Visiting Guangzhou (Canton): what are the best things to see and do in this southern Chinese city?
What to do in Guangzhou, otherwise known as Canton? It’s a question that’s been occupying your internet searches ever since your flight to China was booked! Since you don’t know what to visit in Canton, we’ve put together a selection of things to do in Guangzhou, a sprawling city in the south of the People’s Republic of China. With almost 12.7 million inhabitants, Guangzhou is the country’s third most populous conurbation after Shanghai and Beijing. Stretching out on either side of the Zhujiang River, Guangzhou is an enormous urban core made up of numerous islands and islets the size of the French department of Isère (7,434 km²). Suffice it to say that with such enormous dimensions, there’s no shortage of things to do in Canton.
Along with Shenzen, Dongguan, Foshan, Jiangmen, Zhaoqing, Huizhou, Zhongshan and Zhuhai, Guangzhou forms the megalopolis of the Pearl River Delta, with a population of almost 70 million. Here are the must-sees in Guangzhou!
1. Shamian Island
Photo credit: Flickr – Mathias Apitz (München)
Shamian Island, formerly known as Chamine, lies to the west of the city center and was a Franco-British concession from 1860 until the middle of the 20th century. An important trading port on the Pearl River, the island was 3/5 British and 2/5 French. The result is an unparalleled mismatch of European colonial and Victorian architecture. The Notre-Dame-des-Lourdes chapel is well worth a visit.
2. Sun Yat-Sen Memorial
Photo credit: Flickr – Mathias Apitz (München)
Gigantic museum dedicated to Sun Zhongshan – Sun Yat-Sen (1866-1925) – revolutionary and « father of modern China », who helped overthrow the Qing dynasty and was the first president of the Republic of China (in 1912). Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall is located at the « Memorial Hall » metro station and is an emblematic monument in Guangzhou. The Sun Yat-Sen Memorial features a beautiful flower garden, a bronze statue of the man and paintings of the monument. Inside, there’s a large conference hall with a capacity of 5,000 people, as well as a gallery where you can view photos and letters sent by Sun Yat-Sen during his lifetime.
3. Temple of the Six Banyan Trees
Photo credit: Flickr – Rob Faulkner
Located in the Yuexiu district, the Six Banyan Tree Temple is one of Canton’s most emblematic monuments. It lies to the west of People’s Park, and is a Buddhist temple dating back to the 6th century (built in 537), destroyed and rebuilt in the 11th century. This imposing pagoda is still in use 1,500 years after its construction. Inside, you can visit the Tianwang Hall, where a Laughing Buddha sits, the nine-storey pagoda with its red and white walls and red roofs, and the main prayer hall – the Daxiong Baodian – featuring copper statues of Sakyamuni Buddha and Amitabha Buddha.
4. Zhujiang New Town
Photo credit: Flickr – wyliepoon
What to do in Guangzhou? Downtown at night, of course! Zhujiang New Town is the beating heart of the new city, living in the time of a resolutely modern China. Located to the east of the city’s historic Liwan district, this area belongs to the Tianhe district and symbolizes a China open to capitalist free trade: a major business center with numerous skyscrapers and the East Station from which trains leave for Shenzen. Not far from the Huaxai Road boulevard, you’ll find Huacheng Square, with its beautiful night-time illuminations.
5. Qingping Market
Photo credit: Flickr – Mathias Apitz (München)
Located in the narrow streets of Liwan, this market close to Shamian Island offers an immersion in traditional China. The stalls are filled with the scent of spices, medicinal plants, mushrooms – used in Chinese medicine – and dried insects. It’s the perfect place to pick up typical local products and sample Chinese cuisine. The market is reputed to be one of the best in China, and the strong smell of the spices reinforces the culture shock: a change of scenery guaranteed. The popular atmosphere is guaranteed! Beware of sensitive Western souls: this market is not the best example of animal protection…
6. Yuexiu Park
Photo credit: Flickr – Wayne Hsieh
What to do in Guangzhou when you’ve done the museums, historic buildings and pagodas? To the west of the city, a hill overlooks a large park 72 meters above sea level: Yuexiu Park. This is Canton’s main urban park. It is the main urban park in Guangzhou, and offers the chance to take a leisurely stroll along its seven peaks (Puits-de-Vietterre peak, Osmanthus peak, Coquille-en-Bois peak, Longue-Taille peak, Ascension peak, Dragon-des-Lacs peak, Carpe peak) and its three artificial lakes. The statue of the 5 goats, emblematic of the town, is located here.
7. Mount Baiyun
Photo credit: Flickr – llee_wu
Are there any hiking enthusiasts among those who visit Guangzhou? Mount Baiyun is made up of 30 peaks, the highest of which, permanently covered with snow, rises to 382 meters above sea level. A stroll through the majestic peaks and valleys is a must among the things to do and see in Guangzhou. If you’re a fan of greenery, the South China Botanical Garden is a must!
How to get to Guangzhou
Getting to Guangzhou is easy: Guangzhou is a major communications hub in southern China, and the Guangzhou-Baiyun International Airport, 28 kilometers from downtown, is one of the largest in the world. To compare flights, don’t hesitate to visit the Ulysse flight comparator, an essential reference. To get downtown, take metro line 3 to Jiahe Wanggang, then line 2 to Yuexiu Park or Haizhu Square. You can also take a cab to the airport, of which there are plenty in Guangzhou.
Where to stay in Guangzhou
When it comes to accommodation in Guangzhou, you need to be aware that the city is gigantic. So it’s important to know where to book your accommodation. Many districts offer different atmospheres, and you can find a cheap hotel in Guangzhou by searching on this hotel comparator. Target central districts near the Pearl River, such as Shamian Island, historic Liwan City and Haizhu Island District. Yuexiu and Baiyun are also good places to stay if you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city center.
Map of hotels and accommodation – Guangzhou,cn