Guangzhou can be roughly divided into three basic regions: Central Guangzhou, North Guangzhou and the Outer Regions, each with unique sights to see and walks to take. Because of the logistics and time involved in moving from place to place around the city, it is best to concentrate on a neighborhood at a time. Colonial Canton consists of the area on and around Shamian Island and the Pearl River. The part of the city that was formerly encircled by the city wall comprises Ancestral Guangzhou. To the north of the former walled city is the Station District and even farther north, the airport area. On the eastern edge of the formerly walled city are sights related to Chinese revolutions, and farther east, the Eastern Suburbs and the Tianhe District.

Places to See

Six Banyan Temple   Park, Ancestral Guangzhou                                    

 Address: Haizhu Bei Lu, Guangzhou, China

The temple is known as Liu Rong Temple in Chinese. Situated inside the city, the temple, first built in the Five Dynasties period (907-960), was originally called Baozhuangyan Temple. It was renamed in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) as Su Shi, a great writer of the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127), was found to shave written the two characters of Liu Rong when he saw the six ancient banyan trees there on a visit to the temple. In the temple there is a 57-metre-high, 17-story octagonal pagoda, which has on its top a bronze column with 1,000 Buddhist sculptures. The column, with its metal accessories, weighs five tons, something rarely seen in ancient China. The pagoda is also called Flower Pagoda for its colorful exterior. In the temple there are also three large bronze Buddhist sculptures made in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), each standing six metres high and weighing 10 tons. 
Look at any ancient scroll painting or lithograph by early Western travelers, and you will see two landmarks rising above old Guangzhou. One is the minaret of the mosque; the other is the 184-foot pagoda of the Six Banyan Temple. Still providing an excellent lookout, the pagoda appears to have nine stories, each with doorways and encircling balconies. Inside, however, there are 17 levels. Thanks to its arrangement of colored, carved roofs, it is popularly known as the Flowery Pagoda.
The temple was founded in the 5th century, but following a series of fires, most of the existing buildings date from the 11th century. It was built by the Zen master Tanyu and is still a very active place of worship, with a community of monks and regular attendance by Zen Buddhists. It was originally called Purificatory Wisdom Temple but changed its name after a visit by the Song Dynasty poet Su Dongpo, who was so delighted by six banyan trees growing in the courtyard that he left an inscription with the characters for six banyans.
The trees are no longer to be found, but the stone bearing his calligraphy can be seen in the temple, along with tablets telling the history of the place and a 1,000-year-old bronze statue of Zen master Huineng. In one prayer hall there are also three statues of Buddha -- each weighing 5 tons -- and one of the goddess of mercy, all made of brass and cast in 1663. COST: Y6. OPEN: Daily 8-5

Huaisheng Mosque   Religious Site, Ancestral Guangzhou                              

Address: Guangta Lu, Guangzhou, China

Built in the city during the Tang Dynasty (618-907), the building is one of the oldest mosques in China. The name of the mosque means "Remember the Sage", in memory of the prophet. The 1,000-year-old Guangta, or Smooth Tower, a 36-metre-high brick structure with a smooth surface, is of the Arabic architectural style. In the mosque are the Praying Hall and other buildings.

Chen Klen Temple   Architectural Site, Ancestral Guangzhou                           

  Address: 7 Zhongshan Qi Lu, Guangzhou, China

Chen Jia Ci. The Chen family is one of Guangdong's oldest and most numerous clans. In the late 19th century local members, who had prospered as merchants, decided to build a memorial temple. They invited contributions from the Chens -- and kindred Chans -- who had emigrated overseas. The money flowed in from 72 countries, and no expense was spared to make this a tribute to a successful family. A highlight of the temple is a huge and skillfully carved ridgepole frieze. It stretches 90 feet along the main roof and depicts scenes from the epic Romance of Three Kingdoms, with thousands of figures against a backdrop of ornate houses, monumental gates, and lush scenery. Elsewhere in the huge compound of pavilions and courtyards are friezes of delicately carved stone and wood, as well as fine iron castings and a dazzling altar covered with gold leaf. The temple also houses a folk arts museum and shop. COST: Y4. OPEN: Daily 8:30-5.

