Enjoy the century-old Kaiping Diaolou and stay at Liyuan Homestay

On this trip to Kaiping, we stayed at the super atmospheric Liyuan · Daoxiang Diaolou Homestay. I didn’t expect a homestay renovated from old buildings to be so stunning! Pure white arched corridors + an Instagram-style courtyard, every shot looks like an artistic masterpiece 📸 The location is fantastic, just a 5-minute walk to Liyuan Scenic Area, and the host taught us many unique local experiences👇

🏡 A century-old architectural aesthetic
The homestay was originally the historic Lichunwei village complex from the Republic of China era, preserving the rammed earth exterior walls of the diaolou and ancestral halls intact. Walking into the lobby, you can see weathered brick walls and old photos. My favorite is the century-old longan tree in the courtyard; sipping a cup of aged tangerine peel Pu’er tea under its shade makes time seem to slow down～For photos, I recommend these spots:
• Pure white spiral staircase (suggest wearing a red or black long dress)
• Floor-to-ceiling windows in the rice ear-themed restaurant (morning light is stunning)
• Rooftop terrace (perfect for capturing diaolou silhouettes at dusk)

📍 Prime location for easy travel
→ Liyuan Scenic Area: 5-minute walk, best to get up early for reflections of the diaolou without crowds
→ Zili Village Diaolou Cluster: 8-minute drive, remember to ask the host for the “Let the Bullets Fly” filming location guide
→ Chikan Ancient Town: 15-minute drive, visit the arcade street at dusk to see the lanterns light up—super romantic
Thoughtful homestay offers free bicycles, a morning ride through the countryside is very healing, passing by beautiful rice fields and lotus ponds along the way～

💫 Hidden perks of staying in a cultural relic
✔️ Check-in gift: hand-drawn map + diaolou postcards
✔️ Free rental of Hanfu/cheongsam for vintage photoshoots (highly recommend the oil-paper umbrella prop in the second-floor reading corner!)
✔️ Stargazing with a telescope on the rooftop at night + tangerine peel sweet soup
Our courtyard room even had a private soaking tub, perfect for star-gazing while bathing ✨ The bathroom amenities are local with sandalwood scent, and even the hairdryer is a Dyson!

🥢 Foodie tips
• Must-try: homestay’s homemade claypot rice with eel (advance reservation required)
• “Echeng” restaurant, a 10-minute walk away, serves amazing firewood-roasted goose
• Host’s recommendation: tofu corners in Chikan Ancient Town, 3 RMB each, bursting with flavor

📌 Practical info
• Free parking for self-driving, about 1.5 hours from Guangzhou
• Pet-friendly! Dogs get a small bone biscuit on arrival
• The rice fields are lush green and most beautiful in May-June, remember to bring a straw hat and mosquito repellent

Falling asleep to the sound of crickets in a century-old diaolou and waking up to birdsong… this kind of Kaiping experience is truly addictive!