Top 10 Things to do in Guangzhou
Guangzhou is an awesome city with around 2,200 years of historical past and a one of a kind relationship to the entire world outside China. However, it can be tricky to locate responsible data on what to do there and how greatest to get around.
Guangzhou best sights and actions
Owning visited frequently, through my time residing and operating in Shenzhen, I know it rather perfectly. Right here is my insider’s information on what to do in Guangzhou, exactly where to continue to be and how to vacation.
How to get to Guangzhou
Higher-pace trains run regularly amongst Shenzhen North/Hong Kong West Kowloon and Guangzhou South. From in this article you can take metro strains 7 or 2 to the metropolis centre. Alternatively, you can take a taxi for among 60-100 RMB (about £6-10). Trains from Shenzhen consider between 35-50 minutes and price about 100 RMB, and from Hong Kong choose between 45-65 minutes and price tag about 200 RMB. You can also get trains from even further afield.
Be aware, nevertheless, if you are a foreigner having a educate from in mainland China, you will have to verify your passport before boarding, even if you have a legitimate visa. This can be finished at all important stations but queues can be prolonged, in particular at peak times – we when waited upwards of 1.5 hours on a Friday afternoon following do the job – so get there early.
If you are coming from Hong Kong, you will have to go by border management in advance of boarding, so similar advice applies below, also.
For travellers from even more afield, fly to Guangzhou Baiyun Airport and then get the metro line 3 into the city centre. This can take about 30 minutes and fees 8 RMB.
Lodging in Guangzhou – our resort suggestion
Guangzhou has a wonderful vary of lodges offered at budget rates (between 100-400 RMB) and, currently being a tier 1 city, most spots are safe. I’d endorse keeping in Yuexiu District, which is quite central, very well linked and excellent for sightseeing. When visiting from Shenzhen, I tended to e-book any low-cost hotel/hostel in this area, safe in the know-how that it would be alright.
Just one resort we stayed at several situations was Kaiserdom Hotel Hainan. We liked it since it was in a lively region, shut to a broad variety of outlets, bars and dining places.
1. Liwanhu Park
This beautiful park and lake with its gorgeous stone bridges and traditional buildings is a ought to-see. It is the ideal location to immerse yourself in the nearby neighborhood. Adult men perform Go and Xiangqi at benches, mates lounge around in the sun. It presents a good slice of existence and lifestyle. One time I even stumbled on a park general performance of a classic Cantonese opera.
2. Chen Clan Ancestral Corridor
A brief wander from Liwanhu Park is the Chen Clan Ancestral Corridor, a Qing Dynasty Academy turned Folks Art Museum. It is the ideal area to knowledge period architecture together with a vary of various Chinese art-varieties. Pottery and brick and wood carvings adorn the quite a few balconies and bridges of the 19-building complicated. Several these types of artworks possessing been wrecked in the 1960s-70s in the course of the Cultural revolution, this supplies a rare option to working experience Qing Dynasty tradition.
To get to the corridor, consider metro line 1 to Chen Jia Ci Station. When you are carried out with your go to, Liwanhu Park is just a 10 minute stroll away.
3. Nanyue King Mausoleum Museum
On the other aspect of Yuexiu, the Nanyue King Mausoleum Museum features a different chance to see artefacts from previous regimes. It is household to the 2,000 calendar year old tomb of Zhao Mo, the ruler of sections of Southern China and Northern Vietnam concerning 137-122 BC.
The tomb was discovered by archeologists in 1983, complete with around 1,000 artifacts. Zhao Mo experienced been buried with a chariot, gold, musical instruments and, shockingly, 15 residing servants tasked with hunting soon after his corpse. The stays of all this can be observed at the museum, accessible by metro line 2, Yuexiu Park Station.
4. Temple of the 6 Banyan Trees
A ten minute stroll from the Nanyue King Museum, the Temple of the 6 Banyan Trees is a have to. With origins dating again to 537 Ad and the legendary, 10 storey Flowery Pagoda, it is as visually impressive as it is traditionally important. If you pay a visit to only 1 of the four Buddhist temples in Yuexiu, then make this it.
Alongside the Pagoda, it also offers a courtyard that’s perennially created aromatic with burning joss sticks, and a ceremonial corridor with some of the greatest and most ancient statues of Buddha in the whole of Guangdong.
You can accessibility the temple by metro lines 1 and 2, Gongyuanqian Station.
