Guangzhou 广州
Cantonese food capital and historic trading port
Good forFood, Culture, Modern city
Suggested stay2–3 days
Best timeOctober–December and March–April
Capital of Guangdong and a trading port for centuries. Most visitors come for Cantonese food, especially dim sum, and the older neighbourhoods. It is close to Hong Kong, Macau and Shenzhen.
Highlights
- Dim sum breakfast at a traditional teahouse
- Shamian Island — colonial-era buildings by the Pearl River
- Chen Clan Ancestral Hall — Qing-dynasty carvings and folk art
- Canton Tower and a Pearl River night cruise
- Yuexiu Park and the Five Rams statue
- Liwan and Enning Road arcade streets
Food to try
- Dim sum (har gow, siu mai, cheung fun)
- Char siu (barbecue pork)
- Roast goose
- Wonton noodles
- Claypot rice
Getting there
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN). About 30 minutes by high-speed train to Shenzhen; about 2–2.5 hours to Guilin.
Train times are typical; check current timetables on 12306 or Trip.com.
When to go
Best: October–December and March–April. Avoid or plan for: Canton Fair periods (April and October/November) when hotels fill; hot, wet May–September with possible typhoons.
Good to know
- Guangzhou South is the main high-speed station and is far from the centre; allow 40 minutes by metro.
- Local language is Cantonese, but Mandarin is widely spoken.
Visa notes
- Visa-free entry: citizens of 79 countries can visit China for up to 30 days or more without a visa. Check your passport →
- 240-hour transit: Guangzhou is inside the area you may visit on China's 240-hour visa-free transit (for 57 nationalities, flying on to a third country).