Guangzhou South Central China

Guangzhou or Canton, the capital of Guangdong Province, is the third biggest city in China after Beijing and Shanghai with a population of more than 12 million. Founded in 214 BC, the city has been a springboard for trading, cultural exchanges, many revolutions and reforms, making it an unavoidable stopover to understand what shapes the modern China.

Founded in 214 BC, this capital of the richest province is always a mix of new and old. It not only boasts some of the oldest temples in China, a millenarian-old park, an imperial tomb of a southern kingdom and complete preservation of colonial villas and church on Shamian, but it also serves as a showcase of futuristic architectures and autopilot metro on Zhujiang New Town.

Despite its vibrant sight-seeing resources, travelers usually come to Guangzhou to shop and eat. Guangzhou accommodates countless huge markets specializing in almost any made-in-China products, including Chinese tea, herbs, garments, watches, electronics and toys. You will be appalled to see the real prices of those China-made products and the profit your local shops earn by selling them.

Food is the centerpiece of life and Guangzhou has the country´s largest number of restaurants per capita, which is the birthplace of what you call "Chinese food" (Cantonese food) in the west. Here you can grab the authentic taste of sweet & sour pork, wonton soup and dim-sum. Few travelers can leave the city hungry.

As busy as it sounds, you can easily escape the crowd. Just head to surrounding villages, in which some of them date back to the Song Dynasty. Bird watching in Nansha Wetland, a 200-hectare stopover for migrant birds from as far as Seriba, can easily make you a peaceful day

When to visit:
In terms of climate, the best time to visit Guangzhou is between October and November. Alternatively, April and May are also good months. Guangzhou has a sub-tropical climate with humidity levels at their highest in the summer. Temperature can reach almost 40 degrees Celsius. Typhoon season is from June to September. Please note that the Canton Fair takes place annually during the Weeks from Mid-April to Early May and Mid-October to Early November, so finding accommodation at those times can be difficult and expensive.

Top Things to Do in Guangzhou

• Visit Temple of Six Banyan Trees: One of the four Buddhism temple complexes in Guangzhou. The ancient temple features a towering colorful pagoda, luxuriant trees and historic and cultural relics.
• Relish Local Cuisine: Guangzhou cuisine is one of the Eight Major Regional Cuisines in China. You would also love to have a dim sum breakfast at a local restaurant.
• More Top Things to Do in Guangzhou

They handed out the rice stalks to the mass here and wished that there would never have famine. Afterwards, Guangzhou was renowned as Goat City or Sui Cheng and hence Wu Yang (five sheep) became the symbol of Guangzhou.

As recorded in historical documents, there established city walls since the year of 214 B.C., and it has a history of 2210 years as a city and has many cultural sites, which vividly reflect the development of Guangzhou in different times.

The city has flourished economically since China opened its door to the outside world in 1978. Guangzhou´s location near Hong Kong makes it an important stop for foreign visitors and the Canton Fair held twice yearly, has made the city as one of the most popular destinations for business travelers.

Sights in around Guangzhou include Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, Chen Family Ancestral Temple, and the Temple of Six Banyan Trees.

Guangzhou Cuisine
Cantonese Cuisine is one of China´s Eight Most Famous Cusine, and Guangzhou is the city gathers the most tasty Cantonese Cuisine in China. read more

Shopping in Guangzhou

When traveling to this modern and prosperous city, why don´t you go shopping around, the city provides a great number of shopping items for you, such as clothing, cosmetics, furniture, electrical appliance and digital products. And you don't have to worry about not being able to find a supper market, because there are shopping places around every street corner. read more

Nightlife in Guangzhou

Guangzhou provides /Provence?s, no matter old and young, with wonderful and interesting nightlife activities, such as taking a night cruise on the Pearl River and enjoying a show of Cantonese opera. Bars and clubs are available all over the city, you will find a favorite one.

Guangzhou Travel Tips

China Highlights provides you information on how to plan a trip to Guangzhou, what you should be aware of in Guangzhou, and some famous festivals and celebrations like Canton Fair.

Guangzhou Mid-Autumn Festival 2013

The Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival 2013 will take place on September 13. People in Guangzhou usually celebrate the festival by eating mooncakes, hanging lanterns and watching the moon. Read more on how the festival is celebrated in Guangzhou, and the best places in Guangzhou to watch the festival moon with our Guangzhou Mid-Autumn Festival 2013.

Useful Tourist Information

Canton Fair

Canton fair is held twice a year on spring and autumn. It is held in Pazhou Exhibition Hall in Haizhu District and Liuhua Road Exhibition Hall.

Places to Stay During the Canton Fair

During Canton Fair, the prices of Guangzhou hotels are growing up 1-2 times than ordinal. We suggested you to avoid the Canton Fair or book the hotels before 2 month to get good price.

Useful Tourist Information

Post Offices

Liuhua Post Office

• Address: No.151, Huanshi Road (west)

East Tiyu Post Office

• Address: No.7, Tiyu Road (east)

Shi Fu Road Post Office

• Address: No.76, Shifu Road

Banks

Guangdong Branch of Bank of China

• Address: Guangdong International Financial Building, No.197, Dongfeng Road (west), Guangzhou.

Yanjiang Sub-branch

• Address: No.91, Changdi Road

Haizhu Sub-branch

• Address: No.162, Xingang Road (west)

Book Stores

Xinhua Book Store

• Address: No.12, Sima Road, Da Shatou
• Tel: 020-83812468
• Remin Road Branch: No.8-9, Renmin Road (south)
• Tel?020-81887750

Tinahe Book Purchasing Centre

• Address: No.123, Tianhe Road
• Tel: 020-38864808

Gymnasiums

Guangzhou Tianhe Sports Center

• Address: Tianhe Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou
• Tel: 020-38796060

Guangzhou Gymnasium 

• Address: No.783, Baiyun Avenue, Baiyun District 
• Tel: 020-36639051

Liwan Gymnasium 

• Address: No.54, Liwan Road, Liwan District 
• Tel: 020-81386708

Tennis Court

Shamian Tennis Court

Shamian Tennis Court is located in Shamian, a small island with nice environment. The court is near the White Swan Hotel and foreign consulate area, having 6 open-air tennis courts, 2 indoor tennis courts, ping pong rooms and shower rooms. Professional tennis coaches there can provide guidance on improving skills of playing tennis. In addition, a Thai restaurant and a pub are also available in the court.

• Address: South Shamian Street, Liwan District
• Tel: 020-81889026

Swimming Pools

Natatorium in Guangzhou Gymnasium

Located in the second floor underground, the natatorium has very nice water quality. It is an indoor natatorium; customers never worry about getting sunburn. Comparing with other swimming pools, this one should never be crown.

• Address: Guangzhou Gymnasium, No.783, Baiyun Avenue, Baiyun District
• Tel: 020-36639051 (36639159)

Shamian Swimming Place

• Address: No.57, North Shamian Street, Liwan District
• Tel: 020-81882869

Jogging in Yuexiu Park

Yuexiu Park is the largest park in Guangzhou, consisting of three artificial lakes, verdant trees, wide lawn, play fields and stadium. It is a nice place to jog, have a walk and take a rest.

• Address: North Jiefang Road, Yuexiu District
• Tel: 020-86661950

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