Guangzhou Museum  Museum/Gallery, Station District                                

Address: Yuexiu Gongyuan, Jiefang Bei Lu, Guangzhou, China

Phone: 020/8355-0627

Guangzhou Bowuguan. Dominating Yuexiu Park is the five-story, 92-foot Tower Controlling the Sea (Zhenhai Lou), built in 1380. Three centuries later it was converted into a watchtower overlooking the old port. Today its entrance is still guarded by a dozen old cannons and three Krupp guns, but it now it houses the municipal museum, whose displays outline the history of the city from prehistoric times to the present. On the first floor is a huge anchor from the Ming Dynasty, which was found in the river mud, and a bas-relief model of Guangzhou as it was projected to look in the 21st century.
On the second floor are the remains of pottery from a Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220) tomb; Han bronzes; and examples of early trade goods such as rhinoceros horns, hawksbill turtle shells, and precious stones. The third floor is devoted to Guangzhou's experience of the Western world. Here is the original clock face from the Roman Catholic cathedral, bibles, export-ware porcelain, models of the first railway car and first plane used in Guangzhou, pictures of the foreign factories on Shamian, and a bas-relief of the city in the 19th century.
Guangzhou after the Opium Wars is the focus of exhibits on the fourth floor. There are pictures of the first brewery, the first sugar refinery, and early sewing machines, along with displays of an old fire engine, telephone, radio, household implements, and a sedan chair. On the top floor are shops selling antiques, tea, jade, cheongsams (high-neck, split-skirt Chinese dresses), and such local specialties as snake wine. Tea, beer, soft drinks, and snacks are served at tables on the balcony, which affords marvelous views of the park. COST: Y6. OPEN: Daily 9-5.

Yuexiu Park   Park, Station District                                                      

Address: Jiefang Bei Lu, Guangzhou, China

Yuexiu Gongyuan. To take a break from business or get away from the bustle, residents and visitors alike adjourn to Yuexiu Park in the heart of town. The park's wide range of attractions and facilities covers 247 acres and includes Yuexiu Hill and six hillocks, landscaped gardens, man-made lakes, and recreational areas. Kids can enjoy fish-feeding ponds and playgrounds, while adults can appreciate the bamboo garden or exercise in the municipal gym.
The best-known sight in Yuexiu Park is the Five Rams Statue (Wuyang Suxiang), which celebrates the legend of the five celestials who came to Guangzhou riding on goats to bring grains to the people. Today Guangzhou families take each other's photo in front of the statue before setting off to enjoy the park. They hire boats on the three man-made lakes, which contain islands also accessible by humpbacked bridges, or they stroll along paths lined with flowering bushes, bamboo groves, and small forests of pine, cypress, and kapok.
For a different kind of enjoyment, the park has a stadium for soccer matches and other sports, a Journey to the West theme park (with a giant wooden cockerel that crows at the entrance), and a children's playground with fairground rides. COST: Y5. OPEN: Daily 6 AM-9 PM.

Shamian Island  Historic District/Site, Island, Colonial Canton

More than a century ago the mandarins of Guangzhou designated a 44-acre sandbank outside the city walls in the Pearl River as an enclave for foreign merchants. The foreigners had previously lived and done business in a row of houses known as the Thirteen Factories, near the present Shamian, but local resentment after the Opium Wars -- sometimes leading to murderous attacks -- made it prudent to confine them to a protected area, which was linked to the city by two bridges that were closed at 10 every night.
The island rapidly became a bustling township, as trading companies from Britain, the United States, France, Holland, Italy, Germany, Portugal, and Japan built stone mansions along the waterfront. With spacious gardens and private wharves, these served as homes, offices, and warehouses. There were churches for Catholics and Protestants, banks, a yacht club, football grounds, a cricket field, and the Victory hotel.
Shamian was attacked in the 1920s but survived until the 1949 Revolution, when its mansions became government offices or apartment houses and the churches were turned into factories. In recent years, however, the island has resumed much of its old character. Many colonial buildings have been restored, and both churches have been beautifully renovated and reopened to worshippers. Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church (Shamian Dajie at Yijie, Guangzhou, China), with its cream-and-white neo-Gothic tower, is particularly attractive. A park with shady walks and benches has been created in the center of the island, where local residents come to chat with friends, walk around with their caged birds, or practice tai chi.

