Guangzhou: My Big Disappointment 😞

[Dr. Guadalupe Homenick]

Wow, talking about the roads in Guangzhou, I really have a lot to say!

• Some of these streets are incredibly narrow, which makes driving or even being a passenger a bit nerve-wracking.
• And then there are those overpasses — that’s the freeway-like structures built above ordinary roads.
  • In the blink of an eye, wham! You're up on one!
• Even when following your GPS, restaurants seemingly within sight might still require you to navigate through confusing directions as if the GPS itself is at a loss.
  • If you're not from around here, getting the cardinal directions straight becomes impossible.
  • A misstep can lead you back onto one of the overpasses again — oops! Only to find that you've added several extra miles onto your journey when you finally descend.
  • With a growling stomach, your temper flares; it's real!
• The entire city feels crisscrossed with overpasses, while roads below are tiny and narrow, sometimes quite chaotic. This is indeed a headache!

Reminder for friends visiting Guangzhou (especially if you plan on driving yourself or taking taxis frequently):

• Be cautious about the “overpasses”!
  • Why be cautious? These overpasses are built above surface roads, resembling expressways within the city. Should you accidentally take one, you may find yourself far off track to your destination, leading to more detours just to get back down.
  • How to avoid trouble?
    • Pay extra attention as you near overpass entrances while using GPS. Look out for signs indicating “overpass.”
    • When taking a taxi, if the driver asks whether you want to take an overpass, you might consider the best option based on your schedule. Sometimes, overpasses speed things up, but choosing incorrectly or having inaccurate navigation may result in longer routes.
    • In reality, exploring Guangzhou city using the metro is really a smart choice — convenient and less likely to lead you astray!

[Ada Muller]

That's just Guangzhou for you; you'll have to get used to it. Even the buses use the elevated roads, which just adds to the traffic chaos. And get this – some turns on these elevated roads actually have traffic lights, making the congestion even worse. It's utterly ridiculous.

[Dexter Cummerata]

Plus, the parking fees are incredibly expensive, and it seems like there's no daily cap.

[Danielle Purdy-Weimann]

Yeah, even locals can easily take a wrong turn if they're not familiar with the route.

[Katrina Sporer]

It's my first time seeing a city with elevated roads and roundabouts everywhere. I'm completely disoriented!

[Hugo Witting]

I'm so done. I kept taking wrong turns all day and was absolutely exhausted. In the end, I just gave up and hailed a cab back to the hotel.

[Wesley Parisian-Kerluke IV]

Hey everyone! Looking for wedding photoshoot recommendations in Shenzhen or Guangzhou. Any tips?

[Beatrice Thiel]

If you can mess up getting onto the Inner Ring Road at the Zhongshan Interchange, you'll definitely get lost heading to Haizhu District. GPS navigation often has delays, and with so many diverging roads, you really need to pay attention to the road signs. On another note, if Guangzhou didn't have the Inner Ring elevated highway, restrictions on out-of-town vehicles would be even tighter – those drivers wouldn't even get the chance to complain about the traffic!

[Dana Sanford]

Seriously, don't drive in downtown Guangzhou. The subway is by far the most convenient option.

[Antoinette Ferry]

These roads were built back when cars were hardly a thing, if they even existed.

[Delia Jast]

You should check out the new district in Nansha; it's a completely different story over there. Much easier to get around.

[Hannah Rogahn]

There's not much to be done. The number of motor vehicles and electric scooters has exploded in the past decade or so. The old road designs just can't handle this volume anymore; they're completely overloaded.

[Dr. Lance Glover]

That's just how the old districts are. You have to remember, these areas were built decades ago. They've already squeezed in as many elevated roads as possible in such narrow spaces, trying their best to manage traffic. But honestly, there's only so much they can handle.