### Dongguan Travel Guide: Four Must-See Attractions, Experience the Charm of Past and Present

1. **Keyuan Garden: A Poetic Abode in a Lingnan Garden** As one of the four famous gardens in Guangdong during the Qing Dynasty, Keyuan is known for its "enviable paradise on earth, a garden boasting a celestial palace." The garden features meticulously arranged blue bricks, black tiles, pavilions, and towers, offering picturesque views at every turn. It embodies the exquisiteness and compactness of Lingnan gardens. Ascend Ke Tower to overlook the scenery of Guancheng, or stroll along the winding corridors to admire the blend of Chinese and Western architectural details, such as oyster shell windows and stained glass. If you visit during the Lantern Festival, you can participate in cultural temple fairs and experience traditional lantern making and intangible cultural heritage exhibitions. **Recommended visiting time: 2 hours, preferably in the early morning or evening to avoid crowds.** 2. **Songshan Lake: A Tapestry of Technology and Nature** Songshan Lake is Dongguan's ecological calling card, boasting an 8-square-kilometer shimmering lake and the European charm of Huawei's European Town. Cycle along the 30-kilometer greenway around the lake to admire the year-round sea of flowers and the dreamy scenery of the Firefly Garden. If you visit during the Lantern Festival period, don't miss the immersive garden party, featuring intangible cultural heritage parades, lantern riddle gatherings, and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area intangible cultural heritage markets. You'll be captivated by folk performances such as Qilin dance and Cantonese opera. **Recommended activity: Rent a bicycle and cycle around the lake, enjoying the sunset over "Misty Rain on Songshan Lake" in the evening.** 3. **Humen Opium War Museum: A Vivid Classroom of Modern History** This is the core battlefield of the Opium War. The crescent-shaped stone fortifications of Weiyuan Fort still stand tall today, narrating the history of national resistance alongside the immersive exhibitions at the Naval Battle Museum. Through scene restoration, sand table models, and other methods, the museum recreates the heroic scenes of Lin Zexu destroying opium and the Humen sea defense. Ascend the old fort site and gaze at the Humen Bridge spanning the Pearl River, where history and modernity intersect. **Tip: Free admission, it is recommended to reserve 3 hours for an in-depth visit.** 4. **Guanyin Mountain National Forest Park: A Natural Oxygen Bar and Buddhist Holy Land** Climb to the summit of the 898-meter "Dongguan's First Peak" to overlook the magnificent Pearl River Delta. Ancient trees tower in the mountain, with a forest coverage rate of over 99%. The park houses the nation's first ancient tree museum, displaying a 4,500-year-old treasure. The world's largest granite statue of Guanyin on the mountaintop exudes solemnity and peace, attracting numerous worshippers. The "Five Generals' Waterside Trail" is a recommended hiking route, offering picturesque views of clear ponds and waterfalls along the way. **Best seasons: Spring and autumn, ideal for both escaping the summer heat and enjoying mountain climbing.** **Foodie Tip**: Don't forget to savor Dongguan's lychee wood-roasted goose, with its crispy skin and tender meat, paired with authentic Laifen noodles, for a truly local culinary experience. These four attractions, from the elegance of gardens to the vicissitudes of history, from picturesque lakes and mountains to serene Buddhist retreats, showcase Dongguan's unique character of "half city mountains and water, half city history," making it ideal for cultural explorers and nature lovers.