Zhaoqing - Ziyun Valley

36 degrees in Guangzhou, people basically stay in air-conditioned rooms and can't come out. The only motivation to go out on weekends is to run to the mountains + water to escape the heat. Ziyun Valley in Zhaoqing is one of them, with really good water quality✅, perfect for cooling off and stream trekking! Ziyun Valley, as its name suggests, is located in a valley⛰️. You can't drive directly there; you need to take a boat🛳 from the ferry terminal first. Although this mode of transportation is somewhat interesting, it can't beat the real heat of summer. The high temperature walk from the parking lot to the ferry terminal is a torment, but fortunately, the boat is air-conditioned, so the experience is not too bad. Once you take the boat to the other side of the river and enter the gate of the scenic area, you will truly feel the temperature drop a few degrees🍃. From the entrance to the stream in the valley, you have to walk a mountain path. When you reach the water, the temperature drops again. The first hydrophilic area you pass is the most crowded because the water is shallow, mostly with children playing. The further you go, the fewer people there are, and the deep pools are more suitable for adults to swim in. Although people often say Ziyun Valley is the 'Little Jiuzhaigou of Guangdong,' it's not really the case. The water is truly clear and you can see to the bottom, sparkling and cool under the sun, ensuring a safe and enjoyable time. There is also a swimming pool🏊🏻 in the scenic area, with changing facilities. Heading to Ziyun Valley for stream trekking and swimming should not disappoint. In addition, you can also take a light hike🚶‍♂️, as walking through the entire scenic area still involves climbing a few small hills, so it's not recommended to wear flip-flops directly. 📍Navigation: Ziyun Valley ground parking lot, 🚗 you can't get there directly, you have to take a boat🚢 🎫Ticket: 60r/person, includes round-trip boat fare (so if someone separately asks you for a boat ticket to the scenic area, that's definitely not official 🅿️Parking: Ziyun Valley ground parking lot, free🆓, there are plenty of parking spaces, don't be misled to a paid parking lot by the villagers 🥘Dining: There are only farmhouses, convenience stores, and snack stalls near the entrance of the scenic area. There's nothing even selling water as you walk into the valley, so bring enough water in the summer heat.