Guangzhou - Do & See

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Guangzhou

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Asia China Guangzhou Do & See

Overview

Do & See The guide was updated: 2022-06-03

With a history of more than 2,200 years, Guangzhou is a famous cultural city with many interesting sights to explore. Everything from temples to museums, gardens and historical buildings are on offer, as well as sighs that are more modern such as the fun theme park called Chimelong or why not visit Canton Tower, the landmark of Guangzhou City, where you will get amazing panoramic views of the city. If you want to get away from the hustle and bustle from the city centre, then Baiyun Mountain, also called "the lung of the city" for its restorative greenery, is another must-see sight.

It doesn't come as a surprise that Guangzhou is one of China's top 10 most popular tourist areas, in fact, there is so much to do in Guangzhou that you cannot see it all in just one visit, so start planning and fill your list with must-see attractions.

Pearl River Night Cruise / 珠江夜游

Pearl River Night Cruise / 珠江夜游

Pearl River Night Cruise goes through the heart of the city in 2 hours, depending on the route and if dinner is included. Routes usually pass Shamian Island and return through Renmin Bridge and Haizhu Bridge before winding up at the Guangzhou suspension bridge. Options include a light show at Bai-e-Tan.

Guangzhou Opera House / 广州大剧院

Guangzhou Opera House / 广州大剧院

The Opera House in Guangzhou does not only host spectacular international music acts and theatre performances (in both English and Chinese), but is also an eye-catching sight due to its interesting architectural composition. Whether or not you're a theatre-goer, the structure makes for a worthwhile visit.

Temple of the Six Banyan Trees / 六榕寺

Temple of the Six Banyan Trees / 六榕寺

Not far from Huaisheng Mosque lies Temple of the Six Banyan Trees. This temple was originally built in AD 537 and has been rebuilt several times. It is one of the four best Buddhist temples in Guangzhou. The sight is well worth a visit because of its vast collection of cultural-relics and the 57-meter-high pagoda garden that dates back to the 3rd century.

Museum of the Western Han Dynasty Mausoleum of the Nanyue King / 西汉南越王博物馆

Museum of the Western Han Dynasty Mausoleum of the Nanyue King / 西汉南越王博物馆

This museum is renowned for its rare collection of funerary artefacts representing the diffusion of cultures throughout the Lingnan region during the Han dynasty. One of the highlights is the tomb of King Zhao Mo dating back about 2,000 years, and other exhibits include gold, jade and other trinkets from the same period.

Huaisheng Mosque / 怀圣寺光塔

Huaisheng Mosque / 怀圣寺光塔

Huaisheng Mosque boasts Guangta is believed to be the world’s oldest minaret outside Mecca dating back to the 7th Century. The mosque was the pivotal point of the 15th-century foreign quarter but is open only for Muslims or tour groups.

Bright Filial Piety Temple / 光孝寺

Bright Filial Piety Temple / 光孝寺

Guangzhou's oldest Buddhist temple dates back to at least 113 BC. It was visited by the Indian founder of Chan Buddhism Bodhidharma and is a peaceful and spacious haven of tranquillity within the city.

Yuexiu Park / 越秀公园

Yuexiu Park / 越秀公园

China’s biggest park covers an expanse of 90 hectares. Amid all the greenery it includes a hall built in memory of Sun Yat-sen, the man considered to be the founder of modern China. It also has the oldest and largest Taoist temple Sanyuan Gong, in Guangzhou, dating back to 319 AD.

Baiyun Shan (White Cloud Mountain) / 白云山

Baiyun Shan (White Cloud Mountain) / 白云山

If you are looking for a day trip, Baiyun Shan is hard to beat. An escape from the heat of the city, this mountain located in Guangzhou's scenic surroundings is well worth a visit. From the foot of the mountain, a cable car will take you to Peak Park.

Lotus Hill / 莲花山

Lotus Hill / 莲花山

Approximately two hours' bus ride from Guangzhou, you can find Lotus Hill, sits in the eastern outskirt of Panyu City (about 45km southeast of Guangzhou). Its beautiful scenery is shrouded in a fairytale-like atmosphere and a dramatic backdrop of red sandstone cliffs, untamed forests and scenic grottoes.

Chimelong Water Park / 长隆水上乐园

Chimelong Water Park / 长隆水上乐园

Chimelong Water Park is the largest water parks in Asia and holds some world-class rides including some of the top new water ride attractions in the world. This highly popular park with the largest wave pool, the longest lazy river including the first Boomerang ride in China is for sure a place for family fun.

Chimelong Paradise / 长隆欢乐世界

Chimelong Paradise / 长隆欢乐世界

If you are seeking thrilling rides, Chimelong Paradise is the place to go. It houses over 70 rides including a 10-looped roller coaster, the quickest motorbike roller coaster and the first Skating roller coaster of Asia. For kids, there are plenty of rides for them as well. Besides, the park also offers all sorts of performances such as magic tricks, songs and dances, acrobatics and fancy car parades.

Chimelong Safari Park / 长隆野生动物世界

Chimelong Safari Park / 长隆野生动物世界

Chimelong Safari Park is the biggest wild animal theme park in Asia and home to over 500 species and 20,000 rare animals such as pandas and white tigers. The park/zoo features safari on wheels where visitors are allowed to drive their cars inside the stock area. This is a large-scale park where you can have an intimate experience with animals, and you can surely spend a wonderful time here with your family.

Shameen Island / 沙面岛

Shameen Island / 沙面岛

Located in central Guangzhou about six kilometres west of the popular Tianhe area, Shameen Island has a great historical significance since it served as an important port for Guangzhou's foreign trade during Song and the Qing Dynasty. Today it is one of the most popular highlights in the city and offers enjoyable strolls among old European buildings and gardens in a more relaxed and quiet atmosphere.

Canton Tower / 广州塔

Canton Tower / 广州塔

The landmark of Guangzhou, also known as the Guangzhou TV & Sightseeing Tower and is one of the world's most remarkable new buildings. It serves not only as a popular tourist destination but also as an intensive facility for radio and television transmission. The tower is 450-meter-high and have an amazing Bubble Tram (spherical cabins) that allows you to experience the beautiful panoramic views of Guangzhou.

Chen Ancestral Shrine - Folk Craft Museum / 陈氏书院

Chen Ancestral Shrine - Folk Craft Museum / 陈氏书院

Another must-see attraction is the Chen Ancestral Shrine, which has a history of more than 100 years. The hall was once an ancestral shrine, initially built in 1888 and completed in 1894. Later, it turned to Chen Clan’s Industry College, and today it is home to the Guangdong Folk Arts Museum that exhibits a variety of folk arts and crafts.

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