If you've never been to Guangzhou before, the biggest surprise is how different the city feels from one district to the next. One moment you're standing under some of the tallest skyscrapers in China, and thirty minutes later you're wandering quiet alleys lined with traditional Cantonese architecture.
The first day introduces modern Guangzhou. Start at Flower City Square in the morning before it gets too hot, then spend the afternoon around Canton Tower when the skyline comes alive. If you stay into the evening, the riverfront lighting is spectacular.
Today is about old Canton. The Chen Clan Ancestral Hall and Yongqing Fang complement each other well, giving you both traditional architecture and a lively pedestrian district.
Finish with two of my favourite areas. Shamian Island is one of the calmest places in central Guangzhou, while Beijing Road is busy, noisy and a great place for dinner and people watching.
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Morning Destination
Flower City Square
Flower City Square sits in the heart of Guangzhou's Zhujiang New Town and is one of...
Flexible lunch stop
Afternoon Destination
Canton Tower
Canton Tower is one of Guangzhou's defining landmarks and, at 604 metres (1,982 ft), remains one...
Morning Destination
Chen Clan Ancestral Hall
The Chen Clan Ancestral Hall is a stunning example of traditional Cantonese architecture and craftsmanship. This...
Flexible lunch stop
Afternoon Destination
Liwan Lake / Yongqing Fang
Yongqing Fang and the adjoining Liwan Lake is a beautifully preserved cultural and historical area in...
Morning Destination
Shamian Island
Shamian Island offers a very different side of Guangzhou. Once a French and British concession established...
Flexible lunch stop
Afternoon Destination
Beijing Road Pedestrian Street
Want to experience a bit of the hustle and bustle of old Guangzhou? Join hundreds of...