Guangzhou 广州
Guangzhou is China's great southern trading city, where 2,000 years of Cantonese food culture meets a modern skyline along the Pearl River. First-timers should plan around dim sum mornings, an evening river cruise or Canton Tower visit, and a wander through the colonial arcades of Shamian and the old lanes of Liwan.
Sights in Guangzhou
Canton Tower 广州塔
Chen Clan Ancestral Hall (Chen Clan Academy) 陈家祠
Yuexiu Park 越秀公园
Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall 中山纪念堂
Guangdong Museum 广东省博物馆
Guangzhou Opera House 广州大剧院
Baiyun Mountain 白云山
Temple of the Six Banyan Trees 六榕寺
Guangxiao Temple 光孝寺
Sacred Heart Cathedral (Stone House) 石室圣心大教堂
Guangdong Museum of Art 广东美术馆
Guangzhou Zoo 广州动物园
Chimelong Safari Park 长隆野生动物世界
Foshan Ancestral Temple (day trip) 佛山祖庙
Shunde Qinghui Garden (day trip) 清晖园
Shamian Island 沙面岛
Huacheng Square (Flower City Square) 花城广场
Yongqing Fang 永庆坊
Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street 上下九步行街
Beijing Road Pedestrian Street 北京路步行街
Dongshankou Old Villa Quarter 东山口
Litchi Bay (Lizhiwan) 荔枝湾
Prices are approximate and hours change. Sights without a page haven't been checked yet.
Where to stay
Zhujiang New Town / Tianhe 珠江新城 / 天河
Guangzhou's modern CBD with the best metro connections, walkable to Canton Tower and the river, and plenty of hotels and restaurants.
Good for: First-timers, business travellers, skyline views, easy metro access
Beijing Road / Gongyuanqian 北京路 / 公园前
The historic city centre, with pedestrian shopping streets, ancient road ruins under glass, and Line 1/2 interchange at Gongyuanqian.
Good for: Shoppers, sightseeing on foot, budget and mid-range hotels, street food
Shamian Island / Huangsha (Liwan) 沙面岛 / 黄沙
Leafy colonial-era island with river views, quiet boutique hotels, and easy access to Shangxiajiu and Cantonese old-town eateries.
Good for: Couples, photographers, slow travellers, heritage architecture
Getting there
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport 广州白云国际机场
Metro Line 3 from Airport South (机场南) or Airport North (机场北) direct to Tiyu Xilu / Zhujiang New Town, about 45–60 min, ¥7–9; taxi or Didi to the city centre about 45–60 min, roughly ¥120–160 plus tolls.
Guangzhou South Railway Station 广州南站
Main high-speed hub in Panyu, on Metro Lines 2, 7 and 22; trains to Hong Kong West Kowloon (~50 min), Shenzhen, and long-distance HSR to Beijing/Shanghai. Allow 30+ min to reach the city centre by metro.
Guangzhou East Railway Station 广州东站
In Tianhe on Metro Lines 1 and 3; convenient for Tianhe hotels and some trains to Shenzhen and Hong Kong.
Guangzhou Railway Station 广州站
Older central station near Yuexiu Park on Metro Lines 2 and 5; mostly conventional (non-HSR) trains to other provinces.
Guangzhou North Railway Station 广州北站
In Huadu district, Metro Line 9; a secondary stop for some high-speed services — check your ticket carefully, it is far from the centre.
Getting around
Metro (地铁)
Almost everything — the network is fast, clean and signed in English; best for Canton Tower, Tianhe, Beijing Road and the stations.
Buy a Yangcheng Tong (羊城通) card or scan the metro QR code in Alipay/WeChat; avoid Line 3 in rush hour (8:00–9:30, 18:00–19:30), when it is seriously packed.
Taxi / Didi
Nights out, airport runs, and destinations away from metro lines such as parts of Shamian and Liwan.
Use the Didi app (English version available) rather than hailing on the street; have your destination written in Chinese, as few drivers speak English.
Shared bike (共享单车)
Riverside rides along the Pearl River, Shamian Island and short hops in Tianhe.
Bikes are banned from some pedestrian streets and parks; use designated painted bays or you may be fined.
