Guangzhou is SO not what Xiaohongshu says it is...
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I saw you posted a lot about parks before, and I absolutely loved those series. It's like I'm exploring Guangzhou right along with you!
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Spot on!
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Canton Tower is definitely worth a visit. The main draw is the panoramic view of Zhujiang New Town from the top.
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For towers, it really depends on the weather and luck. When my school took us up, it was an overcast day – just a gray, hazy mess, and we couldn't see a thing. If the weather's good, going around dusk to catch both the sunset and the night view would be incredible. (I've tried this in other countries, but always seemed to run into rainy or snowy weather there too!)
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Having lived in Guangzhou for ten years, my biggest takeaway is not to blindly trust any single opinion. Everyone has different preferences, and there's no right or wrong. Liwan Lake Park, Shamian Island, and the Botanical Garden are definitely worth visiting, but Dongshankou isn't actually that great for walking around. Huishijia's claypot dishes are oily and bland; Lei Garden's dim sum, though not often recommended, is actually much better than many trendy spots or street food stalls. As for Canton Tower, locals often skip it because they find it pricey, but the observation deck and the Ferris wheel at the top are truly worth experiencing. Don't just echo what others say; those who haven't been don't really have a right to judge. Just go and enjoy what you like.
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This photo was taken from the Ferris wheel at the top of Canton Tower. I've worked in Zhujiang New Town for a long time, and I still think it's absolutely worth going up for the view.
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On Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book), it seems like everyone's trashing Guangzhou, treating it like some backwater city.
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Every city gets its share of criticism; there are all sorts of people out there. Don't let it get to you!
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Honestly, Guangzhou isn't worth visiting as a tourist. Take it from me, folks.
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It's true. I came and found it incredibly boring. The only thing to do was look for food every day.