Orchid Garden  Garden/Arboretum, Station District                                   

Address: Jiefang Bei Lu, Guangzhou, China

This garden offers a wonderfully convenient retreat from the noise and crowds of the city. It's spread over 20 acres, with paths that wind through groves of bamboo and tropical trees, beside carp-filled ponds, to a series of classic teahouses. Here you can sit and enjoy a wide variety of Chinese teas, brewed the traditional way. There are tables inside and on terraces that overlook the ponds. As for the orchids, there are 10,000 pots with more than 2,000 species of the flower, which present a magical sight when they bloom (peak time is May and June). COST: Y5. OPEN: Daily 8:30 AM-11 PM.

Liuhua Park Park, Ancestral Guangzhou
Liuhua Gongyuan. Next to the trade fair hall, this park is ideal for relaxation, people-watching, and dining. It has a serpentine lake, groves of trees, flower beds, and plenty of benches. You can sit and watch men gather to compare the talents of their pet songbirds, finches that are kept in exquisite bamboo cages fitted with porcelain feeding bowls and decorated with pieces of jade. In late afternoon the scene changes as young lovers come in search of secluded benches. As for dining, the glittering white palace in the lake is the Sun Kwong restaurant. COST: Y3. OPEN: Daily 11-6.

Qingping Market   Market/Bazaar, Colonial Canton                                     

Address: Dishipu Lu and Daihe Lu, Guangzhou, China

Qingping Shichang. Across the short bridge from the north shore of Shamian is the bustling, noisy complex of alleys packed with shops and market stalls. The Qingping Market caters to a wide variety of shoppers. The central alley contains herbalists, spice sellers, and fruit and vegetable stalls. To the left is the infamous meat market, with dogs, cats, and various endangered species on sale. If you have any qualms at all about seeing animals slaughtered, don't go here. Turn right on Dishipu Lu, and on the left is a collection of jade shops, along with stores selling reproduction antiques, old watches and jewelry, Mao memorabilia, and other collectibles. Farther north, on Daihe Lu, is the private antiques market, where you'll find plenty of old furniture, porcelain, jade, and banknotes.

Oriental Studio 2000   Amusement Park, Film/TV Studio, Airport Area                

Address: Dajing Zhonglu in Dong Fang Leyuan, Guangzhou, China

Phone: 020/8662-8628 Ext. 316

The studio opened in 1996 in the Dongfang Amusement Park (Dong Fang Leyuan). The two shows utilize all the equipment to be found in local film studios, so there are overhead wires for "flying," facades that "collapse," mats that become springboards, and blowers to provide a snowfall or smoke. The introductions are in Chinese, and there's no program, but that does nothing to detract from this totally visual experience. The shows last 15 minutes, with three performances a day.
Along with the sets, the park has restaurants, some modeled on old films, serving Chinese and Western food; shopping arcades with souvenirs; staged folk dancing; acrobatics; and street performances by conjurers, magicians, and qi gong (traditional Chinese exercise said to release the inner power or qi of the spirit) experts. In the main part of the vast amusement park there are a huge Ferris wheel, a roller coaster, and other fairground rides, plus a lake with pleasure boats. COST: Y80. OPEN: Daily 9-5.

