The seven peaks
Around Star Lake.
Jasonjiang.1998 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · ogwen — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Zhangzhugang — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Zhangzhugang — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Jasonjiang.1998 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Jeffery Law — CC BY-SA 4.0 · ogwen — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Zhangzhugang — CC BY-SA 4.0
Seven limestone peaks rising in and around Star Lake across from central Zhaoqing, said to be arranged like the seven stars of the Big Dipper; legend tells that they were stars that fell from the sky and turned to rock, and the Chinese call them «little Guilin» for their likeness to Guilin's famous hills. The area and its lake cover some eight square kilometres, with causeways and bridges dividing the lake into five parts; caves in the crags hold underground rivers big enough for boats, and visitors climb a steep stairway on one peak to a small pavilion overlooking the lake and neighbouring crags, or take boats out on the lake. Tickets cost CNY 70, the area is open from 8 am to 6 pm, and the Dragon Cave boat costs CNY 20 and the Fairy Lake boat 45, per visitor guides.
Around Star Lake.
On an underground river.
Views over the lake.
Star Lake, opposite central Zhaoqing, Guangdong
Yes, both are in Zhaoqing about 18 km apart and fit in a full day, with tickets of CNY 70 each, per visitor guides.
Local Cantonese cooking uses a lot of pork, so look for restaurants run by Hui Muslims under the halal sign, or ask about ingredients.