Bus (公交)
Short hops and areas off the metro grid; the BRT corridor east of Tianhe is efficient.
Pay by scanning the乘车码 QR in Alipay/WeChat; routes and stop names are announced in Mandarin and often Cantonese, rarely English.
Water bus (水上巴士)
Cheap scenic crossings of the Pearl River between Shamian/Huangsha and Canton Tower area.
A far cheaper alternative to the tourist river cruises and a good way to see the skyline at dusk.
Good to know
- Guangzhou Metro gates accept contactless foreign-issued Visa, Mastercard, American Express and JCB cards since October 2025; Alipay/WeChat metro QR codes also work. Source
- Alipay accepts Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Discover and Diners cards. Payments under ¥200 carry no Alipay service fee; payments of ¥200 or more carry a 3% fee. Verify your passport in the app to raise limits. Source
- A travel eSIM or home SIM on roaming reaches Google, WhatsApp and Instagram without a VPN; a Chinese SIM or hotel Wi-Fi does not. Keep your home SIM active for SMS codes. Source
- Expect a 茶位费 (tea/seat charge) of ¥2–10 per person in Cantonese restaurants, plus a small charge for wet wipes — this is normal, not a scam, and tipping is not expected.
- At dim sum, go before 11:00 for the full menu and lively atmosphere; you tick a paper order card and pay at the till, not the table.
- English is limited outside hotels and expat areas — save destinations in Chinese characters on your phone and use a translation app for menus with photos.
- During typhoon season, shops and the metro may close when the T8 signal is hoisted; check the Hong Kong Observatory-style local warnings and stay indoors.
- Carry tissues and hand sanitiser: public toilets rarely supply paper, and many older restaurants still do not.
What to eat in Guangzhou
虾饺
xiājiǎo
Shrimp dumplings · The benchmark dim sum item: translucent wrapper, whole prawns, ordered by ticking a card at morning tea.
烧鹅
shāo'é
Cantonese roast goose · Crisp lacquered skin and rich meat, best from specialist roast shops in Panyu and Liwan.
白切鸡
báiqiējī
Poached chicken · Served cool with ginger-scallion oil; the test of a good Cantonese kitchen.
干炒牛河
gānchǎo niúhé
Stir-fried beef ho fun · Rice noodles wok-fried until smoky (wok hei) — a late-night classic.
云吞面
yúntūnmiàn
Wonton noodles · Springy thin egg noodles with pork-and-shrimp wontons in a clear broth; a light breakfast or snack.
肠粉
chángfěn
Steamed rice noodle rolls · Silky sheets steamed to order; ask for 斋肠 (plain) or vegetable filling for a vegetarian version.
罗汉斋
luóhànzhāi
Buddha's delight (mixed vegetable stir-fry) · Classic Cantonese vegetarian dish of mushrooms, tofu skin, lotus root and greens.
双皮奶
shuāngpínǎi
Double-skin milk pudding · Warm or chilled set milk dessert from Shunde, often topped with red bean; contains dairy.
Weather by season
| Months | Day | Night | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar–May | 26 °C | 19 °C | Warm and very humid, with the damp '回南天' spell and frequent spring rain — bring a light raincoat. |
| Jun–Sep | 33 °C | 26 °C | Hot, sticky and stormy; heavy afternoon downpours and the typhoon season peak in July–September. |
| Oct–Nov | 28 °C | 19 °C | The best of the year: sunny, dry and comfortable, with clear skies for skyline views. |
| Dec–Feb | 19 °C | 11 °C | Mild and mostly dry, but damp chill and occasional cold snaps make a jacket worthwhile. |
Typical averages, not a forecast.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Guangzhou?
October–December (dry, sunny, 20–28°C); March–April is also pleasant but damp
Which sights in Guangzhou should I book in advance?
Canton Tower, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, Guangdong Museum, Guangzhou Opera House, Chimelong Safari Park, Shunde Qinghui Garden (day trip).
How do I pay for the metro in Guangzhou?
Guangzhou Metro gates accept contactless foreign-issued Visa, Mastercard, American Express and JCB cards since October 2025; Alipay/WeChat metro QR codes also work.
Which airports serve Guangzhou?
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN).
Get a guide planned around you in Guangzhou.
Build my guide