Guangzhou is a tremendous metropolis with over 2,200 years of historical past and a singular relationship to the world exterior China. Sadly, it may be tough to search out dependable info on what to do there and the way finest to get round.
Guangzhou prime sights and actions
Having visited regularly, throughout my time dwelling and dealing in Shenzhen, I do know it fairly effectively. Right here is my insider’s information on what to do in Guangzhou, the place to remain and find out how to journey.
get to Guangzhou
Excessive-speed trains run regularly between Shenzhen North/Hong Kong West Kowloon and Guangzhou South. From right here you possibly can take metro strains 7 or 2 to town centre. Alternatively, you possibly can take a taxi for between 60-100 RMB (about £6-10). Trains from Shenzhen take between 35-50 minutes and price about 100 RMB, and from Hong Kong take between 45-65 minutes and price about 200 RMB. You can too get trains from additional afield.
Observe, nevertheless, if you’re a foreigner getting a prepare from inside mainland China, you’ll have to confirm your passport earlier than boarding, even if in case you have a legitimate visa. This may be carried out in any respect main stations however queues will be lengthy, particularly at peak occasions – we as soon as waited upwards of 1.5 hours on a Friday afternoon after work – so arrive early.
If you’re coming from Hong Kong, you’ll have to undergo border management earlier than boarding, so related recommendation applies right here, too.
For travellers from additional afield, fly to Guangzhou Baiyun Airport after which get the metro line 3 into town centre. This takes about half-hour and prices 8 RMB.
Lodging in Guangzhou – our resort tip
Guangzhou has an awesome vary of accommodations out there at price range costs (between 100-400 RMB) and, being a tier 1 metropolis, most areas are protected. I’d advocate staying in Yuexiu District, which could be very central, effectively linked and nice for sightseeing. When visiting from Shenzhen, I tended to e book any low-cost resort/hostel on this space, protected within the information that it will be okay.
One resort we stayed at a number of occasions was Kaiserdom Lodge Hainan. We preferred it as a result of it was in a energetic space, near all kinds of retailers, bars and eating places.
1. Liwanhu Park
This lovely park and lake with its beautiful stone bridges and conventional buildings is a must-see. It’s the excellent place to immerse your self in the area people. Males play Go and Xiangqi at benches, pals lounge round within the solar. It gives an awesome slice of life and tradition. One time I even stumbled upon a park efficiency of a conventional Cantonese opera.
2. Chen Clan Ancestral Corridor
A brief stroll from Liwanhu Park is the Chen Clan Ancestral Corridor, a Qing Dynasty Academy turned People Artwork Museum. It’s the proper place to expertise interval structure alongside a spread of various Chinese language art-forms. Pottery and brick and wooden carvings adorn the numerous balconies and bridges of the 19-building advanced. Many such artworks having been destroyed within the Sixties-70s throughout the Cultural revolution, this supplies a uncommon alternative to expertise Qing Dynasty tradition.
To get to the corridor, take metro line 1 to Chen Jia Ci Station. If you find yourself carried out along with your go to, Liwanhu Park is only a 10 minute stroll away.
3. Nanyue King Mausoleum Museum
On the opposite aspect of Yuexiu, the Nanyue King Mausoleum Museum gives one other probability to see artefacts from previous regimes. It’s dwelling to the two,000 12 months previous tomb of Zhao Mo, the ruler of components of Southern China and Northern Vietnam between 137-122 BC.
The tomb was found by archeologists in 1983, full with over 1,000 artifacts. Zhao Mo had been buried with a chariot, gold, musical devices and, shockingly, 15 dwelling servants tasked with taking care of his corpse. The stays of all this may be seen on the museum, accessible by metro line 2, Yuexiu Park Station.
4. Temple of the Six Banyan Bushes
A ten minute stroll from the Nanyue King Museum, the Temple of the Six Banyan Bushes is a should. With origins relationship again to 537 AD and the long-lasting, 10 storey Flowery Pagoda, it’s as visually spectacular as it’s traditionally important. For those who go to solely one of many 4 Buddhist temples in Yuexiu, then make this it.
Alongside the Pagoda, it additionally boasts a courtyard that’s perennially made aromatic with burning joss sticks, and a ceremonial corridor with among the largest and most historic statues of Buddha in the entire of Guangdong.
You possibly can entry the temple by metro strains 1 and a couple of, Gongyuanqian Station.
5. Guangzhou Museum of Trendy Historical past
No matter whether or not or not you agree with the CCP’s tackle issues, Guangzhou’s Museum of Trendy Historical past gives an interesting perception into the get together line on occasions between 1840-1949. Protecting the Opium Wars, the 1911 Revolution and the Chinese language Civil Battle (right here known as the ‘Battle of Liberation’), the museum vilifies the Qing Dynasty, blaming them for the English incursion, earlier than after all glorifying the communist rebellion. What’s extra, it options excellent English translations, making it an awesome place for non-Chinese language audio system to go to. Plus, it’s free!
