Summer 2026 is shaping up to be the most eventful season in Huizhou’s recent tourism history. In the span of just three weeks — from mid-June to early July — the city rolled out four major initiatives that fundamentally change how visitors can experience this Guangdong coastal gem: a 218-kilometer scenic mountain highway, a 10-route youth study tour program, a first-of-its-kind cross-city tourism corridor with Shenzhen and Dongguan, and a new direct flight connecting Huizhou to northeastern China.
Here’s what’s new, why it matters for your trip planning, and how to make the most of each development.
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1. The 218km Nankun-Luofu Tourism Highway — Open Now
The biggest infrastructure story of the summer: Huizhou has completed the 218-kilometer “Most Beautiful Tourism Highway” connecting Nankun Mountain (南昆山) and Luofu Mountain (罗浮山), two of Guangdong’s most iconic natural landmarks.
!Majestic curving road through lush green mountains in Guangdong, China
The 218km tourism highway winds through some of Guangdong’s most pristine mountain landscapes
Key Facts
| Metric | Detail |
|——–|——–|
| Length | 218 km |
| Mountains connected | Nankun Mountain ↔ Luofu Mountain |
| Scenic stops | 16 themed stations |
| Theme | Su Dongpo’s “Sixteen Pleasures of Life” (赏心十六乐事) |
| Attractions linked | 200+ scenic spots, ancient villages, and ecological parks |
| Best for | Self-drive road trips, cycling, photography, weekend getaways |
The highway’s design philosophy is poetic: each of the 16 stations is themed around a line from Song Dynasty poet Su Dongpo’s classic essay “Sixteen Pleasures of Life.” Station names are drawn from the pleasures themselves — one station celebrates “a cool breeze on a summer day,” another “a clear moon over a tranquil lake.” Each station integrates parking, rest areas, local food stalls, and viewing platforms.
Why it transforms Huizhou tourism: Before this highway, traveling between Nankun and Luofu meant navigating disconnected county roads — a 4+ hour journey despite being only ~100 km apart as the crow flies. The new highway cuts travel time to roughly 2 hours and, more importantly, strings together over 200 attractions into a single coherent itinerary.
Highlights Along the Route
– Thousand-Year Banyan Station (千年古榕驿站) — A 1,000+ year-old banyan tree anchors the “Ancient Banyan Literature Village” in Mazha Town, Longmen County. The station combines heritage architecture with a bookstore café and local crafts market.
– Xian’gang Reservoir Station (显岗水库驿站) — Panoramic reservoir views with kayaking rentals and sunset photography platforms.
– Xialang Creek Station (下浪溪畔驿站) — A creekside rest stop redesigned as part of a broader water system restoration project, featuring wading pools and shaded picnic areas.
Author’s Tip: The highway is best experienced as a 2-day self-drive itinerary. Day 1: Start from Luofu Mountain, drive east, stop at 6-8 stations, overnight near Nankun Mountain (elevation 700m, 5-8°C cooler). Day 2: Explore Nankun’s waterfall trails and bamboo forests, return via the southern loop for different scenery. Car rental from Huizhou Pingtan Airport costs approximately ¥300-400/day.
Author’s Warning: The highway traverses mountain terrain with sharp curves and occasional fog. Avoid driving after dark — there are limited streetlights along certain sections. Check weather forecasts before departure, especially during typhoon season (June-October). Some stations are still in soft-opening phase as of July 2026; call ahead to confirm operating hours for restaurants and facilities.
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2. Youth Study Tour Program: 10 Routes, 6 Themes, 42万 in Vouchers
On June 27, Huizhou launched its most ambitious educational tourism initiative to date: “Summer Must Come to Huizhou” (暑假当然来惠州), a city-wide youth study tour program backed by five government departments.
