Things to do in Guangzhou

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All about Guangzhou

When to visit

Visit Guangzhou in fall for pleasant, mostly dry weather. Winter temperatures are fairly mild, but air quality can be poor. Spring is lush and wet. Summers are hot and humid, with frequent thunderstorms, occasional typhoons, and lots of visitors. Plan ahead if you will be visiting around April/May and September/October, when the Canton Fair is held. The city gets packed over Chinese New Year and the May and October national holidays.

Getting around

Guangzhou is well connected by public transportation. Buses are the cheapest and offer the widest coverage, and include rapid transit versions. The metro provides good coverage, including to neighboring Foshan. Taxis are cheap and plentiful, though drivers rarely speak anything other than Chinese. Rideshare apps like DiDi are a good alternative. Given Guangzhou’s location on the Pearl River, water buses are another good option, and they offer a scenic way to travel around.

Traveler tips

A Pearl River night cruise is a popular tourist attraction. For a cheaper alternative, take a water bus. While some routes only run until the early evening, several run much later, and they offer the same thrilling views as the more expensive cruises. Don’t miss strolling the promenades alongside the Pearl River afterwards—both for the illuminated views and to join in with locals out enjoying the evening, including with lively dancing.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Guangzhou known for?

Once known as Canton City, Guangzhou is China’s third largest city, a busy trading port, and the capital of Guangdong (Canton) province. It’s best known for Cantonese cuisine, Cantonese opera, the Pearl River, and modern architecture, including the 1,970-foot (600-meter) Canton Tower and Zaha Hadid’s Guangzhou Opera House.

How many days should I spend in Guangzhou?

Most travelers find 2–3 days is enough to explore Guangzhou. That lets you feast on Cantonese food, take in modern architecture and historic Shamian Island, enjoy a Pearl River cruise, and follow in the footsteps of former residents such as martial artist Bruce Lee and revolutionary Sun Yat-Sen.

What’s in Guangzhou?

There’s more to Guangzhou than dim sum and discount shopping. Besides modern architecture, like the Canton Tower, Pearl River Tower, Guangzhou Opera House, and Guangzhou Circle, heritage sites include Shamian Island, Yuexiu Park, the Chen Clan Academy, the Former Residence of Sun Yat Sen, and the Museum of the Mausoleum of the Nanyue King.

How can I spend a day in Guangzhou?

Start the day by discovering Guangzhou’s historic European architecture on a stroll around scenic Shamian Island, then enjoy a dim sum feast. Spend the afternoon exploring heritage sites, such as Yuexiu Park or the 2,100-year-old Nanyue royal tomb. When night falls, soak up the skyline from a Pearl River cruise.

Do they speak English in Guangzhou?

Not really. Much less English is spoken in Guangzhou than in Hong Kong: you can’t expect taxi drivers, shop workers, or staff in budget eateries to speak English. However, young people will have studied English at school and should have some basics, while subway signs are in both English and Chinese.

Is Guangzhou safe?

Yes. It is unusual for travelers to experience serious crime in Guangzhou. However, pickpocketing is not uncommon, while you should avoid anyone who offers to help you at an ATM. China operates a zero tolerance policy for drugs, which can include random drug testing of foreigners.

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