Here is a guide of top Guangzhou travel destinations. Those that you absolutely have to put on your bucket list of places to not miss out on. With Cathay Pacific flights you can enjoy simple access with many routes, including the one taking you from New York to Guangzhou.
Mausoleum of the Nanyue King
The Mausoleum of Nanyue King presents cultural treasures discovered from an over 2000 year-old tomb over two millenia ago. This unique museum showcases over ten thousand unearthed cultural relics found within that tomb; these include gold, silver, copper, iron and lead articles as well as ceramic, jade crystal carnelian silk leather wood items from ceramic jade jade crystal carnelian carnelian silk leather wood traditional Chinese medicine as well as palace garden construction, politics economy and overseas trades achievements of Nanyue Kingdom achievements across areas such as palace and garden construction as well as palace and garden construction, politics economy and international trades.
One of the greatest pleasures of visiting this museum is being able to walk into a tomb itself, discovered intact in 1983 with seven rooms. Perhaps most intriguingly, this tomb was one of the earliest stone chamber tombs with paintings ever found in South China.
Museum collections not only hold treasures from tombs but also feature artifacts that illustrate how kings and people from this era lived, such as royal family chariots used for transportation by royal families as well as musical instruments used during human sacrifices. Furthermore, it boasts an impressive assortment of porcelain pillows and pottery.
Guangzhou Metro provides the easiest way to visit museums. Comprised of nine lines covering most attractions of Guangzhou city center, a fare costs approximately Y=2, making it a fantastic way to see its beauty from above or below. English-language maps make using the Metro easy; alternatively you can purchase a day pass for both buses and subways for only Y=12! Canton Tower by Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid offers breathtaking aerial views for visitors looking for something different than just metro rides alone – another fantastic place from above!
Flower Pagoda
Guangzhou is an energetic mix of old and new China. Experience ancient temples, mausoleums and skyscrapers while taking in its rich culture – then explore natural landscapes with dense vegetation along the Pearl River!
Take in iconic sites like Five-Ram Sculpture and explore historical sights like Temple of Six Banyan Trees or Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall along the way – plus don’t miss Guangzhou Canton Fair!
People looking to gain more knowledge about the history and culture of Huacheng Square should visit the new Guangdong Museum located nearby – this showcase displays history and art from Guangdong province as well as temporary exhibitions.
Join in Chinese New Year festivities this January or plan your spring or fall trip for flower shows held throughout Guangzhou.
Chen Clan Ancestral Temple
Guangzhou’s lesser-known architectural wonders, the Chen Clan Ancestral Temple – commonly referred to as Chen Academy or Chen’s Lineage Hall – is an impressive piece of Lingnan architecture. Home of Guangdong Folk Art Museum and taking an entire morning or afternoon to tour, its screens, eaves and roofs boast intricate wood and stone carvings depicting animals, flowers, dragons, lions and birds that span its length and breadth.
Courtyards are home to exquisite carvings. One particularly beautiful one depicts Liu Qing taming “the Wolf”, found on the east wall of Back Hall. This intricate artwork contains over 40 figures depicting different poses and facial expressions for each figure in this impressive tableau vivant.
Each building was meticulously decorated inside and out with wood carvings, brick carvings, plaster carvings, pottery pieces, ceramic sculptures, line sculptures and iron castings that represented Tang Dynasty drama scenes, Cantonese fruits and flowers and cultural differences between Chinese and western societies. These decorations also expressed Tang’s strong influence in shaping Cantonese cuisine and culture.
As well as wood carvings, the temple boasts an extensive collection of plaster carvings. Plaster was traditionally used to adorn Cantonese houses; in this temple they were made on site to cover beams, ridges and walls of all buildings – like pottery crests – depicting scenes of traditional drama or Cantonese fruit/flower arrangements/pavilions. Furthermore, many stone/brick carvings featuring historical figures also exist at this location, providing another great example of traditional techniques combined with foreign skills which enrich Chinese folk arts while increasing global influence.
Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall
If you want to gain more insight into China’s founding of democratic revolution, visit Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall. He made great sacrifices on behalf of his nation during the Xinhai Revolution that overthrew Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Many Chinese both domestic and abroad acknowledge his contributions as one of China’s heroes.
The Memorial Hall features an octagonal main building reminiscent of traditional Chinese palaces with double eaves and gable and hip roofs, but is considerably lighter due to being built using steel trusses and reinforced concrete rather than traditional methods. Sun was fond of covering his favorite building with royal blue glazed tiles – they adorning every surface!
As soon as you enter the building, one of the first things you’ll notice is a bronze statue of Sun. Modeled after how he appeared when giving speeches at Sun Yat-sen University and standing 5.5m high. It features its supporting foundation carved with Fundamentals of National Reconstruction written by Sun himself – something no other statue in this building can match!
Beyond Sun himself, there are also bronze statues depicting people involved in his revolution, as well as various pictures and word materials about them.
Along with learning about the founder of Kuomintang, visitors to this place can also experience its exquisite ancient trees. Two notable specimens are “Tree in Tree”, located southeast of the main building; composed of one banyan holding another like arms; and “Tree Embracing Tree”, composed of two Michelia albas embracing each other – both are truly spectacular sights to behold!
Shamian Island
At the mid-19th century, British and French forces took control of this small sandbank (Shamian is Chinese for “sandy surface”) from Qing imperial government and constructed numerous foreign companies, consulates, and churches on it. Shamian’s eclectic architecture can still be seen today when walking around its many large shade trees.
Shamian is also well known for being home to Western couples looking to adopt Chinese children, making it a desirable destination for international travelers seeking something quieter than the main part of town.
Even though we didn’t have enough time to explore every inch of this beautiful island, we enjoyed strolling its stunning architecture and snapping plenty of Instagram-worthy shots. It made for a fantastic way to spend two hours, and is well worth adding onto any Guangzhou travel itinerary if you are nearby. Access is simple: hop off Metro Line 1 at Huangsha Station and walk from exit via an overpass towards entrance – signs will lead the way! It makes an enjoyable stop during an adventure out exploring Guangzhou; share any favorite pictures you took when visiting with us in comments below!
