'''Kaiping''' (?__ K?iping) is a city of about 700,000 in the Pearl River Delta region of Guangdong province, China.
It is famous for its castle-like dwellings built by overseas Chinese in a mixure of west and eastern style.
Get in
From Guangzhou it is easiest to take a bus form Fengcun bus station (_F___D?__) at Kengkou Metro station. The ride takes about 2 hours and should cost 45__.
Get around
Kaiping has two long distance bus stations, Yicizhan (?_K__) and Lechongzongzhan (___t?__). Former one is more modern and is most likely the starting point for your journey into the surrounding villages of Kaiping town. Kaiping itself has bus lines numbered from 1 to 8. Number 1 connects the to major bus stations and passes the city center.
See
Very close to the town of Kaiping (?__) there are a number of small villages and small houses that have been built by oversea Chinese during the beginning of the 20th century. Most buildings resemble the style of western or middle eastern culture mixed with traditional Chinese elements. Often there were designed to defend against bandits. The buildings have not been taken care of since, but the government started to restore and preserve them recently. The style of these buildings is often cheaply copied by many "modern" buildings throughout Guangdong.
'''[http://www.kpliyuan.com Liyuan]''' (__?)is the best preserved and renovated of all the villages and hosts a museum about overseas Chinese culture. It is about an hour away from Kaiping Town.
'''Zilicun''' (______) hosts the ruins of a former village with a giant watch tower. It is about 3km from Liyuan. See some photos [http://www.cxtsl.com/bbsxp/ShowPost.asp?id=28577&bid=15 here] (The site has strange JScript so try opening with MS Internet Explorer)
'''Chikan''' (____) is an inhabited village with many mansions build in the mixed western and eastern style of that period.
Do
Buy
Eat
The '''Ganbasha Coffee House''' (___b__???) serves western and Chinese food at a reasonable price. It is located at Xiangyuan Xincun nu. 255 (_____V__255__). Tel: 2202626
Drink
Sleep
The '''Xiangyuan Binguan''' (____??) Is next to the Shopping and Tourist center and Xiangyuan Xincun no.261 (_____V__261__). Rooms are 100__ for a double after "normal" bargaining. Tel.: 2201928
If you are looking for something easier to find, you can stay in the high riser of the '''Xingdu Hotel''' (___s_____X) at Changshaguangming Street no. 10 (?_______H10__). Tel.: 2287838
Get out