5. Guangzhou Museum of Present day Heritage
Irrespective of no matter whether or not you concur with the CCP’s just take on items, Guangzhou’s Museum of Modern-day Historical past presents a fascinating perception into the get together line on situations involving 1840-1949. Covering the Opium Wars, the 1911 Revolution and the Chinese Civil War (listed here referred to as the ‘War of Liberation’), the museum vilifies the Qing Dynasty, blaming them for the English incursion, right before of class glorifying the communist rebellion. What’s additional, it options extremely very good English translations, producing it a good spot for non-Chinese speakers to pay a visit to. Additionally, it’s free!
The museum is positioned inside of the Martyrs Cemetery, which by itself is properly well worth a search close to. You can discover it at Martyrs Park Station on metro line 1.
6. Canton Tower
The Eiffel Tower of Guangzhou! Viewing the colossal Canton Tower illuminated in all its technicolour glory would be very good more than enough by by itself, but the look at from the top, over the Pearl River and the shimmering skyscrapers of Tianhe (Guangzhou’s Central Small business District), is really particular.
The raise to the observation deck costs 150 RMB and, the moment you’re there, thrillseekers have the option of investing a bit additional to test some of the world’s highest topic park rides: the Canton Tower Sky Fall and the Bubble Tram.
You can attain it on metro line 3, Canton Tower Station.
7. Shamian Island
In 1757, the Qing emperor decreed that Guangzhou be created the only Chinese port open up to international trade. Between then and the conclusion of the very first Opium War (1839-42) Shamian Island was the a single location in China international retailers have been allowed. It afterwards grew to become of strategic value in the course of the 2nd Opium War, in advance of currently being handed around to the British and the French.
All this has made it a genuinely one of a kind location. Some may say the very last 150 yrs has still left it extra European than Chinese – a big total of its properties are of European styles – but this would be a crude oversimplification. Exactly where in Europe do you uncover churches that have been turned into factories and then restored to church buildings, albeit types devoid of significantly of a congregation? Absent from the pollution and visitors of the larger metropolis, Shamian Island is both of those idyllic and sterile, elegant and lifeless, a weird, singular and intriguing region to discover.
You can get there by metro strains 1 and 6, Huangsha Station.
8. Sample the Local Delicacies
Currently, conventional Cantonese food items can be tough to appear by, the present day Hong Kong equal possessing all but taken above the expression. As a end result, it is very well worthy of sampling some common Cantonese dishes even though in Guangzhou. There are a variety of excellent dining establishments in which you can do this, but I’d notably recommend Tou Tou Koi in Zhengjia Plaza. It is a little way out, but you can get to it on metro line 1, Tianhe Sports Center Station, and it is perfectly really worth the vacation. Rumour has it that it is just one of the oldest dim sum eating places in the total of China.
Further than restaurants, good foods selections can also be located in the markets (there is a particularly fantastic just one in Dong Shan).
9. Tianhe Stadium
Regardless of whether or not you are a fan of soccer, I would advise a pay a visit to to Tianhe Stadium, just a stone’s toss away from Zhengjia Plaza and Tou Tou Koi. The ambiance is incredible and there is a genuine truly feel fantastic vibe so normally lacking in Western sporting activities venues. The lovers seem to be like they are, a lot more than something, happy to be there, finally witnessing significant stars on the Chinese phase. On leading of this, tickets and items are extremely affordable. We the two attended a match and purchased house t-shirts all for 150 RMB every.
10. Encounter the Nightlife
Guangzhou has a lively and usually absurd late night scene. From clubs with trampolines built into the ground to bars themed all over currently being ‘super rich’, to noodles cooked by road suppliers at 4.00 A.M., the city’s soon after hours are not to be missed. There are quite a few places that are excellent but I’d recommend the streets all around Wende Highway, involving Zhongshan Road and the river. There’s a host of great bars and golf equipment right here (which includes Hyper Club with the aforementioned trampolines) and late night eateries, also.
If you’re on the lookout to remain out late, it’s probably finest to e-book a lodge in just strolling length, as the metro stops close to midnight. If you do not intellect getting a taxi residence nevertheless, then Gongyuanqian Station on line 2 is a great location to debark at the start out of your night time.
About the author
My identify is Jonathan Moore and I utilized to are living in Shenzhen, China, the place I labored as an English teacher and explored the place by prepare for the duration of my time off. In advance of this, I worked as a chef in Nottingham, British isles and Paris, France. I currently stay in Sheffield, Uk, the place I produce a website about strange and appealing destinations about the planet and layout interactive treasure hunts.
Photos: Image 3 (Chen Clan Ancestral Hall): Simon Poon/shutterstock.com – Photo 4 (Temple of the 6 Banyan Trees): ThewayIsee/shutterstock.com – Photograph 5/showcased graphic (Guangzhou skyline and Canton Tower): Sean Pavone/shutterstock.com – Image 7 (Guangzhou nightlife): ketkata leejungphemphoon/shutterstock.com
