Guangzhou: It's Great! ...Just Don't Expect Me Back.
-
Well, I enjoyed my trip to Guangzhou this time, but compared to Shenzhen, I still have a preference for the latter. During these few days, Guangzhou's traffic really put me into a dilemma of how to interpret it.
The traffic really gets on my nerves!
- Calling a car requires an extremely long wait: Every time I used apps like Didi or AutoNavi to call a taxi, I had to wait over fifteen minutes before a driver arrived. This was not just a simple matter of a shortage of cars during busy hours.
- Warning: Street motorcycles and e-vans are major traffic blockers
- Motorcycles and electric vehicles (which are very popular locals known as "motorcycles" in Guangzhou) will dart around, which would make it difficult for cars to drive and get stuck in traffic. Therefore, if you're constrained by time, reserve more time for booking a taxi.
- I'm not really fond of walking, especially with the weather being so hot, and even though my destination might be close according to Google maps, I still chose to take a taxi.
- Drivers cancelling orders: Several times when a driver picked me up, he asked me to cancel my order. However, this issue did not arise from my ordering inexpensive fares.
- Warning: Street conditions in old town areas: some roads are very narrow, while coupled with the large number of street motorcycles and e-vans, driving becomes even slower.
- Heavy Crowds at Line 3 Subway Station: One of Guangzhou's main subway lines. According to AutoNavi APP, the first time I saw the passengers queuing up outside the subway and waiting with barrier enclosures, it was extremely crowded at the station.
- Warning: Commuting recommendation: if the destination can be reached by Line 3 Subways, try to avoid peak-time trips, or consider taking the public bus instead.
Experience and Navigation in the City
- It feels like the city lacks unified management compared to Shanghai, which despite being very populous, has excellent organization and a romantic feel while walking around the old town districts.
- (I know some people might say that as someone from Jiangsu or Zhejiang provinces, praising Shanghai is our tendency. However, when comparing cities, it has to be relative. Comparing Guangzhou with small cities won't make sense; while on the other hand, comparing it with large cities may give the impression that I am overly flattering them with compliments.)
- GPS Navigation is unreliable:
- The GPS used in Guangzhou often led me to incorrect directions, taking me around pointless rounds. I had no choice but to ask for help, only to find out that those who could help were also strangers in the town.
- These people confessed they had equally been lost and wasted time going around the city.
- Recommendations: Using the navigation in old districts, head towards landmarks or check-in with local stores/shopkeepers once near enough.
- Walking around the old town has disappointed me at certain points: Some narrow streets and districts with longer histories feel a little disorderly and are rather untidy. I was not interested in their ambiance.
Food - Pros and Cons
- Guangzhou is fairly accommodating towards different consumption patterns: There are many inexpensive street stalls selling popular local dishes, as well as Michelin starred restaurants.
- Since I am from Jiangsu province with a refined palate, I often felt that some of Huaiyang cuisine featured in many of Guandong local restaurants were not very distinguishable from the same type back in my hometown cities.
- However, baked pigeon is definitely worth a try: It was really delicious as well as quite affordable, and I ended up ordering quite a few.
- Sweet treats are just a little ordinary: I visited many dessert shops during my trip, some due to the recommendations in social media, like Xiaohongshu app, and others based on my impulse. Most sweets felt and looked mundane.
- This must be because we have too many competitors in sweet shops in our cities, where even the complimentary free buffet desserts offered in hotpot restaurants, such as mango-scented sago pudding (a kind of fruit pudding made with water chestnut sago), jasmine tofu jelly or Chinese waxberry ice slushes (a dish made out of waxberry, sugar, and water) are so much more innovative and tasty than those sweet shops.
In summary
- Every city has its own strengths and drawbacks. Also, it is rather common for tourist populations to increase during summer holidays.
- I hope Guangzhou will also improve urban management, which brings convenience to local citizens as well as enhances visitors' trips.
-
Disclaimer: These are my honest feelings, and I'm not trying to deliberately slander anyone. If you're a local who gets easily offended, this place isn't for you, and there's no need to leave your 'valuable' input. I'll say what I want to say, you go read what you enjoy, and we can just stay out of each other's way.
-
You're so right. As someone born in Guangzhou, I feel this deeply. I really want to move to a quiet little town.
-
I find Guangzhou really laid-back. Lots of people in flip-flops, dressed very casually. For someone like me with 'trendsetter phobia,' it's very welcoming. My friend and I absolutely love the beef hot pot there.
