Your complete guide to things to do in Guangzhou for your next holiday here

The perfect city holiday doesn’t exist...or does it? I’ve always been picky about the cities I choose for a vacation, wanting the best of everything – a relatively clean place where I can get around easily, with a mix of cheap street food and posh restaurants and bars. Even better if there are scenic spots to explore in between meals and for a breath of fresh air. Guangzhou ticked all these boxes for me. It even has a mountain where you can enjoy some tranquility, located right in the middle of the city.

If it’s going to be your first time in Guangzhou, here are some of my recommendations starting with the best ways to check out traditional tourist spots and places where you can eat, drink and enjoy to your hearts content!

Things to do in Guangzhou

1. Hop on a Pearl River Night cruise (with a nice dinner!)

The Canton tower（广州塔）is visible from many spots in Guangzhou, but there’s no better way to enjoy it than from a Pearl River Night cruise. This might be touristy, but quite fun, and some of the cruises offer dinner as part of the package.

Pro-tip 1: You might be tempted to secure tickets online, but there is no need to if you’re not travelling during peak periods. Online tickets are often more expensive than same-day sales at the ticket office. You may purchase tickets at Tianzi Wharf and Dashatou Wharf. Tickets range from S$10 to S$20 depending on your selection of services and ticket types. If you wish to pre-purchase tickets online, you may consider online attraction ticket providers like Klook or Viator.

Pro-tip 2: Lots of people will be jostling with you on the deck to take a photo with the tower in the background, but the cruises usually pass the tower twice during the trip. So instead of jostling for space during the “to” trip, wait for the “return” leg where there will be lesser people on the deck.

Address: Tianzi Wharf （天字码头）, China, Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, Yuexiu District, Yanjiang Middle Rd, 泰康街

Opening hours: Monday to Friday – 2:30pm to 5:30pm，Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays – 10:30am to 6:00pm.

2. Visit the exquisite Shamian island and dine at the train restaurant

Shamian island （沙面岛）– a former concession island that was established by the French and British after the Second Opium War, is a unique location with historical buildings, broad walking streets lined with greenery, and a good view of the Pearl River.

I would recommend having a meal on the “Orient Express”, a French restaurant located in an unused train carriage. While I read mixed reviews before visiting the place (some reviews said it was quite gimmicky), I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food as it was quite exquisitely prepared and flavourful, and the service was excellent. Would recommend a visit if you’re on the island! I didn’t make a reservation, but the train was quite full when I visited over lunch. To secure a table, you may want to get your hotel’s concierge services to help with making a reservation.

Shamian Island is accessible by public transport and is connected by bridges to the other parts of Guangzhou; located just a few kilometers from the bustling Tianhe area.

Address: No.3 South Shamian Street, Liwan District, Guangzhou City, China

Opening hours: Opens 24 hours daily

3. Climb Baiyun Mountain for a breath of fresh air

If you’re thinking of what to do in Guangzhou for a good workout, you can try visiting Baiyun Mountain （白云山)! Baiyun Mountain, which means “White Cloud” mountain, is a mountain located in Guangzhou city. The mountain consists of seven tourist areas, and many other tourist attractions – some of which require admission tickets. The fastest way to travel to the peak is by cable car – I chose this option to travel to the top. Even so, you can work up quite a sweat exploring the peak, as some of the viewing spots are only accessible through winding pathways and stairs. I also took a scenic leisurely walk down the mountain to better soak in the sights on the mountain. The cable car ride costs about S$5 one-way (up) and S$4 (down), you may purchase tickets on-location.

Pro tip: The Baiyun Mountain is a popular spot even for locals, so do try to avoid visiting the place on weekends or during China’s public holidays.

4. Explore and snap pictures along Beijing Road Pedestrian street

Beijing Road Pedestrian street （北京路步行街） is one of the most popular shopping spots in Guangzhou, selling cheap clothes, shoes and good food. This road has existed for nearly a thousand years, and if you’re tired of shopping, you can also check out the two underground archeological sites located along the road – what a rare sight to behold! Its surrounding streets have plenty of interesting architecture to take photos of.

Address: Junction of No.4 Zhongshan Road and Beijing Road

Opening hours: Opens 24 hours daily. For shops, opening hours varies so it’s best to check with your hotel concierge for more information before visiting.

5. Shangxiajiu Pedestrian street

Yet another popular shopping area, the Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street （上下九步行街） has a wide range of shops for you to fill your stomachs and shopping needs. The name of the road was quite interesting to me. It loosely translates to “up down nine” road – and this came about because it comprises “Shangjiu” (上九，Upper 9^th street), “Xiajiu” (下九，lower 9^th street) among other streets!

Address: Xiajiu Lu, Liwan District, Guangzhou

Opening hours: Opens 24 hours daily. For shops opening hours varies so it’s best to check with your hotel concierge for more information before visiting.

There are also many famous Guangzhou food establishments – would recommend that you visit Po Wah Noodle Shop （宝华面店） for your wanton mee fix and drop by Nanxin Milk （南信双皮奶甜品店 ） for desserts.

Po Wah Noodle Shop

Address: 117 Baohua Rd, Liwan Qu, Guangzhou

Opening hours: Opens daily from 6:00am to 2:00am.

 

Nanxin Milk

Address: 47 Dishifu Rd, Shang Xia Jiu, Liwan District, Guangzhou

Opening hours: Opens daily from 9:30am to 11:00pm.

