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Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong Province, is one of the most important central cities in southern China and also a core engine city of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

essential information

Location: Located in the northern part of the Pearl River Delta, downstream of the Pearl River, bordering the South China Sea

Area: approximately 7,434 square kilometers

Population: The permanent population exceeds 18 million (one of China's megacities)

Alternative names: Yangcheng, Suicheng, Huacheng, Wuyangcheng

History and Culture

Guangzhou is a historic and cultural city of China, with a history of over 2,200 years, and it is an important starting point of the Maritime Silk Road. It has been an important port for foreign trade since ancient times, and the "Thirteen Factories" were once the only foreign trade port of China, possessing a profound commercial tradition and an open gene.

cultural features ：

The birthplace of Cantonese culture, Cantonese opera, Cantonese music and Lingnan painting school are famous at home and abroad

Culinary Culture: "Food in Guangzhou" is well-known, and the culture of morning tea and Cantonese cooking skills are listed as national intangible cultural heritage

Traditional Festival: Spring Flower Market, Poluo Festival, Dragon Boat Race and other folk activities are rich and colorful

Economy and Status

Economic output: Its GDP consistently ranks among the top cities nationwide (exceeding 3 trillion yuan in 2023)

Transportation Hub: With Baiyun International Airport, one of China's three major aviation hubs, and Guangzhou South Station, one of Asia's largest high-speed rail stations, the port throughput leads globally.

Trade Center: The Canton Fair (China Import and Export Fair) has been held here twice a year, in spring and autumn, since 1957. It is the longest-running, highest-level, and largest-scale comprehensive international trade event in China.

city scape

Modern and traditional blend: Zhujiang New Town CBD skyscrapers, while preserving a large number of historical buildings such as Chen Clan Temple, Shamian, and Xiguan Mansion

Ecological Construction: Baiyun Mountain, Pearl River Night Cruise, Haizhu Wetland, etc. constitute the pattern of "mountain-water-city-field-sea", which has been awarded the title of "International Garden City".

Innovation Vitality: Boasting numerous universities and research institutions, the Pazhou Artificial Intelligence and Digital Economy Pilot Zone and other emerging industrial clusters are thriving.

sum up

Guangzhou, a millennium-old commercial capital, combines historical depth with modern vitality. With an open and inclusive attitude and a pragmatic, enterprising spirit, it continues to lead the economic and cultural development of southern China. Whether it's savoring authentic Cantonese cuisine, strolling through the old arcade streets, or feeling the innovative pulse of a first-tier city, Guangzhou offers unique and rich experiences.

1. Chen Family Temple (Chen's Academy)

Constructed in 1888 during the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty, this architectural masterpiece was a joint venture by the Chen clan from seventy-two counties across Guangdong Province, completed after seven years of construction. Featuring a layout of "three courtyards, three pathways, nine halls, and two wing pavilions," it spans 15,000 square meters. Renowned for its "three carvings, two sculptures, one casting, and one painting," the complex showcases exquisite wood carvings of "The Investiture of the Gods," stone carvings of Lingnan fruits, brick carvings of "The Gathering of Liangshan Heroes," ceramic ridge decorations depicting "The Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea," plaster sculptures of flowers, birds, insects, and fish, and iron cast railings titled "Jinyu Mantang" (Golden Jade Filling the Hall). It is celebrated as the "Pearl of Lingnan Architectural Art."

2. Canton Tower (Little Waist)

With a total height of 600 meters, it is the first in China and the third in the world for tourism observation towers. Designed by the UK-based ARUP company, it features a "slender waist and spiral ascent" design. The 488-meter outdoor observation platform is the tallest in the world; the 450-meter Ferris wheel is the tallest horizontal Ferris wheel in the world; the 433-meter White Cloud Starry Sky Observation Hall has a fully transparent glass floor; the 107-story rotating restaurant offers a 360-degree view; and the Spider-Man Walkway is the tallest and longest aerial walkway in the world. The night light show is a landmark in Guangzhou.

3. Shamian Island

The British and French Concessions, established after the Second Opium War in 1859, were reclaimed in 1946. The area preserves over 150 European-style buildings, including the Neo-Baroque British Consulate (1865), the Gothic Revival Lud Catholic Church (1889), arcade-style foreign firm residences, and the neoclassical HSBC Bank site. More than 100 ancient trees, aged 100 to 300 years, stand as historical landmarks. This was also the site of the 1925 "Shaki Massacre".

