Guangzhou in 1 day; what to do?
 

Hey guys.

I am making my 3rd trip to China the first week of February for what will definitely be my shortest stay yet. I have spent quite a bit of time in Shanghai, Beijing, and have toured Guillin, but know very little about Guangzhou. With a day and a half layover, allowing for 1 full day of sightseeing, what would you recommend I see?

I noticed the train to Hong Kong, but I don't think I want to spend the $145 USD that it appears to cost for a few hours in Hong Kong. Let me know what everything thinks.



Also, I am going to be staying at either the Ritz Carlton or the Holiday Inn SHIFU, how do these hotels compare location wise?

I'm not a fan of Guangzhou, I must admit, but I would spend half a day ambling around Shamian Dao, a sandbar that was allocated to foreigners for residence and trade and which (like many another foreign concession) grew into a proper island and the only part of the city with proper streets, sewerage, lighting, etc. The offices and residences of the 19th and early 20th century mostly still stand, some as hotels, others now homes to hundreds of Chinese families. There are foreigner-targeting cafes (and some foreign brand ones) and other businesses, including restaurants offering bad copies of Western foods. Some sections are car-free, which given that Guangzhou is absolute bedlam, is a major benefit. There are plenty of promenades with cross-river views.

Two sites elsewhere in the city worth a visit would be the Chen Clan Academy (Chén Jiā Cí) and the Museum of the Wetern Han Dynasty Mausoleum (Xā Hàn Nán Yuè Wáng Bówùguǎn). Many also head for the small Liù Róng Sì and its pagoda.

But actually I'd get out of teeming Guangzhou, and spend the day on a trip to Kaiping, 136km southwest and visiting the extraordinary collection of watchtowers in the countryside round about. Since these have now had the misfortune to be UNESCO World Heritage listed you'll find plenty of information on-line. You'll find pictures of multi-story ornate pseudo-European towers rising from otherwise typically bucolic rice paddies with well-preserved traditional villages clustered around them. There are frequent buses to Kaiping itself, from where you charter a taxi to take you round some of the 1883 surviving towers, the oldest mid-15th century fortified brick structure, but most dating from around the 1920s. Detailed recommendations can be supplied if this seems interesting.

Peter N-H
China

Non stop (Guangzhou - Kowloon) is 190 HKD each way = $24.50USD.

Interesting. Would you guys say it would be worth it to spend the day in Hong Kong and avoid Guangzhou altogether?

I like Guangzhou so I'd vote to spend the day there. Maybe check out the new Guangdong Science Center? I haven't been there yet but have been told it's a good place to visit.

I never heard Guangzhou was a tourist destination. Only time I have been
there is for Canton fairs and prefer not to stay overnight there.

Hong Kong - Macau is more fun.

I think it's too much trouble and takes too much time to go to Hong Kong. I'll do some (or all) that Peter_N-H wrote. There are also lots of excellent eateries in Guangzhou. I don't have recommendations, but even HKers go up to Guangzhou to eat.

Loved Guangzhou
 

Enjoyed 2 days there a few years back and reccommend it

Took a dinner boat cruise on the Pearl River and did some

wonderful jade and art brush shopping

The Zoo was immaculate with a nice animal collection

Fun to just walk around town noticing the very old with

the quite new architecture

Hong Kong & Macau require much more time

Have a great trip

Dong Fang Hotel
 

Just remembered the name of the hotel I stayed in

I highly reccommend it and also its restaurant

Not far from the train station

Personally, if you're only spending a day there, I'd skip Guangzhou. IMO, too much hassle on the back-and-forth.

I have stayed at the Holiday Inn Shifu - would highly recommend it. It is right on a major pedestrian mall and seemed to be central to alot of things (although taxis are the best way to get around) and the hotel itself was very clean with great rooms and service. There are alot of people and alot of industry in and around Guangzhou, so it is a busy, populated and dirty city (hope I haven't offended anyone with that comment).

But it is definitely worth spending a day in to have a look around - am sure the hotel would be able to help you out with that. Or try some google searches for a few ideas

IMO stay in Guangzhou rather than go to Hong Kong - save HK for another time.

Thanks for the good advice. A couple of questions. How easy is the train station to get to in general? Have you heard anything about the Ritz Carlton?

as easy as getting in a taxi

广州东站 Guangzhou East Railway Station

through train to Hung Hom ( Kowloon - Hong Kong) 1hr40min

Traffic in Guangzhou can be bad. Try the subway, which serves both train stations.

With the factory closings in south China beware of more pickpockets
at the train station. Also exchange money only at bank, atm or hotel
as there's a lot of counterfeit.

Now looks like they are selling fake train tickets.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/20...t_10637242.htm