About Guangzhou
As a key element of Lingnan (southern) culture, Guangzhou has a rich history that stretches back over 2,200 years. Commonly known as the 'Flower City' and the 'City of Rams', it is recognized as one of China's most dynamic urban centers. For two consecutive years, Forbes magazine has named it the second city in China showing the most significant transformation.
Visitors can explore ancient and contemporary history at sites like the Nanyue King’s Museum, Guangxiao Temple, Baiyun Mountain, Zhenhai Tower, and Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall. Modern attractions include the Canton Tower, Asian Games Town, Pazhou International Convention and Exhibition Center, Guangdong Science Center, and Chimelong Tourism Resorts.
Guangzhou is renowned for its vibrant nightlife, stunning Pearl River views, and traditional performances like Cantonese opera. The city is a culinary hub, particularly famous for Cantonese cuisine. Additionally, it serves as a major transportation center with diverse air, land, and water connections.
Places to Visit
Canton Tower - Landmark Building in Guangzhou
Canton Tower, also known as Guangzhou Tower, is a stunning modern architectural marvel standing 600 meters tall, offering breathtaking views of the city. Its unique twisting shape has earned it the nickname "Slim Waist (小蛮腰)“.
Visitors can explore observation decks, including the Skywalk at 488 meters, and enjoy thrilling attractions like the Sky Drop and Spider Walk. Couples can experience romance on the world's highest Ferris wheel at the tower's rooftop. In the evening, a spectacular light show illuminates the Guangzhou skyline, making Canton Tower a must-visit destination.
You can find out more details about this attraction here.
Chen Clan Ancestral Hall - the Pearl of Lingnan Architectural Art
The Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, or Chen Clan Academy, is a key cultural site in Guangzhou, showcasing traditional Guangdong architecture from the late Qing Dynasty. Originally an ancestral temple and study place for the Chen family, it's famous for its intricate carvings and pottery roof statues depicting Chinese folklore.
Now home to the Guangdong Folk Art Museum, it features historical relics like traditional embroidery and ivory carvings, providing insight into Guangdong's rich culture. Visitors can also enjoy a tranquil garden with ponds and bonsai trees, offering a peaceful retreat from the city.
You can find out more details about this attraction here.
Experience Nature and History at Yuexiu Park
Yuexiu Park, the largest park in downtown Guangzhou, combines natural beauty with cultural heritage. Key attractions include the Five Rams Sculpture, symbolizing the city's founding and prosperity, and the Zhenhai Tower, which houses the Guangzhou Museum. Visitors can also see remnants of the Ancient City Wall, enjoy beautiful gardens, rent paddle boats on the large lake, and appreciate panoramic views from the hills.
You can find out more details about this attraction here.
Immerse in Ancient History at the Museum of the Mausoleum of the Nanyue King
The Museum of the Mausoleum of the Nanyue King in Guangzhou is an archaeological site featuring the 2,000-year-old tomb of Zhao Mo, the second king of the Nanyue Kingdom. Discovered in 1983, the tomb offers insights into ancient Chinese burial customs and includes notable artifacts like the Jade Burial Suit made of 2,291 jade pieces.
The museum showcases various artifacts, such as ceramics, bronze ware, and terracotta figures, with detailed explanations enhancing the understanding of the Nanyue Kingdom's cultural heritage.
You can find out more details about this attraction here.
Eat & Drink
Taotao Ju (陶陶居)
Established in 1880, Taotao Ju is one of the oldest restaurants in Guangzhou with the style of arcade (Qilou) architecture. Its special dishes include shrimp dumplings (Har Gow) and chicken feet (Phoenix Talons).
Address: 20 Dishifu Rd, Shangxiajiu Commercial District, Liwan District (has branches)
Lian Xiang Lou (莲香楼)
This upscale establishment, known for its delicious Char Siu Bao and other dim sum, has been serving locals and tourists alike for more than a century.
Address: 67 Dishifu Rd, Shangxiajiu Commercial District, Liwan District (has branches)
Dian Dou De (点都德)
Another classic dim sum destination in Guangzhou, Dian Dou De is famous for its Red Rice Sausage and Ju Pai Shuang Pin, a combo of chicken feet and spare ribs.
Address: 57 Zhongshan 1st Rd, Yuexiu District (has branches)
Lei Garden Restaurant (利苑酒家)
Lei Garden is a renowned, high-end Cantonese restaurant chain that originated in Hong Kong. Signature items often include roast meats, seafood dishes, superior soups, and dim sum items.
Address: 4th Floor, Yi'an Plaza, No. 33 Jianshe Liuma Road, Yuexiu District (has branches)
Nanxin Milk Dessert Shop (南信牛奶甜品店)
This shop has been serving traditional Cantonese desserts for over 80 years and is famous for its Double-Skin Milk.
Address: 47 Dishifu Rd, Shangxiajiu Commercial District, Liwan District
Sha Wan Dessert Restaurant (沙湾甜品食馆)
Sha Wan Dessert Restaurant is a popular dessert spot often frequented by locals with 20 years. Double Skin Milk" (Shuang Pi Nai) is a signature dish of this shop.
Address: Shop 101, No. 33 Yijin, Xihua Road, Yuexiu District
Halal Certified Restaurants
Guangzhou Shami House (莎米屋餐厅):
Guangzhou Shami house is a unique restaurant that provides guests with fine dining, founded to deliver superb dishes offering modern interpretations of classics an authentic Mediterranean & Syrian cuisine.
