Guangzhou - Worth Visiting?
 

I've got a trip to Hong Kong booked and pretty much all set. Lots of ideas on what to do and what to see. I've been offered a chance take a full day trip from Hong Kong across the border into China, mostly in the Guangzhou area. A few options have presented themselves, but essentially they'd involve a 1/2 day seeing the sights in Guangzhou and then the other half of the day at a nearby mountain, or a river trip out into the rural areas.

I've got plenty of time in Hong Kong, so my question: is it worth it to make the one day trip out to see this city and the sights? It'll be at no cost to me. I just don't want to agree to go if Guangzhou is not really worth a stop and the sights are generally non-existant.

Any opinions on Guangzhou and the area around it as a tourist destination?

Thanks!

It is worth visiting if...
 

you have not visited China before, but 1 day is kind of tight.

Also, if you have only one day, I would suggest that
 

you just go across the border and spend your day in the city of Shenzhen, there are a lot to see and experience there too.

Depending your nationality, a Chinese tourist visa may be required, for U.S. citizen, it is $130.

Absopositutely
 

Guangzhou is a must

A dinner (or lunch) boat ride on the Pearl River

Really quaint historic downtown shopping area

Ancient but very well cared for in town zoo

3 Goats Fountain (the image of the city)

The Dong Fang Hotel has a very good restaurant

and is not far from the train station

Have a great trip

Some tour operators based in Hong Kong will get group passes that do not require someone to have a pre-approved visa if I remember correctly. I'm betting the OP will be using one of these tour operators if it's a one day event. I've seen a few options for touring Shenzhen or Guangzhou on a day trip from Hong Kong that advertised that they would secure the pass for you.

I'd advice you to skip GZ, dirty air, humid weather, and it's the least safe major city in China.

I doubt safety is playing a big role. After all, even the most unsecure city in China is still way safer than the most secure US city :D

And Guangzhou isn't that dirty - compared to other "big" chinese cities it is, at least.

Humid weather is something quite common in that region of the world... the more South the worse I would say. Singapore is probably the most damp big city in the world, still people don't complain much about it.

I would say go ahead, and enjoy your time there!

Not worth $130 of visa fees, for sure.

Go to Macau, or there are plenty of quiet, less developed areas in HK worth visiting in the New Territories if you want to see some rural areas and villages.

Possibly the noisiest city in China, which is saying something, and although not without its attractions, offers the least of the major metropolises for the effort put in. Even if this is your only chance to go to mainland China, there are other side-trips from Hong Kong more worth your time: Kaiping, for instance. But better, if you think you may one day return, to save your efforts for another longer trip in the future. I'd second the suggestion of Macau for now. No visa needed.

If you have plenty of time and its free. What do you have to lose?

I'm planning on spending next weekend there (in advance of my Monday meetings).

I agree with Peter, there are better day trips into the PRC available if that is what you are looking for.

Guangzhou is truly a business city and I wouldn't recommend for a tourist visit, especially if you don't already have a visa. If making a list of must-see cities in China, Guangzhou and Shenzhen would be pretty far down!

+ 1 for this comment on Macau, GZ is a big new city, Shenzhen is the china urban experiment, interesting to see !, & there is a large shopping mall at the end of the train station , right by customs & the 'old' Shangri-la. A lot of people from HK come to this multi level mall to shop/negotiate for trinkets etc. Its the only place I have found the 3XL Tommy Bahama shirts (knock-off) for $12.00...;);)

GZ
 

really !, and in GZ you will be a 'boy scout' with all those slim red haired China southern FA's. ;)

I'm contemplating taking on a semi long term client there. I was impressed with what I saw during my earlier visit this month, but want to make sure it's a place I could live. (I'm a bit troubled by the safety concerns, some of which have been discussed on FT.)