How to Spend 24 Hours in Guangzhou

The expansive city of Guangzhou will always be an interesting metropolis to explore. You will find that this city offers a fine selection of sightseeing attractions and engrossing experiences so that visitors will never be bored. In fact, you could easily spend weeks experiencing all that Guangzhou has to offer. However, even if you have just 24 hours to spend in the city, you could still experience its finest attractions, as described below.

Explore Shamian Island

A great way to commence your tour of Guangzhou would be to visit Shamian Island. This island may be considered to rank amongst the city’s foremost tourist attractions and an early morning visit would be ideal to experience it. You will find that Shamian Island is delightfully picturesque, with appealing tree-lined avenues featuring refurbished colonial-period buildings. If you stroll along the main thoroughfare, you will encounter old houses, lovely gardens, attractive cafes and galleries. Visitors will notice that this island features a distinctly European ambience. If you take a brief rest at the pleasant park situated at the island’s centre, you will be able to observe the locals engaging in tai chi.

Stroll along Shangxiajiu Walking Street

Another popular site in Guangzhou would be the well-known Shangxiajiu Walking Street which will be a great place for sightseeing, people watching and shopping. Visitors will see that both sides of this street feature shops of many different kinds which means that if you desire to indulge in some shopping, this would be the place for it. Apart from the multitude of different shops along this street, you will also find several malls, restaurants and cafes. You may also take the opportunity to venture down the laneways and alleys where you may find more traditional markets, stores and street foods. However, since many of the local shops do not open for business till 10 am, you may opt to first have a coffee at one of the cafes if you arrive early.

Enjoy a dim sum lunch

Since Guangzhou is regarded as being the home of the form of cuisine known as dim sum, you will probably desire to sample this dish during your visit to the city. A great place to enjoy authentic dim sum would be Panxi Restaurant, which happens to be a renowned traditional Cantonese eatery in the city. You will see that this restaurant is situated amidst an expansive garden bordering Liwan Lake which means that it will be a pleasant place for a relaxed lunch. As mentioned, to fully experience the city an extended stay is needed and this is a charming place for meals during your sightseeing adventures. For a longer visit, a Guangzhou accommodation to consider from which you could easily visit Panxi Restaurant and key attractions would be Springdale Serviced Residence Guangzhou.

Visit the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall

After your delicious dim sum lunch, you may make your way to the impressive Chen Clan Ancestral Hall. This historical attraction dates to 1894 and was constructed by the influential Chen clans. Today, this complex houses the interesting Guangdong Folk Art Museum. You will find that this compound is immense, containing 19 intricately embellished buildings interlinked by courtyards; you will have plenty to see at this complex even before you enter the museum. In the museum itself, you will encounter displays of pottery, jade carvings, coloured porcelain, embroidery, woodcarvings and other local handicrafts.

Cruise the Pearl River

Your visit to Guangzhou would not be complete without experiencing the Pearl River which is particularly attractive at night. You will be able to board a cruise on the Pearl River from Tianzi Wharf. Your cruise is likely to be mesmerising as you observe the sunset and view the city at night with its illuminations creating an entrancing effect. After you return to Tianzi Wharf following your cruise, you will be able to wind down your day in Guangzhou by enjoying a seafood dinner at a nearby restaurant; you can even opt to have a drink at one of the local bars to end a memorable tour.