On 22 October 2026, I moved into a rented room in Daliang (大良), Shunde. Shunde is part of Foshan, in Guangdong, in southern China.

RMB600 a month, and that terrace

The rent was RMB600 a month. The room was on the sixth floor, with no lift. Electricity cost RMB1.30 per kWh, and water was RMB6 per tonne.

The terrace was huge, and all that space was mine to use. Beyond its tiled walls were green trees and, on a clear day, a big stretch of blue sky. I was very happy with the place.

Looking through the corridor towards my private terrace.
Looking through the corridor towards my private terrace.
Inside my rented room in Shunde. (16 seconds).

Swapping shoes for flip-flops

It was still around 30°C here. I noticed plenty of people wearing flip-flops rather than closed shoes, so I followed suit. When in Rome…

They really were comfortable. My feet didn’t sweat; they stayed dry all day.

The flip-flops I wore while staying in Shunde.
The flip-flops I wore while staying in Shunde.

A visit to Shunfengshan Park

I also visited Shunfengshan Park (顺峰山公园). There were flowers among the greenery, fish near the surface of the water, and a squirrel on a tree trunk.

An arched bridge and its reflection lined up in front of the buildings beyond. A Ferris wheel rose above the trees in the distance.

An arched bridge and reflections, with the city beyond the park.
An arched bridge and reflections, with the city beyond the park.
A squirrel on a tree trunk in Shunfengshan Park.
A squirrel on a tree trunk in Shunfengshan Park.
Flowers, greenery and fish in the park
A pink flower among the greenery at Shunfengshan Park.
A pink flower among the greenery at Shunfengshan Park.
Clusters of orange-red and yellow flowers in the park.
Clusters of orange-red and yellow flowers in the park.
Dense fans of green leaves beside the park path.
Dense fans of green leaves beside the park path.
Fish near the surface at Shunfengshan Park. (4 seconds).

Congee, rice rolls and claypot rice

Shunde is one of the centres of Cantonese cooking, and has been a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy since 2014. My meals here included shenggunzhou (生滚粥), freshly cooked rice congee, and cheung fun (肠粉), steamed rice rolls.

At breakfast, there were round wooden tables and red plastic stools. The congee came topped with chopped spring onions; the rice rolls sat in a pool of dark sauce.

Cheung fun, steamed rice rolls, at breakfast. (17 seconds).
A closer look at the congee. (9 seconds).
The breakfast shop and the bowl of congee
Inside a busy breakfast restaurant in Shunde. (19 seconds).
Freshly cooked congee at breakfast. (6 seconds).

There was claypot rice (煲仔饭) too, with meat, ginger and spring onions over the rice. Underneath was a golden layer of rice crust, which I lifted up with the spoon.

Claypot rice with meat, ginger and spring onions.
Claypot rice with meat, ginger and spring onions.
The golden rice crust in my claypot rice.
The golden rice crust in my claypot rice.
Claypot rice at the table. (17 seconds).

Other meals included stir-fried rice vermicelli (炒米粉) and rice noodles with pork offal (猪杂粉). The vermicelli came with greens, egg and meat; the noodle soup had greens and meat among the toppings.

Stir-fried rice vermicelli with greens, egg and meat.
Stir-fried rice vermicelli with greens, egg and meat.
A bowl of rice noodles with pork offal and greens.
A bowl of rice noodles with pork offal and greens.
Stir-fried rice vermicelli at the table
Stir-fried rice vermicelli. (9 seconds).

One thing to bring: mosquito repellent

Bring mosquito repellent. The mosquitoes here were vicious: every bite left a bump.

About this note

This note draws on my own travels and photographs and videos.

Spotted a mistake? Let me know.