Must-eat restaurants in Guangzhou

6. The perfect breakfast spot –Yinji Rice Rolls

You can’t visit Guangzhou without having breakfast at the popular Yin Ji Rice Rolls （银记肠粉店）eatery. The casual dining establishment, with many outlets scattered around Guangzhou, offers a wide range of rice rolls and congee, perfect to kick start your morning.

Address: There are multiple outlets but if you are at the shopping area, you may want to visit the one at ShangJiu Road - 79 Shangjiu Road, Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street

Opening hours: Opens daily from 6:30am to 12:00am.

7. Not-to-miss dim sum – Diandude

Guangzhou is famous for their dim sum, and Diandude （点都德） is one of my most-loved dim sum spots there. They serve traditional dim sum, but my favourite here is a special changfen (rice roll) that I’ve never tried anywhere else. Unlike the more traditional ones served at Yinji, theirs is made of red rice, and stuffed with fried dough and shrimp – crispy, sweet and salty at the same time.

Address: Main branch is located at 587 Long Jin Zhong Lu, Liwan district

Opening hours: Opens daily from 7:00am to 10:00pm.

8. Best Char Siew and Polo Bun – Bingsheng

My go-to restaurant for premium (yet reasonably priced) food in Guangzhou is Bingsheng （炳胜） – a premium, upscale restaurant, with an extensive menu that might take you ten minutes just to look through. See pictures of some must-try items!

Address: There are multiple outlets, but I visited the outlet in the Tianhe district - 1-2/F, Shibei Hotel, No.168 Tianhe East Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou China

Opening hours: Opens daily from 7:00am to 10:00pm.

9. Spice up your dinner with Tanyu

This famous charcoal grilled fish restaurant Tanyu（探鱼） has opened a branch in Singapore’s 313@Somerset, and you would have probably heard of the long wait to get a table there. This shop is originally from Shenzhen, in Guangdong province. Since you’re near its place of origin, why not pop by one of the stores in Guangzhou for some delicious mala to spice up your dinner?

Address: There are multiple outlets, and the best rated one on Dianping (China’s food review platform) is located at 68 Zhongshan 5th Rd, Huangbu Dist 3F, May Flower Plaza.

Opening hours: Opens daily from 11:00am to 10:00pm.

Rooftop bars in Guangzhou

10. The Roof Bar, Park Hyatt Guangzhou

Located on the 70^th floor of Park Hyatt, The Roof Bar （悦吧） offers a spectacular view of the Pearl River and has both indoor and outdoor seating options to chill at.

Pro-tip: Opt for an indoor sitting and chill out with the live band performance or go outdoors for a spectacular view of the city – make reservations if you can as this place fills up quite fast!

Address: 16 Huaxia Road, Zhujiang New Town, Tianhe District

Opening hours: Sunday to Thursday – 6:00pm to 1:00am, Friday and Saturday – 6:00pm to 2:00am.

11. Tian Bar, Four Seasons Hotel

If the 70^th floor isn’t high enough for you, try the Tian Bar (天吧, translates to ‘Sky Bar’), located on the 99^th floor of the Four Seasons Hotel – where you can have an unparalleled view of the city beneath your feet. They have an amazing range of cocktails, and you can also get a bespoke cocktail service where you tell the waiters your preference. I had an excellent experience here, as their bilingual wait staff was attentive, and took the time to explain the various ingredients that were added into my cocktail.

Pro tip: You will need to place reservations in advance to secure a spot, or try to arrive by 10pm. Otherwise, be prepared to wait in line.

Address: Four Seasons Hotel, No.5 Zhujiang West Road, Tianhe District

Opening hours: Sunday to Thursday - 5:00pm to 1:00am, Friday and Saturday – 5:00pm to 2:00am.

Bonus tips for travelling in Guangzhou

Guangzhou is a fun and lively spot to visit in China, and I enjoyed every bit of my five-day trip there. Here are some other useful tips for you before you go:

• Mobile: If you need to stay connected to your Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, get data-roaming. China only blocks these apps if you’re using Wifi or if you’re using Chinese SIM cards. You can also purchase a SIM card from Changi Recommends.

• Travel: To book private hire taxis, you will need to download the “Didi – Greater China” app (Click to download the app from the Apple store and Google Play) before you get to China and sign up for an account and register your credit card. Only the Greater China version allows the use of foreign credit cards to be tied to the account. You can contact the driver by messaging him or her through the app, and even if you type in English, the app automatically translates your words to Chinese. Sometimes the drivers get cranky when they realise you’re using a foreign number and they can’t call through to you, so just smile and nod your way through when they arrive.

 

I didn’t have much expectations of Guangzhou before I visited, as my friends typically talk about the more “hip” Chinese cities like Shanghai and Beijing. But after this trip, Guangzhou really impressed me with its cleanliness and friendliness of its people, and most importantly its amazing range of delicious food. This is a city that I will definitely want to visit again in the near future!

 

The views expressed in this article are those of the author, Lee Khai Yan.

About Khai Yan: A Singaporean with a love for travelling, Khai Yan has gone on many unforgettable adventures in unique destinations round-the-globe. Among them, she’s a huge fan of Bolivia’s Salar de Uyuni (the world’s largest salt flat) and Russia’s Lake Baikal – both of which are massive wonders of nature. While travelling, she loves sampling local food; in particular, she’s making it her own personal mission to sample all variants of dumplings around the world.

 

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