Many people have been amazed by the exquisitely crafted Qing Dynasty (1636-1912) settings in the Chinese mega-hit drama, Story of Yanxi Palace. You don't have to travel back in time, however, to take a look into this splendid world of the past. Plenty of Qing Dynasty gardens are located in Guangdong province and enable you to fully immerse yourself in that bygone era.

01 Qinghui Garden 佛山清晖园

Located in Shunde District of Foshan city, Qinghui Garden is one of the top 10 classical gardens in China, drawing visitors worldwide. The Lingnan style garden covers an area of only 0.82 acres, with limpid waters, flourishing woods, small bridges, winding corridors and delicate pavilions. Visitors can discover and experience the charm of the Chinese language through poems and calligraphic works everywhere in the garden.

Location: No. 23, Qinghui Lu, Daliang Town, Shunde District, Foshan city 佛山市顺德区大良镇清晖路23号
How to get there: Take buses 301, 303, 309, 311, 319, 320, 363, 905, 906 or K371
Tickets: 15 yuan
Opening hours: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.

02 Yuyin Garden 广州余荫山房

Yuyin Garden, also called the Yuyin Mountain Villa, is known as an outstanding Lingnan style garden for its unique and small but elegant architecture. With pavilions, towers, halls, bridges, corridors, hills and pools, the garden is a popular location used for shooting costume dramas and advertisements. For example, the TV series "Mr. Winner," starred famous Hong Kong actor, Dicky Cheung, was shot there.

Location: Beida Jie, Nancun Town, Panyu District, Guangzhou city 广州市番禺区南村镇北大街
How to get there: Take bus 788 to Nansha Park Station, or take Guangzhou Metro line 7 to Banqiao Station
Tickets: 18 yuan
Opening hours: 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

03 Liang's Garden 佛山梁园

Liang's Garden is a general term for the Liang family's gardens in Foshan. The garden is especially famous for its wonderful combinations of green waters, fancy stones and calligraphy artworks. The garden houses a large collection of the masterpieces of ancient calligraphers, since the garden was built by four renowned local calligraphers from the Qing Dynasty: Liang Airu (uncle), Liang Jiuzhang, Liang Jiuhua, and Liang Jiutu (nephews).

Location: No.93 Xianfeng Gudao, Songfeng Lu, Chencheng District, Foshan City 佛山市禅城区松风路先锋古道93号
How to get there: Take bus 105、106、114、118、or 128 to Liangyuan Station
Tickets: 10 yuan
Opening hours: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

04 Keyuan Garden 东莞可园

Keyuan Garden was one of four famous gardens during the Qing dynasty in Guangdong (other three are Qinghui Garden, Yuyin Garden, and Liang's Garden) and is under state protection as a national cultural treasure with distinctive Lingnan characteristics. Tourists can admire traditional buildings, a series of winding paths, green waters, swimming fish and refreshing, sweet-scented osmanthus in the garden.

Location: No. 32 Keyuan Lu, Guancheng, Dongguan City 东莞市莞城可园路32号
How to get there: Take bus No. 3、4、7、15、16、20、28、30、31、45、46、or C4
Tickets: 8 yuan
Opening hours: 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. (closed every Tuesday)

05 Baomo Garden 广州番禺宝墨园

Covering an area of about 25 acres, Baomo Garden is more than just a garden of plants and South China traditional architecture. It is home to a large collection of exquisite art work, including brick sculptures, pottery sculptures, porcelain sculptures, stone carvings and wood carvings. The 62.8 meter-long porcelain wall, A Riverside Scene at Qingming Festival, and the brick wall, Blooming Flowers with Singing Birds, are the most popular attractions in the garden.

Location: Zini Village, Shawan Town, Panyu District, Guangzhou City 广州市番禺区沙湾镇紫坭村
How to get there: Guangzhou Metro line 3 to Shiqiao Station, then take bus No. 12 or 67 to Baomo Garden Station
Tickets: 40 yuan
Opening hours: 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m