Guangzhou Travel Guide
Travel guide to Guangzhou, China with comprehensive information about events, shopping, and major Guangzhou sporting events to help you enjoy your visit more.
Guangzhou Overview
Guangzhou, formerly known as Canton, is found in southern China. It has a population in excess of 4 million people, making it one of the largest cities in the country.
It has a history dating back to the 3rd century BC, being a significant force ever since. The fantastic background of the city, with its involvement in all of China's main developments, provides a real sense of occasion upon seeing the city for the first time. The buildings that are here do nothing to diminish this perspective, the Liurong Temple for example, known as the Temple of the Six Banyan Trees. With the eight sided Flowering Pagoda dating back to the 3rd century, and the Temple the 6th century it is one of the most visited places in the city, as well as one of the most evocative.
As with many such Chinese cities, the culture and spirituality of the place is tangible. For the western visitor it makes for a surprisingly refreshing time. The Yuexiu Park is a great example of a place that can deeply affect the visitor. The largest urban park in China, the lush green grass rolls and flows over a vast area, and is also where a number of lakes can be found. The feeling of peace here is wonderful, and one that stays in the heart long after leaving.
Top Guangzhou Attractions
On a trip to China it comes as a surprise to find traditional European architecture, but that is exactly what the Sacred Heart Cathedral offers. It is a Roman Catholic building that, with its Gothic architecture, looks exceedingly strange in this context, thus making it particularly dramatic. It is also a great opportunity to compare directly the different styles and cultures.
Shopping in Guangzhou
The city has a lot to offer the shopper here. Beijing road is the main shopping street, with a mass of different stores offering a great variety of top quality products and established brand names. The city is also where the largest shopping mall in China can be found, called the Zhengjia Plaza. There are other areas of the city dedicated to different types of products, antiques for example and crystal.
Guangzhou Sporting Events
Guangzhou has a range of sports on offer, with football being especially popular in what is a fast developing soccer country. The world game is now benefiting from this development as Chinese players move abroad to play in major national leagues such as the English Premiership. There are also some major sports tournaments held here, with tennis and golf being well represented.