Tomb of the Southern Yue Kings  Memorial/Monument, Museum/Gallery, Station
District

Address: 867 Jiefang Bei Lu, Guangzhou, China

Nan Yue Wang Mu. Until quite recently only specialist historians realized that Guangzhou had once been a royal capital. In 1983 bulldozers clearing ground to build the China Hotel uncovered the intact tomb of Emperor Wen Di, who ruled Nan Yue (southern China) from 137 BC to 122 BC. The tomb was faithfully restored and its treasures placed in the adjoining Nan Yue Museum.
The tomb contained the skeletons of the king and 15 courtiers -- guards, cooks, concubines, and a musician -- who were buried alive to attend him in death. Also buried were several thousand funerary objects, clearly designed to show off the extraordinary accomplishments of the southern empire. Now attractively displayed in the museum, with intelligent labeling in Chinese and English, they include jade armor, gem-encrusted swords and crossbows, gold jewelry, lacquer boxes, pearl pillows, 139 pi-discs used in pottery, 1,000 bronze and iron cooking pots, and an orchestra of bronze and stone chimes that are still in tune.
The tomb itself -- built entirely of stone slabs -- is behind the museum and is remarkable for its compact size. Divided into two parts, it is 66 feet deep, 40 feet wide, and 35 feet long. The emperor was buried in the central chamber, while six smaller adjoining rooms were packed from floor to ceiling with the funeral objects and the courtiers.
On the second floor an incomparable collection of 200 ceramic pillows -- from the Tang, Song, Jin, and Yuan dynasties -- was donated by Hong Kong industrialist Yeung Wing Tak and his wife. COST: Y12. OPEN: Daily 9:30-5:30.

Baiyun Mountain   Mountain, Scenic Area

Baiyun Mountain makes a pleasant half day trip away from the traffic and congestion of Guangzhou. The Mountain (known locally as White Clouds Mountain is approximately 15 km north of the city and is part of the Kunshan Mountain range.
This is a pretty spot with pagodas, monasteries and tea houses dotted about the mountain park. The mountain has some nice scenery and is refreshingly lush and green. It can get busy here, and the Chinese are particularly keen on this mountain but, it is large enough to enable you to rid yourself of the crowds. The peak, 'Star touching hills is a three-hour walk from the base and affords spectacular views over the surrounding countryside and city. The view at sunset is especially nice.

Tianhe   Architectural Site, Commercial District, Tianhe District

Tianhe, Guangzhou's bright new business area, bristles with skyscrapers. Among the buildings is the 80-story GITIC Plaza which soars 1,300 feet and is China's second-tallest building. Tianhe's new railway station, Guangzhou East Railway Station (Linhe Lu, Guangzhou, China), is light, airy, and very spacious, with a vast entrance hall.
Tianhe is designed to be a hub of sports activity. The two outdoor and indoor arenas of the Tianhe Stadium Complex (Huanshi Dong Lu, East Guangzhou, Guangzhou, China) are equipped for international soccer matches, track and field, and athletics competitions, as well as pop concerts and large-scale ceremonies. Around the stadiums is a pleasant landscaped park, with outdoor cafés and tree-shaded benches. The park surrounding the complex also contains a bowling center with 38 lanes and video games.
Already the upmarket district is drawing shoppers. The Guangzhou Book Center (Huanshi Dong Lu, East Guangzhou, Guangzhou, China, PHONE: 020/8759-4208) has seven floors with space for books on every subject (including some bargain-priced art books in English), from software to literature. Across the street is Teem Plaza, a vast complex of shops and supermarkets.

Lotus Mountain  Mountain, Scenic Area

Lotus Mountain stands in Panyu City at the mouth of the Zhujiang River. The Mountain is about 45 km southeast of Guangzhou and it really requires an entire day to get to and from this site.
Although stone cutting at the Mountain ceased hundreds of years ago and today, the sheer cliff of the mountain face looks almost natural. There are pagodas, temples and other Ming dynasty constructions dotted about the mountain.
The Mountain also served as a line of defense against the British in the Opium Wars and as is known locally as the 'Great Wall of Guangzhou'.