Guangzhou is an incredible metropolis with over 2,200 years of historical past and a singular relationship to the world outdoors China. Sadly, it may be difficult to search out dependable info on what to do there and the way greatest to get round.
Guangzhou high sights and actions
Having visited ceaselessly, 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 how one can journey.
How you can get to Guangzhou
Excessive-speed trains run ceaselessly between Shenzhen North/Hong Kong West Kowloon and Guangzhou South. From right here you may take metro traces 7 or 2 to town centre. Alternatively, you may 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.
Word, nonetheless, if you’re a foreigner getting a practice from inside mainland China, you’ll have to confirm your passport earlier than boarding, even you probably have a legitimate visa. This may be carried out in any respect main stations however queues may 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 lodge tip
Guangzhou has a fantastic vary of accommodations out there at finances costs (between 100-400 RMB) and, being a tier 1 metropolis, most areas are secure. I’d advocate staying in Yuexiu District, which may be very central, effectively linked and nice for sightseeing. When visiting from Shenzhen, I tended to e-book any low cost lodge/hostel on this space, secure within the information that it might be okay.
One lodge we stayed at a number of occasions was Kaiserdom Lodge Hainan. We preferred it as a result of it was in a vigorous space, near all kinds of retailers, bars and eating places.
1. Liwanhu Park
This lovely park and lake with its gorgeous stone bridges and conventional buildings is a must-see. It’s the excellent place to immerse your self in the local people. Males play Go and Xiangqi at benches, associates lounge round within the solar. It provides a fantastic 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 various balconies and bridges of the 19-building complicated. Many such artworks having been destroyed within the Nineteen Sixties-70s through the Cultural revolution, this gives a uncommon alternative to expertise Qing Dynasty tradition.
To get to the corridor, take metro line 1 to Chen Jia Ci Station. When you’re 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 provides one other likelihood to see artefacts from previous regimes. It’s dwelling to the two,000 yr previous tomb of Zhao Mo, the ruler of elements 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 Timber
A ten minute stroll from the Nanyue King Museum, the Temple of the Six Banyan Timber is a should. With origins courting again to 537 AD and the enduring, 10 storey Flowery Pagoda, it’s as visually spectacular as it’s traditionally important. If you happen to 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 a few of the largest and most historic statues of Buddha in the entire of Guangdong.
You’ll be able to entry the temple by metro traces 1 and a pair 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 provides an enchanting perception into the social gathering line on occasions between 1840-1949. Protecting the Opium Wars, the 1911 Revolution and the Chinese language Civil Struggle (right here referred to as the ‘Struggle of Liberation’), the museum vilifies the Qing Dynasty, blaming them for the English incursion, earlier than in fact glorifying the communist rebellion. What’s extra, it options superb English translations, making it a fantastic place for non-Chinese language audio system to go to. Plus, it’s free!
The museum is situated contained in the Martyrs Cemetery, which itself is effectively price a go searching. You’ll 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 ok 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 raise to the remark deck prices 150 RMB and, when you’re there, thrillseekers have the choice of investing a bit extra to attempt a few of the world’s highest theme park rides: the Canton Tower Sky Drop and the Bubble Tram.
You’ll be able to 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 overseas commerce. Between then and the tip of the primary Opium Struggle (1839-42) Shamian Island was the one place in China overseas retailers had been allowed. It later turned of strategic significance through the second Opium Struggle, 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 had been was factories after which restored to church buildings, albeit ones with out a lot of a congregation? Away from the air pollution and site visitors of the bigger metropolis, Shamian Island is each idyllic and sterile, elegant and lifeless, a wierd, singular and interesting space to discover.
You may get there by metro traces 1 and 6, Huangsha Station.
8. Pattern the Native Delicacies
Right now, conventional Cantonese meals may be laborious to come back by, the trendy Hong Kong equal having all however taken over the time period. In consequence, it’s effectively price sampling some traditional Cantonese dishes while in Guangzhou. There are a selection of nice eating places the place you are able to do this, however I’d notably advocate Tou Tou Koi in Zhengjia Plaza. It’s a little bit method out, however you may 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 among 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 might advocate a go to to Tianhe Stadium, only a stone’s throw away from Zhengjia Plaza and Tou Tou Koi. The ambiance is unbelievable and there’s a actual really feel good vibe so usually missing in Western sports activities venues. The followers seem to be they’re, greater than something, blissful to be there, lastly witnessing huge stars on the Chinese language stage. On high of this, tickets and merchandise are extremely low cost. We each attended a sport and purchased dwelling t-shirts all for 150 RMB every.
10. Expertise the Nightlife
Guangzhou has a vigorous and infrequently absurd late night time scene. From golf equipment with trampolines constructed into the ground to bars themed round being ‘tremendous wealthy’, to noodles cooked by road distributors at 4.00 A.M., town’s after hours are to not be missed. There are a number of areas which can be good however I’d advocate the streets round Wende Street, between Zhongshan Street and the river. There’s a bunch of excellent bars and golf equipment right here (together with Hyper Membership with the aforementioned trampolines) and late night time eateries, too.
If you happen to’re seeking to keep out late, it’s in all probability greatest to e-book a lodge inside strolling distance, because the metro stops round midnight. If you happen to don’t thoughts getting a taxi dwelling nonetheless, then Gongyuanqian Station on line 2 is an efficient place to debark initially of your night time.
Concerning the creator
My title is Jonathan Moore and I used to stay in Shenzhen, China, the place I labored as an English instructor and explored the nation by practice throughout my break day. Earlier than this, I labored as a chef in Nottingham, UK and Paris, France. I at present stay in Sheffield, UK, the place I write a weblog about unusual and attention-grabbing locations around the globe and design interactive treasure hunts.
Images: Picture 3 (Chen Clan Ancestral Corridor): Simon Poon/shutterstock.com – Picture 4 (Temple of the Six Banyan Timber): ThewayIsee/shutterstock.com – Picture 5/featured picture (Guangzhou skyline and Canton Tower): Sean Pavone/shutterstock.com – Picture 7 (Guangzhou nightlife): ketkata leejungphemphoon/shutterstock.com
