[2025 Zhaoqing Attraction] Travel Guide for Liqiaolou (Updated Jul)

Where to go during the Dragon Boat Festival holiday? You can take the high-speed train to Zhaoqing. Today, I visited a legendary landmark in Zhaoqing's Duanzhou District - 🏰 This building has stood for nearly a thousand years, boasting a rich and captivating history! Originally named Yushu Tower, it was also known as Yongming Palace or the Red Tower. This site was once the fiefdom of Emperor Zhao Ji of the Song Dynasty. After ascending the throne, Zhao Ji personally inscribed the name "Zhaoqing Prefecture" as a gift. To honor this imperial inscription, local officials built a high platform in front of the prefectural office and erected this tower, hence the name "Yushu Tower." During the Ming Dynasty, it was rebuilt and renamed Lizhao Tower. In the late Ming period, Prince Gui Zhu Youlang ascended the throne here and transformed it into Yongming Palace. In the early years of the People's Republic of China, the tower was named the Red Tower due to its color. Stepping into Lizhao Tower, you'll find treasures such as the copper water clock, the Qianning bronze bell, and the giant rattan drum—ancient timekeeping devices. Behind the tower lies the prefectural office, which served as the administrative center of ancient Duanzhou. During the Song Dynasty, the renowned official Bao Zheng held office here for three years, earning widespread acclaim for his integrity. Today, the base of Lizhao Tower and the archway bear plaques inscribed with "Ancient Duan's Famous Prefecture" and couplets reading "Starry Rock Shines Bright Over Mountains and Seas, Inkstone Islet's Gentle Breeze Spreads Through Time," exuding a strong sense of ancient charm. Come and savor the timeless elegance preserved in this historic site! 🌟🖋️

At 8:30 in the morning, I stood amidst the bustling crowd at Shenzhen North Station, filled with anticipation for Zhaoqing—the "Little Guilin of Lingnan"—as I boarded the high-speed train. This action-packed day was both intense and exciting. Follow my guide to unlock the charm of a one-day trip to Zhaoqing! 1. Essential Packing List Don’t forget these must-haves: ID card (travel essential), umbrella (for unpredictable weather), power bank (to keep devices charged), camera/CCD (to capture beautiful moments), headphones (for music on the go), tissues (handy backup), loose powder and lipstick (quick touch-ups), and sunscreen (to shield against strong sunlight). 2. Transportation Guide This trip mainly relies on high-speed rail and taxis. - High-speed rail: - Depart from Shenzhen North Station at 08:24, arrive at Zhaoqing East Station by 09:46—just under 1.5 hours to travel from the bustling city to this quaint Lingnan town. - Return from Zhaoqing East Station at 19:36, arriving back at Shenzhen North Station by 21:11, perfectly wrapping up the day. Be sure to book round-trip tickets in advance to avoid delays. - Taxi: - Zhaoqing East Station to Dinghu Mountain: ~¥25. - Dinghu Mountain to Seven Star Crags: ¥11.25. - Seven Star Crags to Liqiao Tower: just ¥5.55. - Songcheng Qilou to Zhaoqing East Station: ¥40.16. 3. Action-Packed Itinerary (1) Dinghu Mountain (Ticket: ¥70/person) - Baoding Garden: Start with a delicious breakfast at the entrance to fuel your day. You can also buy wishing balls here—¥10 for 5. Pro tip: When tossing the ball for blessings, grip the middle firmly and throw with force for better success! - Sightseeing bus: The scenic area is vast, so the ¥20 round-trip bus is highly recommended to save energy for the stunning views. - Butterfly Valley: Just 180m from Baoding Garden, take a ¥35 boat ride to Tongxin Island, surrounded by breathtaking lake and mountain scenery—like stepping into a fairy tale. (2) Seven Star Crags (Ticket: ¥70/person) Recommended route: North Gate → Water Forest Fun → Peach Blossom Island → Consul Forest → Misty Rain Bridge → Iron Chain Bridge → Nine-Turn Bridge → Fish Viewing Pond → Houle Pavilion → Beihai Stele Pavilion → Water Palace Moon → Five-Dragon Pavilion → Seven Star Bridge → Spring Dawn at Star Crags → South Gate. Follow this path to marvel at the unique landscapes shaped by nature’s artistry. (3) Ancient City Wall Stroll through Liqiao Tower and Piyun Tower, touch the weathered history of Zhaoqing’s ancient walls, explore Zhongyong Road, and admire the distinctive charm of Songcheng Qilou—like stepping back in time. 4. Cost Breakdown Total expenses for the day: ~¥498.46 - Transportation: Round-trip high-speed rail ¥217; taxis (¥25 + ¥11.25 + ¥5.55 + ¥40.16). - Tickets: Dinghu Mountain ¥70, Seven Star Crags ¥70. If visiting both, the ¥100 annual pass is a steal! - Other: Wishing balls ¥10/5; Butterfly Valley boat ticket ¥35; local eats—pork noodle soup ¥12, zongzi ¥7, egg pancake ¥6, Feipo fish balls ¥10, mango juice ¥10. 5. Pro Tips 1. The high-speed rail from Shenzhen to Zhaoqing takes under 1.5 hours—book round-trip tickets early to avoid sold-out woes. 2. Dinghu Mountain and Seven Star Crags are expansive; sightseeing buses save energy for more fun. 3. The annual pass (¥100) is a no-brainer if visiting both sites. 4. Zhaoqing’s sun is intense—sun protection is a must to avoid burns. On the return train to Shenzhen, I scrolled through my camera, reliving the day’s adventures. Though brief, this Zhaoqing day trip was packed with excitement. This underrated "Little Guilin of Lingnan" is truly worth 24 hours to uncover its unique beauty!

This big boy is the first time to go to the Red Building In fact, even my parents who are 70+ are the first time to go up Liqiao Building is located in the west of the First People's Hospital of Chengzhong Road, Duanzhou District. This is the entrance of the old site of Zhaoqing Prefecture. It was built in 1118. The ancient Duanzhou was the fief of Song Huizong Zhao Ji. After Zhao Ji ascended the throne, he personally bestowed this place as 'Zhaoqing Prefecture'. The local officials built a high platform in front of the prefecture to build this building, which was used to offer this imperial edict, so this building is also called 'Imperial Book Building'. It was renamed Liqiao Building when it was rebuilt in the Ming Dynasty. After the building was completed, a copper pot dripping, a Qian Ning copper bell, and a large rattan drum were set up to report the time. In the winter of 1925, the building was the station of the Independent Regiment directly under Ye Ting. By the 1950s, the building was dilapidated and was rebuilt into a reinforced concrete imitation wood structure, but the high platform base under the building still uses the remains of the Ming Dynasty.