Seven Star Crags, Zhaoqing

The Seven Star Crags, an eight-square-kilometre area of limestone crags and caves spread across Zhaoqing’s Star Lake, got their name due to their resemblance to the formation of the Big Dipper’s seven stars. It’s like a lesser-visited cross between Guilin’s karst peaks and Hangzhou’s West Lake.

Don’t miss: Exploring the area either by boat – or on foot – via a network of walkways that divides the surface of Star Lake into five sections.

Get there: From Zhaoqing East Railway Station, take the K02 bus to Seven Star Crags’ North Gate, or the K01 bus to Paifang Park.

Dinghu Mountain National Nature Reserve, Zhaoqing

A trek through Dinghu Mountain National Nature Reserve provides a medley of sensory stimulation, courtesy of its rich biodiversity. Part of the Dayunwu Mountain Range, it was established in 1956 as the Chinese Mainland’s first nature reserve and was added to Unesco’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves in 1979. Today, this forest is home to hundreds of species of flora and fauna, centuries-old Buddhist monuments and natural attractions that are older still.

Don’t miss: The Flying Water Pool, a crystal-clear pool fed by a waterfall.

Get there: Take the Dinghu no. 6 bus from Zhaoqing East Railway Station, or the no. 21 bus from Zhaoqing city centre to the Dinghu Mountain Kengkou bus stop.