Most people see China mostly through the cities of Beijing and Shanghai. The rest seems to be the generic Chinese town that churns out tons of products set to invade the world with the threatening tag “Made in China”. Then we have Guangzhou. The city is, well, just like the rest of China, only bigger. Located at the Pearl River Delta in the southern province of Guangdong, and in the immediate vicinity of Hong Kong and Macau, Guangzhou is China’s third biggest city with a population of close to 13 million.
Formerly named Canton and dubbed as the “City of Flowers”, “Rice-ear City” and “City of Rams”, Guangzhou is host to thousands of companies, from large to medium and small enterprises. So when you step into the city to see factories and skyscrapers labeled with brand names that sound familiar, you just entered the heartland of industrial China and the second largest megacity in the world, after Tokyo. As a major manufacturing region globally, Guangzhou holds China’s largest trade fair, the Canton Fair.
If the sight of a wave of humanity and the aroma of manufacturing overwhelm you enough to make you leave the moment you arrive, it’s okay. You just need to scratch the surface to discover a more laidback and softer side of the city. After all, the city has been welcoming foreigners, even Westerners, for hundreds of years. In 1978 it became one of the first open cities in China, through the Reform and Opening Up policy of the Communist Party.
The drawback to this extensive foreign relations experience is the lack of English signages all over the city, and you will be hard pressed to come across a local who is conversant in the English language. If you already brushed up on your Mandarin prior to your trip to this city, sorry, you got the wrong phrase book. Guangzhou mainly speaks Cantonese, including most areas in southern China, including Hong Kong.
Guangzhou is considered as one of the country’s cosmopolitan and forward-looking cities, and this is evident in the number of malls, shops, restaurants and clubs scattered all over. Shangxiajiu and Beijing Roads are lined up with malls and department stores while Huanshi Road and the areas lining up the Pearl River are popular night time hangouts. Of course, sampling the famous Cantonese cuisine is on your to-do list, and districts of Yuexiu, Liwan and Dongshan should be marked on your map.
Despite all the hustle, the city has retained its old charm where inner streets are still lined up with small communities or even hutongs, the traditional Chinese neighborhood, where people chat all afternoon while sipping a cup of tea.
Temples such as Sanyuan Temple and Guangxiao Temple are must sees, but an oasis amid the concrete jungle and smog is Shamian Island. Here you can wander through streets and observe the architecture of the buildings that resemble those found in Europe. After all, this was the only spot in China during the 1800s where Europeans were allowed to set up their hamlets.
You also need to mark Liurong Temple on your list. More popularly known as the Temple of Six Banyan Trees, this 6th century temple has a prominent 17-storey octagonal Flowering Pagoda. Admission to the temple is 5 yuan (about US$1) while entrance to the pagoda costs 10 yuan (US$1.50).
A visit to Guangzhou’s largest park, Yuexiu Park, is obligatory. The 93-hectare area is home to the Zhenhai Tower and the city’s symbol, The Sculpture of the Five Rams. Legend says that five celestial beings donning robes in five colors descended to Guangzhou riding on rams. They came with stems of rice, an auspicious sign from heaven that the town would be famine free for eternity. Thus, the city was nicknamed “City of Rams”. With parks and gardens strewn all over the city, Guangzhou also has the monicker “City of Flowers”.
Head out a few kilometers from the city center and you will reach Baiyun Mountain, or simply called White Cloud Mountain. This is a recreational area for city folks amid verdant rolling hills. White Cloud Mountain covers an area of 28 square kilometers and is divided further into regions. Yuntai Garden, the centerpiece of the park, is a huge garden filled with local trees and flowers. The Sculpture Park and Bird Spring Valley Park are also popular attractions. Then you have the Luhu Park, with its clear lake perfect for reflection in many ways. Atop White Cloud Mountain, you will be afforded an arresting view of the Guangzhou cityscape. Park entrance costs 5 yuan (about US$1).
The objective of the municipal government of Guangzhou is to make the city a major tourism city, centered on its cuisine and the Lingnan (Cantonese) folk custom, not to mention its potential as a center of shopping.
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