Plan at a glance
A one-hour stop by the Jianjiang River
Baoguang Pagoda stands in Baoguang Park on the west bank of the Jianjiang River. Search for “Gaozhou Baoguang Pagoda”. Built in 1576 during the Ming dynasty, it is an octagonal, nine-storey brick pagoda in a pavilion style, 65.8 metres tall; the tower exterior, stone reliefs at its base and the riverside setting are the main reasons to stop.
The park is open all day and the exterior visit is free, with no reservation needed. Allow 30-60 minutes to see the pagoda and walk a short stretch of the riverbank; it also works well as the final stop in a half-day route through Gaozhou’s old town.
Treat tower entry as an on-site possibility
Access inside the pagoda, including whether climbing is permitted, changes with the day’s management arrangements. Plan the visit around the exterior, the riverside path and nearby streets, and treat an interior visit as an optional extra if it is available.
The granite reliefs around the pagoda base include motifs such as “Two Phoenixes Facing the Sun” and “Fish Leaping over the Dragon Gate”, as well as figures supporting the tower. For a full view, use the opposite bank or an open part of the riverside path; from directly below, the tower lines and carved details are more rewarding.
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Use the standard admission package for the core shuttle route; confirm the visit date and current opening hours before checkout.
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30-60 minutes: the pagoda and riverside path
If time is short, enter through Baoguang Park, walk around the pagoda to see the reliefs, then follow the Jianjiang riverside path for a short distance before returning to the car or continuing to the next stop. It is an easy, low-effort route that fits before or after a meal in central Gaozhou.
On a windy or very sunny day, shorten the riverside section and stay within the park. Do not move beyond barriers or towards wet river edges for a reflection photo; families with children and slower walkers should remain on the paved path.
Late afternoon: finish an old-town walking route here
For a half-day of heritage stops, visit Gaozhou Xian Tai Temple in the morning, then spend time in Panzhou Park, the Zhongshan Road arcade street and the old lanes before coming to Baoguang Pagoda. The pagoda and river are particularly suited to late-afternoon light, while the exposed riverbank is less comfortable in midday heat.
Aim to arrive after about 16:00, but do not hold the whole return journey until full darkness. After sunset, head first towards the actual parking area or pick-up point; for a first visit, the river view is a better use of time than looking for an unfamiliar side lane after dark.
Build your day
See the tower first, then choose a riverside viewpoint
Once in the park, make a full circuit of the tower to see the reliefs and supporting figures at the base, then move towards the river path. This completes the close-up part of the visit first and lets you decide how far to walk according to the light and your energy.
The opposite riverbank, open sections of the path and the space directly below the tower each suit a different view. Choose one and spend time there rather than circling repeatedly before sunset; the streets and homes beside the park are part of a lived-in neighbourhood, so keep paths clear and avoid disturbing residents.
Combine it with central Gaozhou heritage stops
Baoguang Pagoda fits naturally with Gaozhou Xian Tai Temple, Panzhou Park, the Zhongshan Road arcade street and the Jiujie Shierxiang old lanes. Put temples and museums with set opening hours earlier in the day, then leave Baoguang Pagoda and the Jianjiang River for late afternoon to avoid backtracking between town and river.
If you also plan to visit Gaozhou Museum, work around its closing time before deciding whether to reach the pagoda for sunset. The two are not far apart, but their parking and walking approaches are different, so decide where you will collect the car or call a ride before setting out.
Get there
Drive to the park, with a nearby street as a backup
Search for “Gaozhou Baoguang Pagoda” or Baoguang Park when driving. Free parking is available nearby but spaces are limited; if the park lot is full, use a legal municipal street space as directed on site and walk in rather than waiting at the gate or blocking access.
The walk from parking to the pagoda is usually short, so bring only what you need: a camera, water and sun protection. Note the parking location and direction before heading to the river, especially if you plan to return after sunset rather than look for the car along poorly lit side streets.
From high-speed rail, reach Gaozhou first
From Maoming Station, a taxi to central Gaozhou takes about 40 minutes. Alternatively, take a coach from Datang Coach Station to Gaozhou Chengdong Coach Station, then a short taxi ride of about 10 minutes to the pagoda area; once in Gaozhou, taxis and walking are generally more flexible than trying to piece together scattered local buses.
Visitors without a car who plan to stay until late afternoon should allow time to return to Maoming Station, the coach station or their accommodation. After the light changes by the river, you still need to reach a main road for a ride, so do not leave the final connection until the day’s last departure.
Know before you go
Choose the late afternoon, but prepare for wind and mosquitoes
Light is softer after about 16:00, which suits a riverside walk and photographs of the pagoda; in summer, sun protection, a hat and water are still useful. The river can become breezy towards evening, and the park and riverside greenery can have mosquitoes, so bring a light layer and repellent.
Paths, grass and stone surfaces near the river can be slippery after rain. Wear shoes with grip, and if water level, wind or barriers make the bank unsuitable, stay on the inner path rather than treating a reflection photo as essential.
Free access does not mean every space is open
Baoguang Park is freely accessible, but entry to the pagoda and any climb depend on the day’s notices. If only the exterior is open, the pagoda base, tower exterior and Jianjiang River view still make a complete visit, without needing to change the wider town itinerary.
There are more places to buy water or simple food outside the park than inside it, so sort out supplies before entering or after leaving. If you want to stay for night views, settle your transport and dinner plans first, then decide whether to remain a little longer by the river.