4. Nanyue King Palace Museum

The Nanyue Kingdom was established by Qin general Zhao Tuo in 203 BC, with its capital at Panyu, and lasted for 93 years. Archaeological discoveries include stone-built water pools (imperial garden lakes), winding stone channels (the earliest water scenery relics of Chinese imperial gardens), and well clusters from various dynasties. These sites bear witness to Guangzhou's 2,200-year history as the political center of Lingnan and were listed on the "World Heritage Watch List" in 2012.

5. Shishi Shengxin Cathedral

One of the four fully stone Gothic churches in the world, it was initially constructed in 1863 and took 25 years to complete. Designed by French architect Ming Jizhang, it stands 58.5 meters tall. All walls and columns are built with granite from Kowloon, Hong Kong, using tung oil instead of cement. The twin spires feature pointed arches and flying buttresses, with 7-meter-diameter rose windows adorned with multicolored glass. The doors are decorated with Cantonese wood carvings of Lingnan fruits, while the drainage holes are shaped like Chinese lions.

6. Yongqingfang

Located on Enning Road, Guangzhou's most picturesque arcade street, this historic site was built in 1931. Its 2015 micro-renovation preserved the original architectural style while reinforcing structural integrity. During President Xi Jinping's 2018 inspection, it was designated as a National 4A-level Scenic Area in 2022. Key attractions include: Bruce Lee's ancestral home (his father Li Haiquan's residence, a classic Xiguan-style mansion), the largest Cantonese Opera Museum in South China, Moon Bridge (where the full moon's reflection creates a stunning night view), an intangible cultural heritage district featuring Guangcai porcelain, Guangxiu embroidery, and enamel ivory carvings, and the popular Zhongshuge Bookstore.

7. Beijing Road Pedestrian Street

Dating back to the Qin and Han dynasties, this site was established as the Panyu City by the Qin Dynasty in 214 BC. For over 2,200 years, it has remained the urban center—a rarity in the history of world cities. In 2002,11 layers of road remains from the Tang Dynasty to the Republic of China period were discovered, with each layer clearly visible beneath the glass walkway. The Great Buddha Temple, originally built during the Southern Han period (917-971 AD), boasts a millennium of history. Its three bronze Buddha statues, each standing 6 meters tall and weighing 10 tons, radiate golden splendor at night, reminiscent of scenes from the film "Spirited Away." The temple also houses Guangdong Province's only Buddhist temple library.

8. Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street

Nestled in the heart of Xiguan, this Guangzhou's most intact arcade street boasts a wealth of late Qing and early Republican-era buildings. The arcade design, inspired by ancient Greek colonnades, features sun-and rain-shaded ground-floor corridors adapted to the Lingnan climate. The area thrives with time-honored establishments: Taotaoju (founded 1880), the oldest teahouse and celebrated mooncake specialist; Lianxianglou (1889), renowned for its lotus-paste mooncakes; Nanxin Milk Desserts (1934), pioneers of double-layered milk and ginger milk; Yinkai Char Siu (Bra-style char siu); Chentianji (delicious fish skin boat congee); Shunji Ice Cream Shop (coconut ice cream); and Wuzhanji (zhuangyuan jidi congee, a traditional rice porridge).

9. Baiyun Mountain

Nanyue's iconic mountain, hailed as "Yangcheng's Premier Scenic Wonder", boasts over 30 peaks with its main summit, Moxing Ridge, reaching 382 meters above sea level—the highest in Guangzhou's urban area. Covering 28 square kilometers with over 95% green coverage, it is revered as Guangzhou's "City Lung". Historical sites include: An Qisheng's alchemical retreat from the Warring States period, Ge Hong's medicinal wells from the Eastern Jin Dynasty, and Tang Dynasty poets Han Yu and Su Shi's poetic reflections. Major attractions include: Moxing Ridge (China's highest peak for sunrise and sunset views), Mingchun Valley (the nation's largest natural bird-watching zone), Nengren Temple (the best-preserved ancient temple built during the Xianfeng era of the Qing Dynasty), Jiulong Spring (legendary for its crystal-clear, sweet waters), and Yuntai Garden (a Western-style botanical garden).