My Visual Travel Experience: Guangzhou

I visited Guangzhou in 2015 and spent three action packed days there. My sister in law and her family had just moved to Macau then - we had gone to visit them, and I made the most of the opportunity and made trips to Hong Kong, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, all places that are close by. Guangzhou is famous for being a big industrial city and production hub, but I was very pleased to see that it offered a lot for tourists too.

Guangzhou, which was earlier called Canton, is one of China’s largest cities next only to Shanghai and Beijing, and it has a population of over 12 million. The city is the capital of China’s Guangdong province, and lies along the Pearl River. Western merchants made their first contact with China through the port of Guangzhou. Western influence is still apparent in this bustling city. In 1841, the British took over Canton after the Opium War. Subsequently, treaty ports were opened with more and more countries. Towards the end of the Qing Dynasty, there were several failed revolts in Canton. Eventually, the dynasty was overthrown in the Xinhai Revolution. From 1923 onwards, Sun Yat Sen used Canton as a base. After his death in 1925, his party, the Kuomintang, started leaning towards the Communists. In 1949, the People's Liberation Army led by the Communists, entered the city. A large exodus followed to Hong Kong and Macau.

In recent years, Guangzhou has become a major manufacturing hub, along with other cities in Guangdong, like Shenzhen and Dongguan. This has led to Guangzhou becoming one of China's most prosperous cities.

Canton Tower  is a TV and sightseeing tower which is 600 meters tall and was completed in 2010 in time for the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games. It is one of the tallest structures in the world. Canton Tower has an indoor observatory at 449 meters, and an outdoor observation deck at 488 meters. The outdoor observation deck also has a thrilling sky drop experience, and a set of transparent bubble trams in which visitors can take a ride. The structure has a unique twisted shape. Views from the top are spectacular.

Canton Tower

Bubble Tram, Canton Tower

Zhujiang New Town in Tianhe District is at the heart of Guangzhou’s Central Business District (CBD). It lies just south of Zhujiang River, facing Canton Tower on the other side of the river. It has a series of skyscrapers, including the 435 meter tall International Financial Center, one of the city’s tallest buildings.

International Finance Place

International Financial Center

Asian Games Stadium

Hualin Si is a popular Buddhist temple founded in 526 AD. It was visited by Bodhidharma, the founder of Chan Buddhism. The main attraction of Hualin Si is the Five Hundred Arhat Hall – Arhat being those who have been freed from the cycle of death and rebirth. One of the 500 figures inside this hall is supposed to be that of the Italian merchant cum explorer, Maro Polo.

Main Hall, Hualin Si

Deity at the Main Hall, Hualin Si

Laughing Buddha at the Five Hundred Arhat Hall, Hualin Si

Guangxiao Si (Temple of Glorious Filial Piety) dates back to the 5th century AD. It was visited by Bodhidharma. Most of the original buildings are no longer there, and most of the current halls date to the 19th century AD. The Hall of Mahavira has several Buddha statues and there are three halls behind it which are of great antiquity.

Guangxiao Si

Mahavira Hall, Guangxiao Si

Pagoda, Guangxiao Si

Liu Rong Si (Temple of the Six Banyan Trees) was built in the 6th century AD to house some of the Buddha’s ashes brought from India. They were kept inside the Lotus Pagoda, which was rebuilt in the 11th century AD. From the outside, the pagoda appears to have nine stories, but it actually has seventeen stories. Climbing to the top of the pagoda is possible and certainly worthwhile.

Lotus Pagoda, Liu Rong Si

Hall of Mahavira, Liu Rong Si

Sacred Heart Church was completed in 1880 by the French. The twin towers rise to a height of 58 meters. The church has some beautiful stain glass work. The land for the church was given to the French as compensation for its losses during the Second Opium War.

Sacred Heart Cathedral

Nave, Sacred Heart Cathedral

Shamian Island is a little island, less than 1 km long. It was leased to the French and British after China lost the Second Opium War (1856-60). The European influence on the island is obvious, with the grand European style villas, the churches, and the wide avenues lined with fountains and sculptures.

Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel, Shamian Island

Christ Church, Shamian Island

Fountain, Shamian Island

Sculpture of Boys Playing, Shamian Island

Sculpture of a Violin Player, Shamian Island

Chen Clan Academy was built in 1890 by members of the Chen family. The structure was built to serve as a temple and as a school. The academy has replicas of traditional Cantonese rooms, intricate wall carvings, and pieces of local art, including porcelain work, embroidery and ivory carvings.

Enamel Work, Chen Clan Academy

Porcelain Roosters, Chen Clan Academy

Embroidered Tiger, Chen Clan Academy

Ivory Boat, Chen Clan Academy

Courtyard, Chen Clan Academy

The Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall is at the southern end of Yuexiu Park. The grand building was built in 1931, at the site where Sun Yat Sen was proclaimed the head of government in 1923. The memorial hall has a large auditorium where functions are held. Outside, there is a statue of the leader, and on the stage, there’s a large portrait of his.  

Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall

Gateway, Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall

Interior, Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall

Yuexiu Park is a large 222 acres park. It is on a hill, with the Sun Yat Sen Memorial being at its highest point. A flight of steps takes visitors to the memorial. The park’s main attraction is the beautiful Five Rams Statue.  Five Rams Statue, the symbol of Guangzhou, is one of the main highlights of Yuexiu Park. According to legend, Guangzhou was founded by five immortals riding on five rams, and these immortals planted corn to ensure the city always had food.

Five Rams Statue, Yuexiu Park

Gateway, Yuexiu Park

People’s Park is an urban park in the heart of Guangzhou. It was set up in 1921 and was the city’s first public park.  The park has numerous sculptures and pavilions. It is a popular meeting point, and is also a venue for demonstrations.

The War Age, People's Park

Pavilion, People's Park

The Guangzhou Celebrity Wax Museum lies at the base of the Canton Tower. It has wax figures of many well known international and Chinese personalities, including sportsmen, film stars, musicians and political leaders.

Lionel Messi, Guangzhou Celebrity Wax Museum

Nelson Mandela, Guangzhou Celebrity Wax Museum

Marilyn Monroe, Guangzhou Celebrity Wax Museum

So Guangzhou is clearly so much more than just an industrial city. Yes, the city is known worldwide for the Canton Fair, China's oldest and largest trade fair which takes place every April and October, but there's so much to explore in the city, with its temples, its museums, its parks and its glitzy central business district. Guangzhou also has a very good metro system, so commuting within the city is easy. Hotels are good. It's great for shopping and eating. My verdict - certainly go for it, especially if you're in and around Hong Kong.