5 top China Instagram spots by Huizhou’s Highway 218 that blend nature and architecture
From picturesque Xiangang Reservoir to Xialang Village’s architectural Grand Canopy, Huizhou’s scenic northwest has much for photographers
Huizhou is a city in mainland China’s southern Guangdong province just 90 minutes from Hong Kong on the high-speed rail that offers budget-friendly stays and activities like leisurely strolls around its West Lake’s Lingnan-style pavilions.
But venture out of the city and you can discover how the wider Huizhou region is quietly transforming into a “scenic sweat” destination for those seeking physical activities among picturesque surroundings infused with culture.
An hour’s drive northwest leads towards Nankun Mountain and Luofu Mountain, an area that Song dynasty poet Su Shi once expressed was an emblem of Huizhou’s laid-back lifestyle.
Connecting these two peaks is Highway 218, a figure-of-eight-shaped highway with a reputation for being one of the most scenic stretches of road in Guangdong – and one that is becoming increasingly popular among cyclists and road-trip enthusiasts.
Here are five tested family-friendly spots along and near the highway offering Instagrammable moments that blend natural beauty with contemporary art and architecture.
1. Xialang Village’s Grand Canopy
For many locals living along the Lanshi River that descends from the folds of Luofu Mountain, summer means getting into shallow water and staying there until dusk.