With the pleasant spring weather having taken root, now is an ideal time to get up close and personal with Mother Nature while ambling along the green belts of the Zhuhai National Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone (Tangjiawan).

The 7.74-kilometer (4.81-mile) Qi'ao Island Green Belt is located in the northwestern part of the island, with 5,103.77 hectares (12,612 acres) of wetland nearby. It has protected and renovated the largest contiguous area of mangrove forest in China, and one that features the most mangrove plant species in Guangdong Province.

The tranquil Qi'ao Island Green Belt is surrounded by mangrove forest. 

The forest is part of the Qi'ao-Dangan Island Provincial Nature Reserve, which has been honored with numerous titles including being added to the list of the "Top 10 Most Beautiful Wetlands in Guangdong Province" and the "Top 10 Best Bird Watching Sites in Guangdong Province" in recent years. It integrates ecological protection, sightseeing, and educational opportunities to promote scientific studies.

Alongside the plank road in Honghua Mt Park is lush vegetation, as well several pavilions bearing the distinctive style of Lingnan (Cantonese) architecture. The 140,000-square-meter (35-acre) park is located in Tangjiawan's Yinxing Community and is equipped with a bevy of cultural tourism facilities such as football fields, basketball courts, tennis courts, children's playgrounds, fitness squares, a study, pavilions, and viewing platforms.

Changnanjing Old Path. [Photos courtesy WeChat account: zh_gxq]

Changnanjing Old Path originally spanned 6 km (4 miles) and 4 km (2.5 miles) of it is still accessible. It formed part of the Xiangshan Old Post Roads and was a testament to Zhuhai and Macao's history of transportation and window to Xiangshan historic culture. The ancient path was renovated during the reign of Emperor Yongzheng (1722-35) in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Connecting Tangjianwan's Guantang Village with Qianshan's Dongkeng Village through Fenghuang (Phoenix) Mt, it now serves as a leisurely hiking trail for visitors to reach tourist attractions such as Putuo Temple and Laiyi Pavilion, as well as inscriptions on precipices along the route and Juxian Pavilion.