Old villages might not be the first thing you think of when figuring out where to take kids on the weekend and I’d agree that this type of a trip is not for everyone. This village in Shunde, Foshan is not some crumbling, over-grown, empty remnant of the past though. After all, how often do you get to take a boat along ancient canals?

Fengjian is a water village, which means canals run through it and the best part of a trip there is the boat ride. Viewing this place from the water makes the visit more special and memorable plus gives you a different perspective and helps you imagine what life was like back in the day where canals were the streets! It’s not a huge place so the ride doesn’t take long but, in my opinion, it’s definitely worth the money.

Equally, if you’re not a into water transport, merely strolling around the old streets, admiring temples and trying local snacks or exploring the more unique modern spaces (we loved one artist’s pottery studio/coffee shop just next to the main bridge)is a very pleasant experience and if your child is anything like mine, they’ll be satisfied with some snacks-the freshly-made warm fishcakes are famous there-and a small souvenir toy (plenty of those being sold now that the place became more popular). Shunde desserts, like ginger milk, double-skimmed milk or deep fried milk rolls (our personal favourite!).

Shunde is an area famous on a national level for its food, especially fish and dishes made using river creatures so don’t be surprised to see local menus filled with such type of dishes. There are of course other foods available, if your kids are not into the above.

To us, this village was a perfect destination for a daytrip. Despite the old area being small, it had enough bits and bobs to entertain my son (took us about 3 hours) and sitting along the canals with a cool drink and some fruit, watching the boats go by, was relaxing and super pleasant, a world away from the busting cities of Guangzhou and Foshan. Another bonus is that even on weekends, the only busy part is the main street starting at the big bridge towards the street food stalls, other areas aren’t crowded.

Even though we thoroughly enjoyed each visit there and were actually thinking of staying in one of the (what look like) lovely B&Bs one night as it is so peaceful and quiet except for a few hours on Saturdays and Sundays, I imagine that some may find the place a bit boring as it does not have massive attractions, no playgrounds. True. Fear not though, if you like the sound of the place but you suspect the kids will be driving you nuts, you can always do a 2-in-1. Make a deal with your kid that after exploring the village, you’ll take them to another one of Shunde’s well-known attractions-Shunfengang Park and I guarantee your kids will be very happy indeed.

And if, somehow, a huge park with vast lawns to play on doesn’t convince them, there’s always the OCT Shunde Happy Coast theme park and OCT Maya Water Park are right next to it! Win win!

Since it takes about 1-1.5 hr to drive to Fengjian Water Village from Guangzhou, it makes sense to turn it into a daytrip or a weekend away and check out other attractions this area has to offer. Plenty of pretty riverside parks, renovated trendy villages and fruit/veg picking await. We stayed at the Sheraton Shunde as well as the ATOUR Hotel in OCT Happy Coast and would recommend both.

If you’ve been to Fengjian Water Village, let me know what you thought!

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Info

Address: Fengjian Water Village, Xingtan Town, Shunde district, Foshan

Opening hours: year-round

Getting there: Self-driving is the best option as there are no metro stations nearby and buses/coaches are limited.

Price: FREE

Parking: There are public car parks available in the village, near the touristy part.

Food: Local snacks and village eateries, don’t expect English menus-be prepared to either use translation apps. Last time I was there, there were no fast-food chains but this could have changed.

Facilities: The streets are mostly flat but there are some small bridges to go over. Cars are not allowed in the old part of the village so there’s a fair bit of walking to do. It is definitely pram-friendly. There are public toilets but I am not sure about baby changing/feeding rooms.