4 Days Guangzhou Culture Tour

Glad to see you in Guangzhou. Covering an area of 7,343 square kilometers, the city, also known as Canton, is home to more than 18 million people. It is in this place that you start your Visa Free Tour to Guangzhou. Upon arrival, your friendly guide will pick you up at the airport. Then you will be transferred to a hotel where you can have a good rest. 

Today, let’s start to explore some attractions in Guangzhou. The first destination is Chen Clan Ancestral Hall. Built in 1888 and completed in 1894, it is the largest, best-preserved, and most beautifully decorated ancestral hall in China, covering an area of 15,000 square meters. The whole building contains nine halls and six courtyards. In the 1920s and 1930s, it was written in two great books, "World Architecture Art" in Germany and "Ancient Chinese Art Architecture" in England. Meanwhile, Chen Clan Ancestral Hall is the location of Guangdong Folk Craft Museum. The museum collects various types of cultural relics and modern craft products, with a total number of them being more than 20,000 pieces. Among them, there are nearly 3,000 national cultural relics, including Guangdong glazed porcelain, ivory carving, Guangdong embroidery, brick engrave, and stone engrave. 

The next stop is Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street. As one of the three traditional prosperous commercial centers in Guangzhou, the street is about 1,200 meters long, with the number of commercial stores of various types being over 200. It can be divided into two roads, respectively Shangjiu Road and Xiajiu Road. Both of them are rich in history. As early as the 6th century, Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street has been an international commercial center, where the earliest cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries happen. On top of that, Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street teems with various local delicacies, such as Cantonese-style mooncake and Ginger milk curd. Let me introduce them to you. 

Cantonese-style mooncake, which is originated in 1889, is a Chinese pastry that is usually eaten in the Mid-autumn festival. Its filling is usually made by lotus seed paste, which is surrounded by a thin (2–3 mm) crust. Sometimes, the filling may contain a yolk in its center as the symbol of the full moon. 

Ginger milk curd, which is originated in Shawan town of Panyu District in Guangzhou, is a Chinese drink. It is also known as ginger juice milk curd, ginger milk pudding, or simply ginger milk. The main ingredients are ginger, milk, and sugar. According to scientific research, it can help improve sleep quality and can nourish your face.

In the afternoon, let’s go to Yuexiu Park, the largest comprehensive park in Guangzhou. Inside the park stands a memorial stone archway built in the Qing Dynasty (1636-1912). The park is home to a wide array of species of flung and flora, with dense bamboo forests, woods, and large grasslands providing a good habitat for animals. In terms of birds, the number of bird species stands at 43, among which include migrant birds from South America. On top of that, the park is also full of historical sites. City Wall built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) is a case in point. It is about 1,100 meters long in total, with a section of about 200 meters hidden in the heart of the jungle. Many trees nearly 10 meters high grow along the wall, with their roots that are thin, thick or curved wrapped the wall face. Some roots have extended into the wall. Attracted by the natural view, many visitors have come here to take pictures.

Today’s last destination is Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall. With a construction area of 15,000 square meters, the whole architecture was built in 1982. The square in front of the memorial hall can be divided into east and west sections, each of which has a flagpole and a Huabiao (a type of ceremonial column). Besides, there are more than 70 kinds of flowers and trees in the square so that flowers bloom in each season. Among them, a 300-year-old kapok tree grows at the north gate of the square. When it comes to the main building of Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, it is octagonal palace-style, with its roof covered with dark blue glazed tile. Its base and equipped steps are made of granite, giving a solemn and elegant sense. When you come into the memorial hall, you may be surprised that there is only one pillar support the top cover of the hall. Surprisingly, there are eight columns hidden in the walls, supporting the eight corners of the top cover respectively. That is very well-designed. 

Chen Clan Ancestral Hall

Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall

After enjoying breakfast, you will visit Canton Tower. It is the tallest tower in China, with a height of 600 meters. The tower is designed by Dutch Barbara couples. They aimed to design a free-form tower with a human-like feature that could represent Guangzhou, a dynamic metropolis. Therefore, the tower is very slender and tall, which resembles the figure of a female. People often call it “Tiny-waist”. Meanwhile, the tower has resistance to withstand earthquakes with a magnitude of 7.8 and typhoons of magnitude 12, with a life span of more than 100 years. It has 112 floors in total. 103 to 106 floors are dining rooms where the food is very delicious. 107 and 108 floors are equipped with two viewing platforms. When standing here, you will feel like that the sky and clouds are at your fingertips. Also, a panoramic view of the engaging scenery of Guangzhou New City, and Pearl River is accessible.

The next place to be visited is Archaeological Site Museum of Nanyue Palace (close on Mondays), which is set up at the site of the tomb of a Nanyue King. The tomb was discovered in 1983, with 7 chambers in total. It is a very important tomb in the Han Dynasty (202BC-220) by now. Its size is the largest and the number of unearned relics is greatest in southern China. As such, the museum is designed to display the remains and relics of the Nanyue Kingdom, helping visitors to have an understanding of archaeological excavation. When you enter the exhibition palace, you can see all kinds of delicate porcelain unearthed, which has been carefully wiped down by archaeologists. This excellent pottery is also the symbol of the wisdom of ancient Chinese people. You are certainly amazed by them. Besides, all exhibits of historical sites are presented by sound, light, and other forms, which can deepen your understanding of the sites.

Today’s lunch is Cantonese Dim Sum. After enjoying it, you will go to Shamian Island. Covering an area of only 0.3 square kilometers, the tree-lined island is surrounded by a river, where the sun is shining and the birds are singing in four seasons. Like some small European towns, the island boasts many cafes, restaurants, and bars along the road while sidewalks on the island are filled with elegant tables and chairs. Besides, there are more than 150 European buildings with a baroque and neoclassical style. They are elegant, dynamic, or majestic. Catholic Church here is a case in point. Built in 1889, the church covers an area of about 839 square meters. Having been repainted, its appearance has become yellow, which aligns with the color of the beach. The interior of the church is small but delicate and bright. And glass windows on the walls are equipped with a pattern that tells a series of stories of Jesus.

Archaeological Site Museum of Nanyue Palace

Shamian Island

It’s time to say goodbye. After breakfast, your guide will drive you to the airport. 

Author: Xie Peng