GUANGDONG is a vast province with abundant hidden gems. Here, you will not only encounter thousands of years of history, but can also treat your taste buds with a huge variety of Cantonese delicacies and feast your eyes on rich natural and cultural sites. A list of the “Most Beautiful Counties in China” was released at the 16th China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair on Nov. 16 and seven counties and districts in Guangdong were selected, including one in Shenzhen. The core selection standards include rich tourism resources, an ecological environment and culture. Suixi County, Zhanjiang As the cradle of western Guangdong culture, Suixi County is endowed with abundant produce, beautiful scenery and a large number of cultural and historical sites. It’s reputed as “l(fā)and of fish and rice,” the “hometown of the dancing lion,” and “the sweetest county in China” (as it abounds in sugarcane). Around 7,000 years ago, ancient humans created one of the earliest material civilizations on the Leizhou Peninsula, leaving behind the Liyudun Neolithic Site we see today. It’s also called the “No.1 Village on the Leizhou Peninsula.” Suixi County has always been a bustling economic trade area in the northern part of the Leizhou Peninsula. It’s one of the main commercial ports for China’s south gateway to the world. The thousand-year-old Confucian Temple, the vast span of silver sand, the Beipo fish lantern dance at night, the hometown of the dancing lion, the longevity village, historic Suer Village, the thousand-year ancient Tiaofeng Path, Kongsheng Mountain where you can appreciate Confucian culture ... all these make Suixi a beautiful county and an ideal destination. Haifeng County, Shanwei The name of Haifeng County means “rich produce in South China Sea.” A famous historic and cultural city in Guangdong, Haifeng ranks among the top 10 in terms of comprehensive economic strength in eastern Guangdong. Home to 124.95 kilometers of coastline, it has a large number of bays and ports. It’s one of the 13 revolutionary bases in China. The Red Palace and Red Square at the center of Haifeng’s downtown is the birth place of the Hai-Lu-Feng Soviet Worker-Peasant-Soldier Government, the very first soviet regime in China. It’s said that there are two Red Squares in the world, one in Moscow and the other in Haifeng. Lianhua Mountain Forest Park, located in Lianhua Town in northern Haifeng County, is endowed with lofty mountains and high ranges, strange-shaped rocks, green water and luxuriant forest. Dongyuan County, Heyuan Dongyuan County is the second-largest county in Guangdong Province. It’s a Hakka area, a pearl along the Dongjiang River. The county is home to renowned tourist sites including the Wanlyu Lake, Guishan Mountain, the Jinghuayuan Scenic Resort, the Dongjiang Gallery Tourism Area and the Huanglongyan Limestone Cave. Originally named Fengjiang Reservoir, the Wanlyu Lake is the largest man-made lake in South China, which got its new name thanks to its yearlong greenery. The reservoir is known for its clear water, which is used to produce the renowned Nongfu Spring brand of mineral water. The Wanlyu Lake and the Qiandao Lake in Zhejiang are “sister lakes.” There is a saying: “If you haven’t visited the Wanlyu Lake, you haven’t visited Heyuan.” The water changes colors as the angle of the sunshine beam and ray of light change during the day. The 76-kilometer-long Dongjiang Gallery Tourism Area boasts a beautiful landscape, Hakka culture and Red Culture. Huanglongyan Limestone Cave is a tourist area integrating the culture of the She ethnic group with natural limestone caves. Lechang City, Shaoguan Located at the southern foothill of Nanling Mountains, the Lechang City neighbors Hunan Province. Located in the area bordering northern Guangdong, it’s nicknamed the “North Gate of Guangdong.” In Lechang, you will encounter splendid natural scenery and resources including Danxia landforms, karst landforms, karst caves and limestone caves, subterranean rivers and hot springs. Jinji Ling, literally Golden Rooster Ridge, is one example of the Danxia landforms. The mountain got its name because there is a rock on it in the shape of a rooster. The Golden Rooster Stone is the symbol of Golden Rooster Ridge and Pingshi Town itself. The peak is at an altitude of 338 meters and has a relative height of 168 meters. The rooster measures 20.8 meters long and 8.4 meters in width. Jiufeng Town is located in the mountainous region of northern Guangdong. It is an excellent production area for natural green fruits. Every year in February and March, peach and plum trees blossom on Jiufeng Mountain, making it a nice place for outdoor activities and photography. (Chen Xiaochun) | 