Xiaozhou Village, a Lingnan Water Town

Xiaozhou Village, a Lingnan Water Town

Driving along a country-style road, everything feels long, lonely, and bewildering... But all of that will soon vanish. The quaint water town charm of Xiaozhou Village will wash away your fatigue and leave you in a refreshed mood. Xiaozhou Village is situated at the southern edge of Guangzhou, in Xinzhou Town, Haizhu District, approximately 15 kilometers from Shiliugang and just next door to Guangzhou’s famous resort — Yingzhou Ecological Park. Established in the late Yuan and early Ming dynasties, Xiaozhou is the most well-preserved ancient village in Guangzhou’s urban area that showcases the distinctive features of a Lingnan water town.

Xiaozhou was historically known as "Yingzhou," as evidenced by the two characters inscribed on the archway at the village entrance. The archway is not particularly grand, but once you pass through it, you’ll be greeted by a crisscrossing network of waterways. Along one waterway near the market, there are an astonishing number of various types of “bridges” — slab bridges, pillar bridges, railing bridges, and more — making it a veritable museum of bridges.

It is said that Xiaozhou Village was formed by the impact of seawater, which is why the waterways crisscross the village and fluctuate with the tides. Compared to Zhouzhuang in the south of the Yangtze River or Fenghuang in western Hunan, Xiaozhou lacks the noise and restlessness that often come with overnight fame. Though it may not boast grandeur, it exudes a quiet steadiness, silently preserving its charm just outside the bustling and glittering city of Guangzhou. Whether with the aloofness of "remaining sober while all others are drunk" or the detachment of "laughing off the affairs of ancient and modern times," Xiaozhou Village calmly maintains its unique style and clearly displays the traces of time etched upon it.

Along the waterways, delight awaits at every turn: quaint arched bridges,

serene courtyards, and friendly villagers — even the cats and dogs on the street seem to wear warm smiles. The center of the village was originally a ancestral hall, but the first section of the hall has now been demolished, and a small park has been built nearby. In the last section of the ancestral hall, you can find a plaque inscribed with “Prosperity Over Ying Waters” and quotes from Chairman Mao, suggesting this place has also borne witness to much glory and vicissitude...

In front of the park lies a winding waterway, where an ancient banyan tree seems particularly fond of the clear river, stretching two-thirds of its branches into the water. It’s a perfect landscape painting — warm, harmonious, and moving...

Walking along the river for a short distance, passing small bridges, residential houses, and orchards, the scenery suddenly brightens. There, standing right by the riverbank, is the legendary “Guangzhou Boundary Stone.” It’s nothing mysterious — its ordinariness allows you to touch the legends left by the passage of time.