Out east in Zengcheng (增城), off Chenjialin Road (陈家林路), Shiyanquan Swimming Pool (石岩泉游泳场) is an open-air swim well clear of the city. The name means something like “stone spring”, and that is rather the promise — water, rock and green hills, a world away from a tiled municipal pool with a whistle echoing off the walls.

This is a place to cool off, not a clubhouse. Bring your swimmers, bring a towel, and expect the simple pleasures: a long swim, a sit in the sun to dry off, and sausages going on the grill while the pack argues about whose fault the trail was. It’s easy-going, unfussy, and very kind on the wallet.

Getting here is a Didi job — this is country-road territory, not a metro exit. Tap the Didi link on this page and the destination drops straight into the app; failing that, show your driver the Chinese name, 石岩泉游泳场. Better still, travel out with the pack. After a hot, dusty trail there is very little in Guangzhou that beats going straight into the water. On-on!