The museum is positioned contained in the Martyrs Cemetery, which itself is effectively value a go searching. You could find it at Martyrs Park Station on metro line 1.
6. Canton Tower
The Eiffel Tower of Guangzhou! Seeing the colossal Canton Tower illuminated in all its technicolour glory can be adequate by itself, however the view from the highest, over the Pearl River and the shimmering skyscrapers of Tianhe (Guangzhou’s Central Enterprise District), is really particular.
The elevate to the commentary deck prices 150 RMB and, when you’re there, thrillseekers have the choice of investing a bit extra to strive among the world’s highest theme park rides: the Canton Tower Sky Drop and the Bubble Tram.
You possibly can attain it on metro line 3, Canton Tower Station.
7. Shamian Island
In 1757, the Qing emperor decreed that Guangzhou be made the one Chinese language port open to international commerce. Between then and the top of the primary Opium Battle (1839-42) Shamian Island was the one place in China international retailers have been allowed. It later turned of strategic significance throughout the second Opium Battle, earlier than being handed over to the British and the French.
All this has made it a really distinctive place. Some may say the final 150 years has left it extra European than Chinese language – a considerable amount of its buildings are of European kinds – however this is able to be a crude oversimplification. The place in Europe do you discover church buildings that have been was factories after which restored to church buildings, albeit ones with out a lot of a congregation? Away from the air pollution and visitors of the bigger metropolis, Shamian Island is each idyllic and sterile, elegant and lifeless, a wierd, singular and interesting space to discover.
You will get there by metro strains 1 and 6, Huangsha Station.
8. Pattern the Native Delicacies
At the moment, conventional Cantonese meals will be exhausting to come back by, the trendy Hong Kong equal having all however taken over the time period. Because of this, it’s effectively value sampling some traditional Cantonese dishes while in Guangzhou. There are a number of nice eating places the place you are able to do this, however I’d significantly advocate Tou Tou Koi in Zhengjia Plaza. It’s just a little approach out, however you possibly can attain it on metro line 1, Tianhe Sports activities Middle Station, and it’s effectively definitely worth the journey. Hearsay has it that it is without doubt one of the oldest dim sum eating places in the entire of China.
Past eating places, nice meals choices can be discovered within the markets (there’s a very good one in Dong Shan).
9. Tianhe Stadium
Whether or not or not you’re a fan of soccer, I’d advocate a go to to Tianhe Stadium, only a stone’s throw away from Zhengjia Plaza and Tou Tou Koi. The environment is unimaginable and there’s a actual really feel good vibe so usually missing in Western sports activities venues. The followers look like they’re, greater than something, glad to be there, lastly witnessing huge stars on the Chinese language stage. On prime of this, tickets and merchandise are extremely low-cost. We each attended a recreation and acquired dwelling t-shirts all for 150 RMB every.
10. Expertise the Nightlife
Guangzhou has a energetic and infrequently absurd late evening scene. From golf equipment with trampolines constructed into the ground to bars themed round being ‘tremendous wealthy’, to noodles cooked by avenue distributors at 4.00 A.M., town’s after hours are to not be missed. There are a number of areas which are good however I’d advocate the streets round Wende Street, between Zhongshan Street and the river. There’s a number of fine bars and golf equipment right here (together with Hyper Membership with the aforementioned trampolines) and late evening eateries, too.
For those who’re trying to keep out late, it’s in all probability finest to e book a resort inside strolling distance, because the metro stops round midnight. For those who don’t thoughts getting a taxi dwelling nevertheless, then Gongyuanqian Station on line 2 is an effective place to debark at the beginning of your evening.
Concerning the writer
My title is Jonathan Moore and I used to stay in Shenzhen, China, the place I labored as an English trainer and explored the nation by prepare throughout my time without work. Earlier than this, I labored as a chef in Nottingham, UK and Paris, France. I presently stay in Sheffield, UK, the place I write a weblog about unusual and attention-grabbing locations world wide and design interactive treasure hunts.
Images: Photograph 3 (Chen Clan Ancestral Corridor): Simon Poon/shutterstock.com – Photograph 4 (Temple of the Six Banyan Bushes): ThewayIsee/shutterstock.com – Photograph 5/featured picture (Guangzhou skyline and Canton Tower): Sean Pavone/shutterstock.com – Photograph 7 (Guangzhou nightlife): ketkata leejungphemphoon/shutterstock.com