Seven Star Crags

Zhaoqing's seven limestone crags rise straight out of a group of shallow lakes on the edge of the city, and their arrangement was read as matching the seven stars of the Big Dipper, which gave them their name. Causeways and bridges link the lakes so the park is walked or cycled between the peaks, with boats crossing the water, caves inside several of the crags, and cliff inscriptions carved by visitors over more than a thousand years, the oldest from the Tang. The scenery is the classic southern Chinese combination of vertical grey rock, water and willow, unusual for sitting inside an urban area rather than out in the country.

What you actually see

• The seven crags - limestone peaks rising from the lakes.
• The causeways - paths and bridges linking the islands and shores.
• The cliff inscriptions - carved poems and dedications back to the Tang.
• The caves - passages inside several of the peaks.

When to go

October to April for comfortable walking; Guangdong summers are hot and humid. Evenings are pleasant and the crags are lit. Weekends and holidays bring city crowds.

Honest expectations

The park is urban, with buildings visible around the lakes. Entry is charged and internal attractions charge again. The Big Dipper resemblance requires imagination.

Nearby

Dinghu Mountain lies northeast; Guangzhou is east.