Things to do in Dongguan

No. 1 of Best Things to Do in Dongguan

Guanyin Mountain National Forest Park

The Guanyin Mountain Forest Park is located near Zhangmutou Town in Dongguan, not very far from Shenzhen and Huizhou. The park area is widespread with many beautiful sites. It is a good place to get away to pray, meditate, or just relax. The scenery is very good with lush trees, fresh air, and many small waterfalls. Scenic spots within the park include a 33-meter tall basalt Bodhisattva statue, a sight not to be missed. Standing in Guanyin Square, one not only can look out over the town of Zhangmutou but can also catch glimpses of Huizhou, Shenzhen and Dongguan in the distance.

Xixi Ancient Village

Xixi Ancient Village is located in Liaobu Town, Dongguan, and is named for its location west of the Hanxi River. There are over 200 existing buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties, with walls, watchtowers, ancestral halls, study rooms, residences, ancient wells, ponds, and banyan trees together forming a village layout designed for clan-based living. It was built along the gentle slope of a hill, with horizontal and vertical alleys crisscrossing in a neat, chessboard-like pattern. Most residences are "three-room, two-corridor" A-frame and Ming-style houses, which are typical of Cantonese architecture. The Yin Ancestral Hall, Kaiting Ancestral Hall, and Xialing Study Room are representative examples. Their walls, built of red sandstone and blue bricks, are decorated with stone-carved brackets and plaster sculptures in the shapes of lions and qilin, while patterns of bats and copper coins symbolize good fortune and wealth. It is very quiet during the day, making it perfect for leisurely strolling through the alleys to view the old architecture. After nightfall, lights illuminate the river, and the old houses are reflected on the water, making this the most popular time to visit.

No. 1 of Family-friendly Attractions in Dongguan

Nanshe Ming and Qing Ancient Village

Nanshe Ming and Qing Ancient Village are distinctive destinations in the Pearl River Delta, offering an opportunity to experience the architectural style and traditional culture of the Ming and Qing eras. The centuries-old villages of Nanshe were forced out during the expansion of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, but experts and scholars have joined forces to protect and maintain culturally significant carvings and valuable relics, as well as edifices from the era which have managed to remain intact to this day. Their heroic efforts are responsible for the continued existence of the Xie's Ancestral Hall, which was constructed from clay with red stone running along the base of its walls. Additionally, a masonry building built with brick and a customary three-bay courtyard with triple entrances are sights worth seeing.

No. 2 of Global Traveller-Picked Attractions in Dongguan

Yinxian Resort

Enjoy day and night at Yinxiang Happy Gathering. A great attraction close by, one is enough! DongguanYinxian Resort is located in Changping Town, Dongguan, Guangdong Province, covering an area of over 500 mu. It integrates tourism, hotel, and catering services. The attraction boasts convenient transportation, beautiful scenery, and rich cultural heritage. It has successively been recognized as a National 4A-level Tourist Attraction, Guangdong Province's first learning-oriented hotel, a highly anticipated destination in Guangdong, one of Guangdong Province's first technical worker recuperation bases, a Guangdong Province research and study base for primary and secondary school students, a designated venue for Dongguan municipal government meetings, and a nominee for the Dongguan Municipal Government Quality Award, among many other honors. Yinxian Resort got its name from commemorating Li Juesi, the Minister of Justice in the late Ming Dynasty, who lived in seclusion here. It boasts diverse and valuable historical and cultural resources. The attraction features "eight major themes and six theaters.·Featuring "all-day access with one ticket," it has become one of the most distinctive travel destinations in the Greater Bay Area. The attraction features a 3D glass bridge, a petting zoo,Dinosaur ValleyWater parks, flower fields, Shengdebao Snow ParkHappy Valley Amusement ParkThe "Butterfly Lovers" fireworks show features eight major themes, including the Happy Grand Stage, Ocean Theater,Water ParkThe six major theaters, consisting of the Main Stage, Snow Square Stage, Lake Stage, and Caribbean Stage, perfectly combine thrilling excitement with leisure entertainment, creating a unique "day and night" touring experience. Nation's first immersive experience theater "Fox Demon of the Gods" recreates the chaotic capital, where visitors can witness the tragic tale of King Zhou and the fox demon while exploring the ancient ruins of Zhaoge.

