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Relatively close to both Hong Kong and Beijing, Guangzhou is a modern and urban city in China which attracts many tourists. Previously known as “Canton”, the current language and type of food eaten in Guangzhou is known as Cantonese. Aside from the city’s huge skyscrapers, shopping malls, and industry, there are a great deal of interesting attractions to visit and cultural events that take place. Following the example of Beijing in 2008, Guangzhou has planned to host the 16th annual 2010 Asian Games, with hopes of attracting new visitors to the city. In addition, the entire city is being revamped and renovated with hotels, new attractions, an improved subway system, and tourism sites. Now is the time to visit and explore this glorious and ever-changing city!

Guangzhou Pictures

Things to do in Guangzhou

A booming cosmopolitan city, Guangzhou holds many opportunities to get out on the town and explore the city’s culture. Guangzhou Cultural Park is a great place to enjoy Chinese operas, shows, and art exhibits, especially during the evenings. When in Guangzhou, be sure to take a boat trip along the Pearl River, particularly at night, where you can see the sparkling colorful city illuminated. There are many worthwhile landmarks and temples in the city to see, such as the Guangxiao Temple, Liurong Temple, Shishi Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Huaisheng Mosque, and the Old Lady of Lourdes Chapel. Several interesting museums are also scattered about Guangzhou, a few of which are the Guangzhou City Art Museum, Nanyue Royal Tomb Museum, and the Guangzhou Sculpture Park. A local tradition takes place in both the Spring and Fall every year, with the semi-annual Canton Fair, focused around imports and exports. The parks and outdoor attractions are also very popular places to visit and relax, including the Yuexiu Park, Yuntai Garden, and Huadu Square.

Nightlife in Guangzhou

When the sun goes down in Guangzhou, the city comes alive! The drinking culture of this city is very immense, so there are numerous bars, pubs, and nightclubs that will satisfy every preference. Head to C:Union to hear live, but different music, dance, and mix and mingle with some locals. NoXXi is a high-energy dance club with a VIP feel, and the party doesn’t start until other bars close. The Cave and the Gypsy King Bar and located near one another, have a variety of music types, and feature individual and group dance performances. The Fangcun area is a great place to go when starting out your night, because surrounding streets are filled with bars and great places to go out. One of these is Bai-E-Tan Bar Street, as well as all of Changdi Street.

Dining in Guangzhou

Similar to the nightlife of Guangzhou, the dining experience of this city has much variety and can please almost anyone’s taste buds. First of all, the typical Chinese beers are Tsing Tao and Zhu Jiang, along with Carlsberg, which are sold everywhere. The local cuisine is traditionally Cantonese style, known for its perfect colors, fragrance, taste, and presentation. It is essential to dine at the Guangzhou Restaurant to experience the true culture and sample a few specialties from roast goose to double-boiled soups. Check out popular Chuan Guo Yan Yi, where you can find reasonably priced delicious cuisine from the Si Chuan province. Dim Sum is a very famous part of Cantonese cuisine, and excellent dishes of this tradition can be found at Liuhua Congee House or the Panxi Restaurant, to name a few. Aside from traditional foods, Guangzhou offers many other types, from southeast Asian, to Indian, or Western. Like many cosmopolitan cities, Guangzhou has the typical foreign fast-food chains, such as KFC, McDonald’s, and Haagen-Dazs.

Shopping in Guangzhou

A huge part of shopping in Guangzhou is experiencing the crowded and bustling numerous street markets of the city. The Qingping Market is notorious for selling live animals normally seen as pets, for food. This market is five blocks long and now sells a variety of different herbs, and other delicacies such as dried starfish or ground lizard. A few other markets worth a visit include Xiguan Antique Street, Flower Street, and Jade Street. Other markets also sell ivory, toys, bridal gowns, household goods, and antiques. Aside from these street markets, Guangzhou also has very many shopping centers to boast of, particularly around Zhongshan Five-Road and Beijing Road. The Grandview Mall in Zhengjia Plaza is a newly built shopping center with fountains and many well-known chain stores. If you are looking to browse more upscale shops, the Holiday Inn- Garden Hotel area is your best bet. From the outside, Onelink Plaza looks like a normal shopping mall, but it is really a giant wholesale market that sells just about everything for the cheapest prices.

Guangzhou Travel Tips

• Learning to count in Chinese can be a huge help when visiting Guangzhou, especially when purchasing souvenirs.
• Do not visit any outdoor food markets if you are easily stomach upset, because often animals are publicly butchered and displayed for sale.
• When in Guangzhou, flash the peace sign whenever you can! Many Chinese and Japanese people love to promote and recognize this symbol of love and neutrality.