A Day in the Mountains｜Guangzhou Hot Spring Manor, the Pinnacle of Chinese Aesthetics

Before the Dragon Boat Festival arrived, I took a weekend trip with my mom to a resort, with the destination being the Congdu International Manor located in Conghua, Guangzhou. Recently, Guangzhou has been experiencing sudden and intense dragon boat rains every day. I thought such weather would greatly ruin the travel experience, but surprisingly, rainy days are always the comfort zone of Chinese aesthetics. The hotel entrance is an ancient-style flying eaves gate tower. The access control is strict; security guards inquire about the purpose of the visit and reservation details before allowing entry, greatly ensuring privacy. As the car entered the manor, lush greenery lined both sides of the road. Despite the continuous heavy rain today, the road was exceptionally clean and tidy, showing that maintenance is well done regularly. Because it is located in the mountains, a thin mist hung low on the hillside after the rain, creating a fairyland-like scene. The entire manor consists of 37 courtyard-style villas, 90 Tongquantai suites, and the Phoenix Residence. Each villa enjoys a private courtyard and secluded views. Our room was on the first floor of Building 1 near the lobby, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking gently flowing water. We sat on the open-air balcony, watching raindrops ripple across the calm surface. Not far away, a shallow waterfall gurgled softly. There are many outdoor activities to choose from here: hot springs, tennis, but the rain came in bursts, so unfortunately, we couldn’t go. However, the butler said that electric carts are available on call, so we could tour around by car. We then visited the famous Phoenix Residence—it sits at the highest point of the manor, offering an unobstructed view of the scenery below. The architecture is grand and magnificent, truly impressive. When the rain eased, we strolled around the manor. The paths undulate with the mountain terrain, each leading to different scenic spots. The entrances of the Chinese-style villas vary; some are covered with red flowers, others with pomegranates. I checked and found that the garden landscape here has a “way to enjoy” in every season: Spring (March-May) to admire pomegranate flowers and rhododendrons; Summer (June-August) to escape the heat and enjoy birdwatching in the wetlands; Autumn (September-November) to see the colorful forests and hike in the mountains; Winter (December-February) to enjoy hot spring therapy. Here is some other practical information you might be interested in: 🍃 The hotel is located in the core of the Conghua Hot Spring Ecotourism Resort Area, 70 kilometers from downtown Guangzhou, about a 1.5-hour drive. 🍃 With over 90% forest coverage, the air negative ion concentration reaches 100,000/cm³, and PM2.5 is consistently below 10, making it a genuine natural oxygen bar. 🍃 The manor includes 37 courtyard-style villas, 90 Tongquantai suites, and the Phoenix Residence. Even the smallest rooms are a spacious 120 square meters. 🍃 Equipped with comprehensive private butler service and shuttle transportation, electric carts are available on call, allowing you to explore the manor at will. 🍃 There are several high-standard restaurants: Yuxiangyuan Western Restaurant features a master chef, Chao Huang Hui Chinese Restaurant specializes in delicious Chaozhou cuisine, and Xinggong New Japanese Restaurant offers exquisite seasonal wagashi. 🍃 With the Dragon Boat Festival approaching, you can also try their newly launched vegan zongzi at the hotel. They are generously made with premium ingredients. My favorite is the black truffle flavor, which also makes a great gift!