Nanshe Ancient Village

Nanshe Ancient Village is located in Chashan Town, Dongguan. It is an ancient Cantonese village that has been inhabited by the Xie clan since its founding in the Southern Song Dynasty. Several ponds run through the center of the village from west to east, dividing it into north and south halves. Over 30 ancestral halls and rows of ancient blue-brick residences are spread out along the ponds, with granite-paved alleys winding between the eaves. The appearance of an ancient water town in the Pearl River Delta is well-preserved here. The old buildings feature a blue top and red bottom style, with blue-brick walls paired with red sandstone foundations. The brick and wood carvings in the ancestral halls are still exquisite upon close inspection. The Xie Ancestral Hall on the north bank of the pond is the main attraction, and old residences like the Baisui Archway and Zizheng Mansion by the pond are also worth a stop. This family produced several imperial scholars in the late Qing Dynasty, and this family history is still preserved in the family temples and former residences. Villagers still live here today, so it is not an empty, staged set. In the alleys, you can occasionally come across local intangible cultural heritage crafts like Chashan clay figurine painting. It is worth setting aside half a day for a leisurely stroll.

No. 5 of Global Traveller-Picked Attractions in Dongguan

Dongguan Xiangshi Zoo

The Xiangshi Zoo is a great place to get up close and personal with animals. It uses a combination of large, free-range spaces and allows different species to live together to create a beautiful, suitable environment for its animal inhabitants. Here zoo-goers can see exotic animals from all over the world, such as Asian elephants, giraffes, tigers, lions and black bears. Some of the animals even put on performances, including elephants and sea lions.

No. 7 of Fall Viewing Attractions in Guangdong

Songshan Lake

Songshan Lake covers a large area Dongguan's Technology Park and is known for its beautiful natural scenery. The main attractions of Songshan Lake include Songhu Yanyu, Taoyuan Park and Songhu Huahai. It's the perfect place for taking a relaxing stroll, enjoying flowers, or a riding a bike. Because the park is very large, there are dedicated bike lanes for taking a leisurely ride to see the park.

Cycling in Dongguan

Opium War Museum

The Opium War Museum, also known as the Humen Lin Zexu Memorial Hall, is an important exhibition hall of cultural relics and historical materials of the Opium War and a demonstration base for patriotism education in my country. It is based on the historical background of "Humen sells", and the headquarters of the museum was built in Humen Town, Dongguan. In June 1839, it was here that the national hero Lin Zexu publicly destroyed millions of kilograms of opium seized from British and American ships, thus creating the "Humen sales" incident that shocked China and foreign countries. The highlight of the museum is an exhibition called "Story of Humen", which uses wax figures to reproduce the life and street scenes of the past. Using real objects, photos, models, films, etc., to describe the Opium War clearly and not boring. The most shocking picture is probably the statue that folds the opium in two, which is full of power. In the Opium War Museum, visitors can not only pay tribute to Lin Zexu's generosity under the oppression of foreign powers, but also fully understand the history and historical significance of the Opium War from the detailed historical materials. After the venue is open to the public for free, it has become a Dongguan city. One of the most popular Red Revolution museums. In addition to this museum, the scope of the Opium War Museum also includes Weiyuan Fort, Naval War Museum and Shajiao Fort.

No. 3 of Fall Viewing Attractions in Dongguan

Keyuan Museum

Keyuan Museum is based on the garden architecture of Ke Garden, collects, exhibits, and researches classical garden architecture and cultural relics of the Lingnan School of Painting, and is a specialized museum that promotes Lingnan architectural culture and the art of the Lingnan School of Painting. It is a public cultural facility that features both the cultural characteristics of Dongguan and a modern atmosphere.