Guangzhou Travel Guide

The Pearl River (Zhūjiāng) earned its poetic name from a legendary rock formation that once rose proudly from its waters near Guangzhou. For centuries, a massive sandstone outcrop—polished smooth by the river’s currents—glistened like a pearl under the sun, earning it the name “Sea Pearl Rock” (海珠石). This natural landmark became so iconic that the surrounding waters were called the …

Tucked away in Guangzhou’s Panyu District (17km from downtown), the postcard-perfect Yu Yin Shan Fang (余荫山房) stands as one of Guangdong’s Four Classic Qing Dynasty Gardens. This 1,598-sqm horticultural gem whispers the legacy of the Wu family – whose father and two sons remarkably clinched top-three rankings in imperial examinations – making it a symbolic pilgrimage site for academic aspirants …

Guangzhou Haizhu Square is a bustling commercial and transportation hub in central Guangzhou, located along the Pearl River. While it functions as a major traffic circle, its real charm lies in the surrounding wholesale markets—some of the best in China for deals on everything from toys to dried seafood. Apart from the usual toys, furnishings, and electronics, this is a …

Step into the opulent world of Xiguan Grand Houses (Xiguan Da Wu 西关大屋), where the wealthiest Cantonese families of the Ming and Qing dynasties once resided. These architectural masterpieces blend soaring spaces with intimate courtyards, their intricate woodcarvings and满洲窗 (stained-glass windows) glowing like jewel boxes in the subtropical sun.Two centuries ago, Xiguan was the neighborhood for Guangzhou’s wealthy elite. Today, …

Perched on the serene Changzhou Island in Guangzhou’s Huangpu District, Huangpu Military Academy stands as hallowed ground that once trained the 20th century’s most influential military leaders. Founded in 1924 through an unprecedented alliance—revolutionary leader Sun Yat-sen collaborating with Soviet advisors and Chinese Communists—this legendary academy’s legacy lives on in the battlefields of history, having shaped commanders who would determine …