Park of China
Overview
| Designation | National Park of China (second batch) |
| Province | Guangdong |
| Location | Nanhai District, Foshan, Guangdong |
| Latitude, longitude | 22.9, 113.0 Google Maps |
| Highlights | Extinct volcano, waterfalls, statue of Guanyin |
| Area | 14 km² |
| Highest point | 346 m |
| Nearby cities | Foshan (Guangdong), Guangzhou, Hong Kong |
| Nearby sites | Mount Dinghu 48km, Star Lake, Zhaoqing 51km, Seven Star Crags 54km, Kaiping Diaolou and Villages 83km, The Historic Centre of Macao 100km Search nearby |
| Themes | Mountain, Volcano, Waterfall, Spring, Hill, Statue, Buddha |
About
Mount Xiqiao lies in south-west Nanhai, Guangdong, 45 km from Guangzhou, 14 km² and 346 m high. An extinct volcano with over 200 springs and 28 waterfalls, it is also a tea-growing area, the “tea mountain”.
Xiqiao (“West Qiao”) faces Mount Luofu (“East Qiao”), and the two have long been called the famous twin Qiao mountains of Guangdong.
It is in the second batch of national parks of China (national scenic areas) named by the State Council in 1988.
Travel tips
Getting there: Mount Xiqiao is in Nanhai District, Foshan, about 45 km from Guangzhou. From Guangzhou take the metro to Foshan, then a bus or shuttle to the mountain; by car it takes about an hour.
Entrances: the park has several entrances, and each leads to different sights, so check the park map before choosing one.
Guanyin of the South Sea: on the mountain stands a large statue of Guanyin, regarded as the emblem of Mount Xiqiao, reachable by park bus or on foot from the gate.
Hills and water: there are springs, waterfalls and lakes in the hills, such as the Thousand-Foot Falls, Tingyin Lake and Yunnu Lake, spaced along the mountain roads.
Archaeology and culture: Mount Xiqiao has Neolithic stone-tool sites, and nearby venues display related finds.
Time: half a day covers a few main sights, and a day is comfortable.
Season: autumn and winter are dry and suit hiking. Summer is hot, humid and thundery, and spring is wet.
Where to stay: Xiqiao town at the foot of the mountain and central Foshan have lodging; most visitors return the same day.
Photo credits: Mount Xiqiao: David Chen (CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons)
Nearby
| World Heritage | Kaiping Diaolou and Villages 83km, The Historic Centre of Macao 100km, Mount Danxia 244km |
| National parks | Mount Baiyun, Guangzhou 44km, Star Lake, Zhaoqing 51km, Mount Luofu 114km, Mount Wutong 131km |
| Detailed guides | Mount Dinghu 48km, Seven Star Crags 54km |
| AAAAA attractions | Changlu Leisure Park 32km, Chimelong Tourist Resort 37km, Xinghu Lake Tourist Area 54km, Sun Yat-sen's Hometown Tourist Area 78km |
| AAAA attractions | Gulao Water Town 12km, Nanfeng Ancient Kiln Tourism Area 13km, Nanhai Bay Forest Eco Park 15km, Zinan Cultural Tourism Area 17km |
| UNESCO Global Geoparks | Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark 157km |
| Historic cities | Foshan 19km, Guangzhou 38km, Zhaoqing 53km, Zhongshan 62km |
| Cities | Guangzhou 30km, Macao 104km, Shenzhen 124km, Hong Kong 144km |
| Historical sites | Xiqiaoshan Quarry Site 1km, Former Residence of Kang Youwei 13km, Nanfeng Ancient Kiln and Gaozao Pottery Kiln 13km, Guye Shell Midden Site 14km |
| National geoparks | Fengkai National Geopark 146km |
| Nature reserves | Encheng National Nature Reserve 107km |
| Historic towns | Xiqiao Town 2km, Shawan Town 38km, Huangpu Town 44km |
| Historic villages | Songtang Village 9km, Liangxi Village 25km, Bijiang Village 29km, Daqitou Village 39km |