It seems fitting that my first experience of travelling to China was to Guangzhou. It was one of the very first cities in China to open to the outside world. The city is vibrant and diverse and still hosts the oldest and largest trade fair in China. For a well-rounded urban experience mixed with history, ancient museums, Dim Sum, tea, and even a chance to explore an island filled with artists’ studios, Guangzhou is a great introduction to China. This guide will help you plan a Guangzhou stopover with so many fun things to do in Guangzhou.
There are so many fun things to do in Guangzhou even if you only have a quick Guangzhou stopover. Image © Pat Bailey
Everything you Need to Know to Plan the Perfect Guangzhou Stopover
Contents
How to Get to Guangzhou
Guangzhou, China is an expansive port city in southern China, sitting on the Pearl River, northwest of Hong Kong. Getting to Guangzhou China just got easier than ever with new direct flights from Los Angeles and San Francisco International Airports to Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport on China Southern Airlines.
Guangzhou is a port city that is northwest of Hong Kong and situated on the Pearl River, and the main airport is 17 miles from the city centre. Read my China Southern Business Class Review.
Related: China Southern Business Class Review
Pat and her group with the iconic post-modern architecture Guangzhou is known for. Image © Pat Bailey
An artist at work at the Chen Clan Academy, Guangzhou. Image © Pat Bailey
Guangzhou Transit Visa Tips
For visitors in-transit using Guangzhou as a stopping point holding a ticket to a third country, you can enjoy a visa-free visit for 24 hours or a transit visa for 72 hours to use during your Guangzhou stopover.
If you are expecting to obtain a 72-hour visa it is important to be prepared when you arrive.
Have your visa paperwork which you can obtain online handy. Also, bring a printed itinerary of your stay with any hotel bookings or the address of where you plan to stay.
You will also need proof of your third country’s departure. Prepare for extra time at Guangzhou airport because the visa process takes a bit of time.
A traditional Chinese tea house in Guangzhou, China. Image © Pat Bailey
Fun Things to Do in Guangzhou
There are many pockets of the city to explore and when you search for what to see in Guangzhou during your short stay, you might be surprised that you may have to leave a little on your Guangzhou itinerary for next time.
It is the 10th most populated city in the world. According to my guide it was once was considered the “New York City of China” because it was one of the first cities open to outside visitors.
When time is limited it is helpful to have a local guide to show you around the city. This made it possible for me to explore several must-see places and also venture just beyond the city in a short amount of time.
If you don’t have a guide, this list of fun things to do in Guangzhou will help you plan a great Guangzhou itinerary for your stopover.
Shamian Island
Shamian Island is a unique and beautiful spot to see in Guangzhou. This island, located in the Liwan District of the city, which was divided into two parts given to France and the United Kingdom by the Qing government in the 19th century, is a reminder of times past. Beautifully preserved, it felt like walking in colonial Europe which was a surprise.
The long, main boulevard flanked with ancient flowering trees and tiled pathways, mixed with park green space, was flooded with brides and their dapper grooms posing for photos with their photographers the day I visited. The pedestrian-only walkway is an urban oasis and the dabs of fluffy white floating around made it an even more surreal experience. I felt like I was in a painting.
There is a Starbuck’s on this island if you are craving a creature comfort from home. But, do not miss the Catholic church located just off the main boulevard. It is not only the reason for so many bridal portraits taking place nearby, but it is a solidly unique finding in China.
Related: Planning the Perfect Hong Kong Stopover
The Chen Clan Academy which houses the Guangdong Museum of Folk Art. Image © Pat Bailey
Chen Clan Academy
A true treasure-house of folk art and Chinese history is the Chen Clan Academy which houses the Guangdong Museum of Folk Art. The complex is the biggest, and best preserved and decorated in Guangdong with typical Lingnan architecture. There are 19 buildings in the complex: nine halls and six courtyards.
The most beautiful feature of the Chen Clan Academy is the 11 carved ridges set on each of the nine halls, each carving representing a theme from famous traditional Chinese dramas. I loved watching the live presentations of folk art that take place daily, one Chinese artist painting in the traditional guohua style; using only parts of his hand and fingernails and no paintbrush. It was incredible to watch him create this ancient art.
I also watched another craftsman create traditional chops carving them by hand. It is possible to have a customized chop or ink stamp created for you on the spot which is a great way to remember your visit. I wandered into the gift shop between artists and other displays and found beautiful, traditional and high-quality jade jewellery and other trinkets.
Five Rams Statue
Take time to find the Five Rams Statue. It is perched at the top of a tiled stack of stone steps in Yuexiu Park on Mount Yuexiu. The legend of Guangzhou is that five celestial beings in colourful robes, each riding five-coloured goats and carrying grain, arrived in Guangzhou. They gifted the grain to the residents with a wish that the land would be free from famine forever.
The legend gives Guangzhou its two nicknames of Sui City or Rice Ear City and Wuyang City or Five Ram City. The statue is an impressive tribute to this legend and the city.
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The Five Rams Statue in Yuexiu Park on Mount Yuexiu, Guangzhou, China. Image © Pat Bailey
The Nanyue Kingdom Tomb Museum in Guangzhou, China. Image © Pat Bailey
The Canton Tower or Guangzhou Tower towers over visitors to the city. Image © Pat Bailey
Xiuyua Park
In another park, Xiuyua Park, in the city you will find a modern tribute to the ancient Wen Di or Emperor Wen. This monument was built in 1983 after one of the oldest and largest early Han-dynasty mausoleums was discovered by accident. The tomb, with more than 2,000 years of history, was built for Zhao Muwei, buried 20 meters below Xianggang Hill and preserved perfectly in stone.
The hill was being levelled to build a dormitory when the tomb was discovered, perfectly in-tact and composed of a number of invaluable rare objects including a blue plat glass panel, the world’s first set of colour print copperplate moulds and African ivory.
One of the most unique things you will see in the tomb is the silk thread jade suit which has been restored to its original condition. In addition to the jade suit, you can see all of the artifacts uncovered from the Nanyue King’s Tomb in this museum. It is a fascinating exploration of ancient times and Chinese culture and history.