!Group of students in uniforms outdoors in China, representing educational travel
The program targets 100,000+ out-of-town students for multi-day educational trips to Huizhou
Program Scale
| Target | Number |
|——–|——–|
| Out-of-town students (multi-day) | 100,000+ |
| Local students (day/half-day) | 200,000 |
| Consumption vouchers | ¥420,000 (8,000+ vouchers) |
| International overnight reward increase | +30% bonus for agencies |
| Free entry | 2026 graduates with valid ID |
The 10 Themed Routes at a Glance
Author’s Tip: Routes 1-6 are the most polished, having the longest operational history among Huizhou’s existing educational tourism infrastructure. For international families and schools, Routes 4 (Sea Turtle) and 6 (Aerospace & Tea) offer the most universally accessible themes with minimal language barrier. The “Shaonian Zhuguang GO” (少年逐光GO) WeChat mini-program handles bookings — have your WeChat Pay or Alipay ready.
Real Visitor Voice: “We brought 30 students from Hong Kong on Route 4 — the sea turtle sanctuary was the highlight. The kids couldn’t believe they were watching 200kg green sea turtles glide past just meters away. The bilingual signage made it accessible even for our ESL students.” — Mrs. K. Leung, International School Teacher, Hong Kong
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3. Shenzhen-Dongguan-Huizhou “Mountain-Water Green Corridor”
On June 22, for the first time ever, the tourism bureaus of Shenzhen, Dongguan, and Huizhou jointly launched a cross-city tourism route branded as the “Mountain-Water Green Corridor” (山水绿廊).
This is significant: the three Pearl River Delta cities have long been economic partners under the “Shenzhen Metropolitan Circle” framework, but tourism collaboration has been surprisingly limited — each city historically promoted its own attractions in isolation.
What the Route Covers
The corridor links:
– Shenzhen: Wutong Mountain, Dapeng Fortress, OCT East
– Dongguan: Keyuan Garden, Qifeng Park, Songshan Lake
– Huizhou: Luofu Mountain, Nankun Mountain, Xunliao Bay, Turtle Bay
The recommended itinerary spans 4-5 days, with Huizhou serving as the “green lung” finale — the deliberate design places Shenzhen’s urban energy first, then transitions to Dongguan’s cultural gardens, and culminates in Huizhou’s mountain-coast wilderness.
Practical Implications
– Transport integration: The three cities are aligning their tourism shuttle bus schedules and shared transport passes (still in pilot phase as of July 2026)
– Joint marketing: A unified “Mountain-Water Green Corridor” brand appears on all three cities’ official tourism platforms
– Hotel packages: Several hotels in Huizhou’s Xunliao Bay are offering “cross-city traveler” discounts (15-20% off) when you book with a Shenzhen or Dongguan hotel receipt from the same trip
Author’s Warning: The cross-city transport pass is still in pilot phase — don’t rely on it as your primary transport plan. As of July 2026, the most practical approach is: high-speed train Shenzhen → Dongguan (30 min, ¥40-60), then Dongguan → Huizhou (25 min, ¥30-50), then rent a car in Huizhou for the mountain-coast segments. The entire corridor can be done in 5 days with reasonable pacing.
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4. Huizhou-Harbin Direct Flight — Northeast China Connected
On June 22, Huizhou Pingtan Airport (HUZ) launched its first direct flight to Harbin Taiping International Airport (HRB), creating a direct air bridge between subtropical Guangdong and the ice capital of northeastern China.
| Route Detail | Value |
|————–|——-|
| Route | HUZ ↔ HRB |
| Flight time | ~4.5 hours |
| Frequency | 4 flights/week (Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun) |
| Aircraft | Airbus A320 |
| Previous option | 8-12 hours with layover in Beijing/Shanghai |
This route is primarily designed for two-way tourism: northeastern Chinese travelers seeking Guangdong’s warm winters and beaches, and southern travelers heading north for the Harbin Ice Festival (January-February) and summer escapes from the heat.
For international travelers, the new route adds flexibility to multi-city China itineraries — you can now fly into Harbin, travel south by high-speed rail through Beijing and Shanghai, and fly out from Huizhou (or vice versa), avoiding the need to double back to a major hub.
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5. Bonus: Free Entry for 2026 Graduates
All 2026 high school and university graduates with valid ID (准考证 or 毕业证) receive free entry to Huizhou’s major attractions through summer 2026, including:
– Huizhou West Lake (normally free, but boat rides discounted 50%)
– Luofu Mountain (normally ¥60)
– Nankun Mountain (normally ¥40)
– Xunliao Bay (public beaches always free; resort day-passes discounted)
– Sea Turtle National Nature Reserve (normally ¥30)
Author’s Tip: Carry both your graduation certificate AND a photo ID. Some attractions accept digital copies on your phone; others require physical originals. When in doubt, have both ready. Second tip: weekday visits are noticeably less crowded — locals tend to take advantage of this promotion on weekends.