-
Guangzhou is pretty fun, but it sounds like you went to the wrong places.
-
Weren't those the recommended places like Beijing Road, Shamian Island, Yongqing Fang, Zhujiang New Town, Haixinsha, and the major plazas? I was most satisfied with Bai'e Tan and Haixinsha. Where do you guys go for fun?
-
I really don't get people who travel and then trash the tourist spots. Where isn't crowded during summer vacation? Isn't our heat famous all over China? Since you knew it would be hot and crowded, and you still chose to come... Besides, Guangzhou already has a large population, add to that the holidays, and it being a popular tourist destination. If you like Shanghai so much, then just go to Shanghai. Why rant online? If you like shopping, then go to Shenzhen or Shanghai. Guangzhou indeed doesn't have as many plazas as Shenzhen, but it offers a different kind of culture and flavor. If all you're looking for is air-conditioned malls, WiFi, and fewer people, then really, don't come to Guangzhou, because you clearly won't appreciate its rich cultural heritage and unique tourist attractions.
-
Well, I didn't know before I came either. And I'd like to ask you: if you can't stand hearing negative opinions, why do you even bother reading them and torturing yourself?
-
Oh my god, I feel the complete opposite! Guangzhou is great, I'll definitely come back. When I'm with a group, I always get a 7-seater. It's super fast, and the drivers' service is way better than in Beijing.
-
Well, if you're comparing it to Beijing, then yeah, that makes sense. Beijing is pretty boring, after all.
-
As someone from Hangzhou, I've been up late looking at guides – heading to Guangzhou the day after tomorrow! I've already been to Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen, so how could I miss out on visiting and eating my way through Guangzhou?!
-
Honestly, there's no need to follow guides from Xiaohongshu. They're mostly useless. You'll understand when you visit the places they recommend.
-
I don't get why ride-hailing is hard. Usually, I use Ruqi, and for 7-seaters, Gaode or Didi. Locals avoid the 'deathly' Line 3. Many internet-famous spots are actually terrible; locals don't go there.
-
I've already explained the specific reasons. Plus, it's just me and my child traveling; I never even considered getting a 7-seater.
-
- That's clearly a sweeping generalization. I respect and understand your feelings, but to draw such conclusions based on just a few days' experience shows a fundamental lack of respect and understanding of Guangzhou.
- You weren't really here to travel; you were just here to take photos for your social media to show off. Guangzhou is modest and low-key, without too many 'prestige projects' for you to photograph. It's normal that you prefer Shenzhen, which is shiny and glamorous, since you only look at the surface and don't understand depth and substance.
- Since you're from Jiangsu, why don't you recommend those restaurants, including dessert shops, that you claim taste no different from Guangzhou's Cantonese cuisine? Let everyone go and compare. It's normal you can't appreciate the uniqueness of 'Food in Guangzhou'; after all, you're just here for photos and don't know how to savor the flavors.
- If your taxis always took 10-15 minutes or more to arrive, and it wasn't during peak hours, then it's probably just your bad luck.
- Discussing urban management with you would be like casting pearls before swine. Let's just drop it.
-
I took a few token photos on the first day and none after that. It's not like I've never seen the world. What do you mean I was just here for photos? Is Guangzhou really something I'd need to show off? You're the one I'm casting pearls before swine by talking to you.
-
Guangzhou won't miss you.
-
And I think there's one too many of you here. How about you show yourself out?
-
Regarding the e-scooters, as a Guangzhou local, I have to agree, they're a mess. Even my friend visiting from the US for a week was shocked by how they dart around chaotically. But saying Guangzhou's food isn't as good as Shanghai's? That's where I absolutely disagree! As someone who also travels to Shanghai frequently for business, even with meal budgets over 1000 RMB per person, I have to say, the food there often isn't great! It's so sweet, I worry about getting diabetes! Guangzhou's food scene caters to all budgets: you can get an authentic bowl of fish ball noodles from a time-honored stall for 10 RMB, or a luxurious Cantonese meal for 1000 RMB – it has everything. Moreover, in Guangzhou, and even across Guangdong, if there's even one person at the table who speaks Mandarin, everyone, regardless of age or how poor their Mandarin is, will try their best to speak it. In Shanghai, they just speak Shanghainese whether you understand or not, as if it's your fault for not understanding their dialect!