Guangzhou: WTF Pitfalls to Sidestep!

[Dr. Guadalupe Homenick]

Sure, this is a guide to help foreign friends avoid pitfalls while traveling in Guangzhou! I'll ensure everything is clear and concise.

• Haixinsha Island & Canton Tower

• Many people choose to view the Canton Tower from Haixinsha Island near the subway station.

  • Note: During holidays such as National Day or Chinese New Year, taking the subway there can be incredibly crowded, and it may take you an hour just to get there!
  • The Canton Tower, being tall and prominent, can actually be seen from many places in the city, so there's no need to ride the APM line to Haixinsha Island. For instance, the Guangdong Museum provides equally good views of the tower.
  • However, there are fountain shows at Haixinsha Island, which are a must-see if you're interested in them.

• Lan Fang Yuan

• Lan Fang Yuan offers classic Hong Kong-style tea in a renowned, historic establishment.

  • However, personally, I don't think it's necessary to seek out the Xi Hua Lu outlet specifically. It's quite far from the subway station, it's overpriced, and the food isn't great.
  • Try a local “Tangshui Shop,” a small restaurant that sells Cantonese desserts and beverages, instead. The taste is not much different.

• Liwan Lake Park

• The park is enormous!

  • Should the weather be clear, visit for a stroll, especially around beautiful flowers, which make for lovely photography.
  • You can also observe locals painting and taking photos, giving a sense of the local way of life.
  • Since the park is big, you don't have to explore every corner; just take in some parts, relax, and enjoy.

• Beijing Road Pedestrian Street

• Please listen to me: Honestly, it's really not worth visiting, especially not at night.

  • We wanted to try "Min Ji" rice pots, but the sight of a line of at least a hundred people discouraged us from waiting.
  • Most restaurants on this street are packed with diners, likely because we visited during a holiday.
  • So, skip Beijing Road unless you're there for other reasons. It feels like a regular commercial street with similar items available all over.
  • Tip: Min Ji rice pots are scattered across different locations in Guangzhou, so look up one less crowed than others.
  • Also, nearby subway stations are packed during rush hours!

• Guangdong Museum

• Important: Make sure you reserve your spot through official channels (WeChat Official Accounts or website), otherwise you won't be able to enter.

  • My goal was to see a famous exhibit ("White-Cut Chicken," but it was something else), only to find it undergoing renovation.
  • Still, it's worth visiting for its interesting displays.
  • Info: An exhibition on jewelry art (separate tickets, costing 78 RMB, with half price for students) was being held during my visit.

• Shamian Island

• An area with a beautiful array of European-style buildings of previous foreign consulates (feeling like being in a European town).

  • Many visitors take photos here. Wearing clothes that match the atmosphere enhances your photos (for instance, vintage style or light-hearted).
  • Though crowded at holiday times, Shamian Island offers sufficient space, making it definitely worth visiting.

In conclusion, Guangzhou is still a fantastic city to visit! I encountered some minor issues during my trip mainly due to insufficient preparation. I hope my comments and suggestions will help you avoid these pitfalls and enable a more enjoyable experience in Guangzhou!

Final Alert: Be sure to avoid taking metro during peak hours (roughly from 7 AM to 9 AM or from 5 PM to 7 PM), as the crowd can be overwhelming!

[Elsa Wyman]

Beijing Road is actually a lot of fun, but it's not just about that single street. It includes the surrounding areas like Wenming Road and Qiyi Road. Wenming Road has tons of delicious food, plus historical sites like the Lu Xun Memorial Hall and the Peasant Movement Institute. Qiyi Road is great too, and then if you head over to Huifu Dong Road, there's even more amazing food to discover.

[Elsa Wyman]

It might be because we were acting like typical tourists and the subway was super crowded, so our overall experience was just okay.

[Jo Douglas]

Is the Canton Tower crowded now?

[Antonio Sawayn]

It's always packed during holidays, especially in the evening. If you want to go up, you'll probably have to queue for a bit.

[Wayne Marvin]

Can you recommend a hotel to stay at?

[Sadie Ortiz-Waelchi]

Hey, the hotel we stayed at was in the Tianhe District area. It was a bit out of the way, and I thought the ambiance was just okay. However, it was right above a commercial area and only 300 meters from the subway station.

[Franklin Weimann IV]

The buildings on Shamian Island date back to the late Qing Dynasty.

[Florence Stark]

Oh! I was hoping to see architecture from the Republic of China era; I thought those buildings were from that period.

[Joseph Thompson]

I think the durian desserts at Lan Fong Yuen are delicious. Not every dessert shop offers durian options, you know.

[Lindsey Jerde DDS]

Oh, I see~

[Israel Koss]

All I can say is, thank goodness we didn't queue for Min Ji... We waited half an hour, and the food was honestly just average.

[Dallas Durgan]

I went to another place the next day, and it was decent, but definitely not worth waiting half an hour for.

[Abel Schulist MD]

I genuinely don't get why every restaurant around Beijing Road, good or bad, has a queue at meal times. Yesterday, I went to a Hunan restaurant, and you could tell right away the food was pre-made. The stir-fried beef was cooked medium and then slow-stewed – in Hunan, they'd practically string you up for that! And the crazy part is, even a place like this had a line...

[Ada Muller]

Seriously... it's unbelievably crowded.

[Antoinette Ferry]

Is the Canton Tower crowded now?