Unveiling the beauty of a 2200-year-old Guangzhou, we read the city by foot. Yet, our eyes, mouths and hands will not be left fainéant.
White Swan Hotel
As the first five-star hotel in China, the White Swan is a traditional Chinese garden hotel offering the fusion of ultimate luxury and relaxation. It sits beautifully on the historic Shamian Island in central Guangzhou just like a resting white swan. Funded by Hong Kong businessman Henry Fok in 1982, White Swan is time-honored and has become a landmark in Guangzhou. Within easy access to the tranquil Bai’e Pool and the Pearl River, the hotel guarantees you comfy sleep, excellent meals and stunning views during your stay. Varying from one another, 843 exquisitely designed rooms perform the traditional Lingnan style to the fullest. For dining, the hotel caters to the most sophisticated tastes with Japanese, Chinese and French fares. It is worth mentioning that former US president Nixon and George.W. Bush’s stay in White Swan gives credits to its overall impeccable amenity and adds up celebrity fever here after the visit of British Queen Elizabeth II’s in 1986.
whiteswanhotel.com
Youyi Hotel
Whether you book a smartly designed hideaway or a vintage room, themed feature is going to be a big hit in Youyi, be it a LongFeng Wu (flying dragon and dancing phoenix) or QingciYaqu (grace of blue and white porcelain). Over 100 rooms are uniquely designed with carefully chosen furniture and matching settings. Situated in Tianhe District in northern Guangzhou, Youyi Hotel provides great convenience of dining, shopping and entertaining around. Guangdong Museum, Guangzhou Library, and Guangzhou Aquarium are all within easy access by the underground if you are an enthusiast for history and arts. Youyi may not appear as luxurious or extravagant but you will definitely enjoy an equally unforgettable stay with a real Lingnan hospitality and homely comfort here.
gdhy-hotel.com
Beijing Road &ShangxiaJiu Road
Underground line 2 takes you to the busiest part of Guangzhou, day or night — Beijing Road and ShangxiaJiu road in Yuexiu District. As both are hottest shopping destinations for locals and tourists, these two roads do not gain their charm and fame by accident. Beijing Road has a unique witness of over one thousand years of Guangzhou’s history — a brick lane that provides you a glimpse of Chinese dynasties all in one. Luxury apparel and cosmetic brands like Louis Vuitton and Chanel can be easily found alongside Beijing Road, while getting bargainable trendy items from ShangxiaJiu Road will not take you too much extra efforts either. Distinct souvenir shops like Ju Xiang Yuan (hazelnut cookie as its best-seller), Huang Shang Huang (famous for its cured sausage), are right alongside the roads where you have to pay a visit.
Dim Sum – Heavenly treats
From the popularity of dim sum in Guangzhou, you probably have noticed it as a signature of Cantonese cuisine. Unlike all the fancy restaurants offering all kinds of food, JinyingJiujia (Jinying Restaurant) seems a bit larruping since it focuses only on dim sum. Located on the High Education Mega Center in Panyu District, southern Guangzhou, Jinying ranks absolutely the first as a gathering place for students from all ten universities and working professionals. Prepared as small bite-sized portions, egg tarts, taro dumplings, and char siubaau come with lovely presentation in homemade steamer baskets at Jinying. How irresistible are they? Well, many do end up with stuffing themselves with too much till their stomachs’ aching!
TWIST Mediterranean
TWIST Mediterranean Buffet Revolving Restaurant, located on the 106th floor of Canton Tower, is the highest revolving restaurant in Guangzhou. With authentic Mediterranean interior decoration, soothing light music, and a spectacular 360° bird view of the whole city, TWIST could have kept you too busy to remember the reason you come here at the first place! Until, until you smell it — the cornmeal-crusted ratatouille tart, the Greek-style stuffed pepper, and the citrus chicken! Hm, I call it a ‘wake-up’ smell, and the rest of your night will simply be filled with aroma and dainty, content and joy.
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Hui Lau Shan Healthy Dessert
Cantonese food and Hong Kong flavor are largely influenced by each other throughout history. A similar dining culture gives this Hong Kong-originated dessert brand Hui Lau Shan a great popularity in Guangzhou, offering a sweet ending to your meals. Mango Combo and Pawpaw Stewed with Clam are the must try! Spoon out the freshness of a whole mango combined with flavors of other seasonal fruits in an elegant presentation, who can resist a delicacy like this?
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Guangdong Museum
Interested in ancient Chinese painting and calligraphy, or fascinated by multicolored precious stone, or simply wondering how does Chinese herbal medicine work? A perfect cultural exploration then awaits you right in Guangdong Museum for always discovering more. Located in Tianhe District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Museum displays a comprehensive collection of over 160,000 pieces (sets) which demonstrate both the ample ancient artworks and modernized tastes desirably.
Guangzhou Opera House
Designed by Ms ZahaHadid, the first female winner of the Pritzker Architecture Prize, and Sir. Harold Marshall, the unique acoustic designer from Australia, who won the world top award – the Wallace Clement Sabin Medal, Guangzhou Opera House prides itself on the highest-profile art palace across South China. The delicate emotions from Symphonia Vienna, the everlasting grace of Irish tap dance, the stirring moves of Argentina’s King of Tango — Mora Godoy and the mysterious veils above Ukrainian Fireflies Shadow Theater are clashing right on the stage here. Hold your breath and take a greedy bite tonight!
Ocean Heart Island
Cycling around the HaiXinSha Island (Ocean Hear Island) in the subtle breeze from Pearl River is a daily pleasure you can enjoy in every season even with your children. The 2010 Asia Games Opening Ceremony was held at the Ocean Heart Island, and it provides great tourist-friendly services and facilities like free translation, free maps and bicycles for rent. With reflections of the dreamlike lights from the surrounded streams, Canton Tower beams amazingly onto the tip of the island. Make sure you go cycling when the lights are on and enjoy the feast Pearl River is generously offering!
Gallery Tour at Redtory
You may be surprised to find that as a metropolitan in South China, Guangzhou itself has 23 Creative Industry Parks. Amongst all the public 18 ones, Redtory ranks the first on many’swishinglists. Redtory (Hong Zhuan Chang, which literally means red brick factory) is a cultural, educational and art center in central Guangzhou converted from old brick factories in 2009. A certain bizarre feeling can happen to anyone when the surroundings are looking old-fashioned, sometimes even crumbling but functioning in a truly modernized way. A bunch of international galleries and film studios, bookstores and tea gardens offer you the best place to sip on the fuss-free luxury.