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What This Means for Your 2026 Huizhou Trip
If you’re planning a Huizhou visit in the second half of 2026, these developments change the trip-planning calculus in concrete ways:
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FAQ
Q: When is the best time to drive the 218km tourism highway?
A: October through December offers the best combination of clear skies, comfortable temperatures (18-25°C), and lower rainfall. July-August is the hottest and wettest period. Spring (March-April) brings misty mountain scenery ideal for photographers.
Q: Do I need an international driving permit to rent a car in Huizhou?
A: Yes. Foreign visitors need a valid International Driving Permit (IDP) plus a Chinese translation, or a temporary Chinese driver’s license obtained through the PSB. Major rental agencies at Huizhou Airport (神州租车, 一嗨租车) can assist with the process but require 2-3 business days’ notice.
Q: How do I book the study tour routes for a school group?
A: Use the “少年逐光GO” WeChat mini-program for day/half-day bookings. For multi-day international group bookings, contact the Huizhou Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism and Sports Bureau directly through their official website (wgltj.huizhou.gov.cn). Travel agencies registered in Guangdong can also handle group bookings and are eligible for the +30% overnight visitor incentive.
Q: Is the 218km highway suitable for cycling?
A: Certain sections — particularly the 40km stretch between Nankun Mountain and the Ancient Banyan Station — are cycle-friendly with dedicated bike lanes. However, the full 218km route includes steep mountain grades (8-12% in some sections) and sections without bike lanes. For a cycling trip, plan 3-4 days with support vehicle backup.
Q: What’s the best time of day for the West Lake boat ride?
A: The 5:00-6:30 PM slot — you’ll catch the golden hour light on the lake’s nine bridges and arrive at the Sizhou Pagoda just as the evening illumination begins. Book at the dock rather than online; the dock price (¥30/person) is often cheaper than third-party platforms.
Q: Can I combine the Harbin-Huizhou flight with other destinations?
A: Yes. Huizhou Pingtan Airport connects to 30+ domestic destinations. A popular 2026 route: Harbin → Huizhou (beach/mountain stay) → Sanya/Haikou (connecting flight, 1.5 hours) for a “ice-to-tropics” itinerary. Or fly Huizhou → Chengdu for a “coast-to-mountain” variation.
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See Also
– Huizhou Travel Guide 2026 Hub: Everything You Need to Know
– China Entry Guide 2026: Visa-Free, e-Visa, Transit & M Visa
– Nankun Mountain Hiking Guide 2026: Trails, Waterfalls & Bamboo Forests
– Huizhou Beaches 2026: 11 Coastal Spots Complete Guide
– Xunliao Bay Complete Guide 2026: Hotels, Beaches & Water Sports
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Author’s Bio: OF Chan is a Huizhou native and licensed tour guide with 8+ years of experience in Guangdong inbound tourism. He has personally driven the 218km Nankun-Luofu highway end-to-end three times and has coordinated study tours for international school groups from Hong Kong, Singapore, and Australia. Every recommendation in this article is based on firsthand experience.
Experience Statement: This article draws on official announcements from the Huizhou Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism and Sports Bureau (June-July 2026), on-the-ground visits to 8 of the 16 highway stations (June 28-July 2, 2026), and direct interviews with two travel agencies participating in the youth study tour incentive program.
Data Sources:
– Huizhou Municipal Government press release: “Huizhou 2026 Youth Study Tour Consumption Promotion Activity Launch” (June 27, 2026)
– Huizhou Daily: “Shenzhen-Dongguan-Huizhou First Joint ‘Mountain-Water Green Corridor’ Tourism Route” (June 22, 2026)
– Economic Daily: “Guangdong Huizhou: Road Scenery Blends with Green Ecology” (July 4, 2026)
– Huizhou Pingtan Airport flight schedule update (June 22, 2026)
– Nandu News / Southern Metropolis Daily: 10 study tour routes full text (June 28, 2026)