Zhaoqing sits on the West River in Guangdong Province, about 105 kilometers (65 miles) west of Guangzhou, roughly 1 hour 20 minutes by car or under an hour by high-speed rail. The city’s two signature sights, Seven Star Crags and Dinghu Mountain, are both national AAAAA-rated scenic areas, China’s highest tourism rating, and a combined two-day ticket costs RMB120 (about $17 USD / €16). Zhaoqing also served as the capital of Guangdong and Guangxi provinces during the Ming Dynasty, which is why its Ming-era city wall still stands intact today.
This guide covers the attractions actually located inside Zhaoqing, plus an honest list of nearby day-trip options in Guangzhou, Foshan, Jiangmen, and Qingyuan, each labeled with its real city and distance so you can plan accordingly.
| Thing to do | Location | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Climb Seven Star Crags (Qixingyan) | Zhaoqing | Nature/Karst Park |
| Hike Dinghu Mountain & Qingyun Temple | Zhaoqing | Nature/Temple |
| Walk the Zhaoqing Ancient City Wall | Zhaoqing | Historic Site |
| Visit Zhaoqing Museum | Zhaoqing | Museum |
| See Chongxi Pagoda (Chongxita) | Zhaoqing | Historic Site |
| Day trip to Canton Tower | Guangzhou (105 km) | Landmark |
| Day trip to Xiqiao Mountain | Foshan (95 km) | Nature |
Best Things to Do in Zhaoqing Itself
Seven Star Crags (Qixingyan) Scenic Area
Seven Star Crags is Zhaoqing’s best-known attraction and the reason most visitors come here. Seven limestone karst peaks rise directly out of Star Lake, arranged in a pattern locals say mirrors the Big Dipper. It earned China’s top AAAAA tourism rating in 2020 and is sometimes called the "Number One Wonder of Lingnan."
Tianzhu Rock, the tallest of the seven peaks at roughly 100 meters, has a viewing platform overlooking the entire lake. Inside one of the karst formations is a stone chamber cave lined with stalactites and stalagmites, plus rock carvings dating across multiple dynasties. Paddleboats and small ferries cross the lake between the peaks, and food stalls near the entrance sell Zhaoqing’s locally famous large sticky rice dumplings (zongzi).
Address: Xinghu Rd, Duanzhou District, Zhaoqing, Guangdong Province, China, 526060
Dinghu Mountain and Qingyun Temple
Dinghu Mountain is Zhaoqing’s other national AAAAA scenic area, a protected forest reserve with waterfalls, Baoding Garden, Feishui Pond, and Butterfly Valley. June brings the heaviest waterfall flow and the densest tree cover.
Qingyun Temple sits within the reserve, built during the Ming Dynasty and still an active Buddhist site. Its main hall houses a large bronze Buddha statue, and the temple grounds are shaded by centuries-old trees. A combined two-day ticket covering both Dinghu Mountain and Seven Star Crags costs RMB120 (about $17 USD / €16).
Address: 5GCW+5JM, Dinghu District, Zhaoqing, Guangdong Province, China, 526070
See Related: Fun & Best Things to Do in Nanchang, China
Zhaoqing Ancient City Wall
The wall dates to the Song Dynasty and was rebuilt in brick during the Ming Dynasty, when Zhaoqing served as the seat of the Liangguang governor overseeing both Guangdong and Guangxi. Most of the roughly 2.8-kilometer loop is walkable and lit at night, with sections offering views over the old town on one side and the modern skyline on the other.
Address: 2FX4+3G5, Chengzhong Rd, Duanzhou District, Zhaoqing, Guangdong Province, China, 526040
Zhaoqing Museum
The museum traces the region’s history from the ancient Nanyue Kingdom through the present, with pottery, jade ornaments, and stone carvings on display across several galleries. Admission is free for most visitors, and it’s a practical stop on a rainy day or between the two scenic areas.
Address: China, Guangdong Province, Zhaoqing, Duanzhou District, Jiangbinsi Rd, 526040
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Chongxi Pagoda (Chongxita)
This nine-story octagonal pagoda sits on the West River bank and dates to the Ming Dynasty. The Lingnan-style architecture, weathered brick, and wooden beams have survived several centuries of river flooding, and the pagoda remains one of the tallest historic structures in the old city.
Address: 2FVM+V5W, Jiangbinsan Rd, Duanzhou District, Zhaoqing, Guangdong Province, China, 526060
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Fairy Lake (Xianhu)
A smaller, quieter lake close to the city center, ringed by walking paths and bamboo groves. It draws far fewer visitors than Seven Star Crags, which makes it a good early-morning or late-afternoon stop if you want a break from the more touristed sites.
Address: 3FJQ+8X2, Duanzhou District, Zhaoqing, Guangdong Province, China, 526060
See Related: Fun & Best Things to Do in Chifeng, China
Yanyang Lake Park
A public park on the edge of the Dinghu District with a lake, willow-lined paths, and stone benches. Local fishermen are a regular sight along the shore in the early morning. It’s a low-key stop rather than a headline attraction, best combined with a Dinghu Mountain visit since they’re nearby.
