Huizhou Travel Guide — Half City Mountains, Half City Lake

West Lake & the Hallstatt-style town. Morning: Huizhou West Lake (free, 07:00–22:30 summer) — the five lakes, six bridges and the Sizhou Pagoda where Su Dongpo once looked out; hire a pedal boat or stroll the Su Causeway. Afternoon: bus out to the Hallstatt-style town above Boluo (take the Huizhou–Luofu or Huizhou–Shilong bus to Boluo, walk 800 m towards Tangquan) — the church spire, flower-basket iron bridge and painted waterfront. Shoot in the soft light after 16:00, and bring water (the town has few shops). Evening: dinner of meicai kou rou and salt-baked chicken back in Huicheng.

Xunliao Bay beach day. Take the direct bus from Henan'an Station (every 30 min, 07:00–19:00, ¥30, ~2 h) out to Xunliao Bay (Jinwan Bay ¥8, Deze Garden ¥10, 08:00–18:00). White sand underfoot, clear blue water — choose a banana boat, kayak or jet-ski, or take the yacht out to Coral Island for a guided dive. Lunch on fresh seafood by the beach, walk the reefs of Mozi Stone Park through the afternoon, then the last bus back around 19:00. Prefer to linger? Spend the night at the Bijia Sea-View Resort and watch the sunset over the bay.

Luofu Mountain. Early bus from Huizhou (every 15 min, ~2 h, ≤¥20) to Luofu Mountain (¥60 peak, ¥48 off, 08:00–18:00). Ride the cable car over the ridgeline, visit the herb gardens and Daoist temples where Ge Hong once gathered medicine, then walk the last stretch to Feiyun Ding (1,296 m) for the cloud-sea view over the Pearl River Delta. Stay at the Lianhu Mountain Villa inside the scenic area, or return to Boluo for the night.

Xiangxi Fort & Nankunshan hot springs. Morning: drive south to Longmen's Xiangxi Fort (5 sq km of manor-fort folk architecture) and float the Xiangxi River by bamboo raft past bamboo groves, the Wuzhai fort, the Liao clan hall and the iron-chain bridge (~2 h). Afternoon: on to the Nankunshan Hot-Spring Grand View Garden — five themed bathing zones, massage pools and a man-made waterfall. Dinner and an overnight at the hot-spring resort.

Nankunshan forest. Morning inside Nankunshan (09:00–17:00): the Chuanlong Waterfall , the natural massage pools of Guanyin Pool and the rock-pools of Shihe, among 60,000 mu of reserve forest. Lunch on Guanyin greens , rock frog and longevity tea , then the direct bus back to Huizhou (3 a day, ~3 h). Bring a warm layer — the mountain nights are cool.

Xunliao Bay. Direct bus from Henan'an Station (every 30 min, ¥30, ~2 h) to Xunliao Bay (¥8–10, 08:00–18:00). White sand, clear water, banana boats and jet-skis; the yacht out to Coral Island for a guided dive. Evening: seafood by the beach and a night at a beach resort (Bijia Sea-View from ¥160).

Shuangyue Bay & the turtle reserve. Move east along the coast to Shuangyue Bay — climb Daxing Hill to the viewpoint for the famous double-crescent panorama (one bay calm, one rolling). Down at the shore, walk the fishing harbour and beaches. Continue to the Sea Turtle Nature Reserve (¥15) at Gangkou — China's only national turtle nesting beach; in summer watch the conservation work. Sunset over the crescent.

Pinghai Ancient City & home. Morning in Pinghai Ancient City — a Ming walled town of 1385 with four gate towers, the cross-shaped old street and Hakka brick houses. Then the coastal road back to Huizhou, or onward to Daya Bay for an island hop if time allows. Budget the afternoon for the bus or train home.