An ancient extinct volcano shaped the textured cliff faces and strange hollows that make of Xiqiao Mountain a nature-made masterpiece. Endowed with ample rivers, waterfalls, peaks, hollows, trails and cultural relics, it's a great place to spend a day exploring one of the most beautiful spots in Guangdong. Long touted as one of Guangdong's four most famous mountains, it was recently designated a national level scenic area.

 

Though none of its 72 peaks manage to get very high (the average height is just 300 meters or 984 feet) there is ample terrain to cover. The range is divided into a collection of scenic spots with typically florid Chinese names like White Cloud Hollow and Yellow Immortal Holy Garden, but it also contains monasteries, temples, pavilions and even an Wushu hall (kung fu hall) dedicated to legendary kung fu master Huang Fei Hong's "Lion Skill."

 

Also of note is an immense holy statue of Kwan-yin which stands, or rather sits meditatively, 61.9 meters (about 203 feet) tall. Spring Festival is easily the best time to visit the area, it's when a sea of peach trees blossoms fill the air with their fragrance.