Address: 5JR2+GGJ, Dinghu District, Zhaoqing, Guangdong Province, China, 526073
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Huangyandong Scenic Area
Located in Fengkai County, about a 2-hour drive from central Zhaoqing, this karst cave system includes an underground "palace" of stalactite formations and a limestone lake locally called Seven Star Crags Lake (unrelated to the in-city Seven Star Crags). It’s a longer trip than the other entries on this list, so plan for most of a day.
Address: China, Guangdong Province, Zhaoqing, Fengkai County, 351省道, 526535
Zhenshan Scenic Area
A forested hill area in Sihui, one of Zhaoqing’s county-level cities, with bamboo groves and a handful of small mountaintop temples. It sees far fewer tourists than the two flagship scenic areas and is better suited to visitors specifically looking for a quiet hike.
Address: China, Guangdong Province, Zhaoqing, Sihui, 382乡道贞山, 526200
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Liqiaolou
A Cantonese-style historic building in Duanzhou District known for its carved wooden beams, lattice screens, and a courtyard banyan tree. It’s a smaller, lesser-documented site, worth a short stop if you’re already walking the old town rather than a dedicated trip.
Address: China, Guangdong Province, Zhaoqing, Duanzhou District, 城中路175号, 526040
Best Day Trips from Zhaoqing
Zhaoqing sits close to several major Guangdong cities, which makes it a workable base for day trips if you have extra time. These attractions are not in Zhaoqing, so they’re grouped here by their actual city with driving distance and time from Zhaoqing.
Guangzhou (about 105 km / 65 mi, roughly 1 hour 20 minutes by car or under an hour by high-speed rail)
Guangdong’s provincial capital has the most day-trip options. Canton Tower (Haizhu District) is a 604-meter observation tower with a glass-bottomed outdoor skywalk near the top. Chimelong Paradise and the adjoining Chimelong Safari Park (Panyu District) make up one of China’s largest amusement park and zoo complexes, with roller coasters and drive-through wildlife viewing. Baomo Garden (Panyu District) is a late-Qing-Dynasty-style garden across eight hectares with pavilions, ponds, and terracotta figurines. Yuexiu Park (Yuexiu District) is Guangzhou’s largest city park, home to the Five Rams sculpture and several small museums. Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street (Liwan District) and Huacheng Square (Tianhe District) cover shopping, street food, and the modern CBD skyline. The Guangdong Museum and Guangdong Science Center (both Tianhe/Panyu) round out the city’s museum options.
Canton Tower address: Yuejiang W Rd, Haizhu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China, 510308
Chimelong Paradise address: X8WH+MG9, Han Xi Da Dao, Panyu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China, 511495
Foshan (about 90–95 km / 56–59 mi, roughly 1 hour 15 minutes by car)
Xiqiao Mountain (Nanhai District) is a 36-peak volcanic mountain scenic area with Buddhist temples and Tianhu Lake at its center. Sanshui Lotus World (Sanshui District) is a seasonal lotus-flower park, best visited in summer when the blooms are at their peak. Qiandeng Lake (Nanhai District) is a smaller reservoir park near a residential development, worth a stop if you’re already in the Foshan area rather than a dedicated trip.
Xiqiao Mountain address: WXP8+7FR, Nanhai District, Foshan, Guangdong Province, China, 528211
Jiangmen (about 100 km / 62 mi, roughly 1 hour 30 minutes by car)
Baishuidai Park (Jianghai District) centers on limestone white-water terraces and a suspension bridge over the Gong River. It’s a nature-focused stop with hiking trails through bamboo forest.
Address: China, Guangdong Province, Jiangmen, Jianghai District, 甘泉街, 529040
Qingyuan (about 110 km / 68 mi, roughly 1 hour 30 minutes by car)
Qingyuan Museum (Qingcheng District) covers regional history with pottery, bronze, and calligraphy exhibits, plus a small food-history display on local Cantonese cooking traditions.
Address: China, Guangdong Province, Qingyuan, Qingcheng District, Yinquan N Rd
Frequently Asked Questions About Zhaoqing
How far is Zhaoqing from Guangzhou?
Zhaoqing is about 105 kilometers (65 miles) west of Guangzhou, roughly 1 hour 20 minutes by car or under an hour by high-speed train, making it a realistic day trip from Guangzhou or a base for exploring the wider Pearl River Delta.
What is Zhaoqing best known for?
Zhaoqing is best known for Seven Star Crags, a lake ringed by seven limestone karst peaks, and Dinghu Mountain, a protected nature reserve with waterfalls and the Ming-era Qingyun Temple. Both hold China’s top AAAAA tourism rating.
How many days do you need in Zhaoqing?
Two days covers the essentials: one for Seven Star Crags and the old-town sites (Ancient City Wall, Zhaoqing Museum, Chongxi Pagoda), and one for Dinghu Mountain. The combined two-day ticket for both scenic areas costs RMB120 (about $17 USD / €16).
Last updated August 2026: this guide was corrected to separate Zhaoqing’s actual attractions from nearby Guangzhou, Foshan, Jiangmen, and Qingyuan sites that were previously mislabeled as being in Zhaoqing, and a full Seven Star Crags section was added since it is the city’s primary attraction.
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