool in summer, very comfortable. Once inside, it feels like entering an underground art palace sculpted by time. The stalagmites, stone curtains, and stone flowers take on countless shapes under the lighting. You can let your imagination run wild—some look like a “Golden Dragon Soaring,” others like the “Sea-Calming Divine Needle.” The most amazing thing is the rare “gemstone flowers” inside the cave. Walking slowly inside, listening to the dripping water and admiring nature’s masterpiece by this top artist, the whole experience is full of exploration fun. Stop 3: Jinshuitai Hot Springs — Soak Your Fatigue Away in Warm Waters After a day of sightseeing, what’s the best way to relax? Of course, soaking in hot springs! Yunfu’s Jinshuitai Hot Spring Resort is very famous. The hot springs here are all natural, with many pools including herbal pools, floral pools, and even fish therapy pools—everything you could want. In the evening, soaking yourself in the warm spring water, looking up at the stars, and chatting with your travel companions, all your fatigue and worries really drift away with the steam. This is what a vacation should feel like! What’s good to eat in Yunfu? When you come to Guangdong, food is definitely a highlight! Yunfu’s cuisine carries the rich characteristics of the Xijiang River basin. · Xinxing Wrapped Steamed Rice Dumplings: These are not ordinary zongzi! They are huge and packed with ingredients like mung bean paste, pork belly, salted egg yolk, and more. After long cooking, the glutinous rice is soft and sticky, and the filling is fragrant. One can satisfy you for half a day—super filling! · Rice Noodle Rolls: Although rice noodle rolls are everywhere in Guangdong, Yunfu’s have especially thin rice sheets and fresh sauce, making them perfect for breakfast. · Shankeng Small Fish: These little fish from mountain streams are fried in oil until crispy and fragrant, making an excellent snack to go with drinks. · Sixth Patriarch Vegetarian Dishes: Near Guoen Temple, you can try authentic vegetarian dishes. Using simple vegetarian ingredients, they create a variety of flavors that are light, healthy, and uniquely delicious. A few tips for you: 1. Transportation: Yunfu is connected by high-speed rail, just over an hour from Guangzhou South Station, very convenient. Locally, taxis or buses between attractions are okay, but if you want to visit more remote villages, self-driving is recommended for freedom. 2. Pace: When visiting Yunfu, don’t rush your itinerary. The best way to enjoy it is to “slow travel,” staying longer in places you like, daydreaming, and feeling the local rhythm of life. 3. Souvenirs: You can bring back some local specialty agricultural products, such as Xinxing shiitake mushrooms, dried bamboo shoots, or some exquisite Yunshi stone crafts. Yunfu is a place where you can calm your mind and savor the beauty of life with your taste buds. It doesn’t have earth-shattering scenery but is like a cup of clear tea—you need to sip slowly to taste its lingering sweetness. I hope you have a leisurely and carefree journey that belongs to you in Yunfu!