Address: No.304 Huanshi Middle Road, 2nd Floor, ZhaoQing Building, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China, 510000
Xin Yue Xinjiang Cuisine（Kaisa Plaza Branch）
新粤新疆菜（佳兆业广场店)：
Xin Xinjiang Cuisine have many Xinjiang landscape paintings hanging on the wall, and every night at 7:30 PM, there are exciting Xinjiang song and dance performances.The signature dishes are baked buns, big plate chicken, lamb skewers, and hand-pulled rice.
Address: Room 301, 3rd Floor, Kaisa Plaza, No. 191 Tiyu West Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou.
Antalya Turkish Restaurant (Hunter Shop) Antalya
安塔利亚土耳其餐厅 (猎德店)：
The store is decorated with the visual feel of the influencer shop, as well as low tables in the traditional Arab style. In addition, the restaurant also provides hookah service, if you do not like the taste of hookah, you can choose to eat on the first floor. Special dishes include hollow bread, Antalya mixed barbecue, Turkish black tea and so on.
Address: No. 16, Xipu Street, No. 2, Lide Avenue, Tianhe District, Guangzhou
Bazaar Cuisine • Xinjiang Cuisine • Western Regions Song and Dance Performance Restaurant
(Xinjiang Mansion Store)巴扎美食•新疆菜•西域歌舞表演餐厅（新疆大厦店)：
Bazaar Cuisine Restaurant is a certified restaurant of Xinjiang Resident Sui Office, and it is suitable for business banquets. At the same time, there are ethnic song and dance performances in the evening, which need to be occupied in advance.
Address: 2-3 Floor, Xinjiang Building, 76 Tianhe North Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou
Where to Shop
Guangzhou is a large manufactory for many products, which contributes a lot to the rapid development of wholesale markets. This attracts worldwide businessmen to go shopping in China Guangzhou. To tourists, Guangzhou is also a shopping paradise for buying most fashionable clothes and local specialties.
Clothing Wholesale Markets
Wholesale markets offer bulk clothing at lower prices, with greater discounts for larger purchases. Key locations around Guangzhou Railway Station include Tianma and Zhanxi Wholesale Markets, as well as the prominent Baima and Shahe Clothes Wholesale Markets.
Pedestrian Streets
Pedestrian streets offer an ideal setting for leisurely shopping. Among the most favored spots for both locals and tourists are Beijing Road and Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street. Lined with hundreds of small shops, these streets feature an array of clothing, shoes, and other distinctive items. However, it's important to note that prices tend to be higher here compared to wholesale markets..
High-end Shopping Malls
Among all the shopping districts in Guangzhou, Tianhe CBD is the largest centralized area of high-end shopping malls, such as K11, Tianhui Square, Tianhe City, Gaode Zhidi Square. These shopping malls provide tourists with upscale service and exquisite high-end clothes from top domestic and foreign brands.
Getting Around
Operating Hours
The Guangzhou Metro operates from 6:00am to 11:00pm daily.
Peak Hours: During peak hours, which are generally from 7:00am to 9:00am and 5:00pm to 7:00pm, trains run every 5-10 minutes, ensuring that you’ll never have to wait long for the next train.
Off-Peak Hours: During off-peak hours, trains run every 10-20 minutes, although frequency may vary depending on the line and the station.
Late Night Service: Some lines may have limited late night service, running until 11:00pm or later, so be sure to check the schedule before planning your trip.
Alternative Transport
In addition to the Guangzhou Metro, there are several alternative modes of transportation available in the city, including:
Buses
Guangzhou has a comprehensive bus network that covers the entire city and operates both day and night.
Taxis
Taxis are widely available in Guangzhou and offer a convenient option for travelling within the city.
Didi
This ride-hailing app similar to Uber is widely used in Guangzhou and offers a convenient and affordable alternative to taxis.
Please click here for more details on the mode of transport.
Hygiene
Tap water in Guangzhou is not potable. The hotel provides two bottles of drinking water daily. Bottled water is also easily available at convenience stores and supermarkets.
Currency
The Chinese yuan is the official currency in China. We recommend to change your currency in Singapore As a guide, CNY1.00 is approximately SGD0.18.
Popular Mobile Payment Apps: Alipay and WeChat
Mobile payment is the mainstream payment method in China. Please click here for the step-by-step guide to setup.
Alipay
Locally referred to as Zhifubao, is integrated with other widely used applications like Didi for ride-hailing and Taobao, China's leading online retail platform. Many Chinese residents rely on Alipay for their daily financial activities.
WeChat
Known by the locals as Weixin, is not only a digital wallet but also serves as a social media platform, communication tool, and entertainment center with mini programs ranging from branded services to travel health codes. It's a staple in the daily lives of the Chinese population, with many using it for both communication and payments.
WeChat Pay is made accessible to tourists in China, allowing them to make payments across a vast range of services and merchants. By linking their international Visa cards to their WeChat account, visitors can seamlessly transact in the country's predominantly cashless society.
Service Fees
Both WeChat Pay and Alipay charge a 3% transaction fee for single transactions above 200RMB (~S$37). Transaction fees for transactions less than 200RMB will be absorbed by both platforms.
Please click here for more travelling tips.
Weather
Guangzhou is in a humid subtropical climate zone, with plenty of sunshine and rainfall. May is summer with warm, sunny days and cooler nights with average temperatures of 27°C.
Electricity
In China, power plugs and sockets (outlets) of type A, type C and type I are used. The standard voltage is 220 V at a frequency of 50 Hz. Please bring along your international adaptor to charge your devices.
Time Difference
There is no time difference between Singapore and Guangzhou.