Guangzhou

Date:September 24, 2015

Guangzhou seems to be a city centered on business rather than tourism. Business is what brought me here and it happened to be an especially stressful visit with little time for exploring. Guangzhou doesn’t naturally lend itself to wandering, but with some research, I was able to find a few local gems to check out in the early mornings as I eased into the time zone. Chinese culture intrigues me much more than shopping, so I focused by free time on this pursuit.

EXPERIENCE

One temple that is worth checking out is the Temple of Six Banyan Trees. This temple paled in comparison to other Buhddist temples I have visited in other parts of China, but it does have a nice tower (that happened to be under construction). The highlight of my visit was a stop at Qingping Market. This market specializes in Chinese medicine and sells some rare and exotic items for that purpose. Here I saw seahorses, starfish, animal antlers, giant mushrooms, roaches, scorpions and massive centipedes for sale. I skipped the “pets” section of this market, as I read it can be rather cruel to witness. This stop is not for the faint of heart and definitely off the beaten track, don’t expect to see other tourists in this part of town.

Other places to check out while in Guangzhou are the Canton Tower (one of the world’s tallest) which is located along the Pearl River. This tower lights up nicely and apparently makes for a nice view at the top (too rainy to try on my visit). Other temples that may be worth a visit include Hulian Temple. If you have better weather while you are here than I managed to, I would check out Yuexiu Park, the largest park in downtown area.

The Guangzhou Opera House is one of the nicest pieces of architecture in the city. While I did not have time to check it out, I read that the Chen Clan Academy can be an interesting stop for the creatively focused traveler. If shopping is what you’re after, hit Taikoo Hui. We also hit the QuangZhou Cartoon Star City mall which is less premium but provides a glimpse into the day in the life of the urban Chinese shopper. The Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street and South Tea Market are other spots to check out for shopping options. This mall is an impressive spectacle of imported goods and super premium brands with a large focus on fashion and beauty. All in all, China is not my favorite country to visit, and Guangzhou is not a favorite city in China. If plans take you here, these ideas can help make the most of it, but Shanghai or Beijing are much more interesting options if you have the choice.

STAY

On this trip to China I stayed at the Sofitel Sunrich. I chose this hotel due to its proximity to my work engagements and I did not regret my decision. The room was beautiful with a spacious bath, dramatic lighting and stylish decor. The property has a gorgeous gym and indoor pool (though I forgot my suit) along with several bars and restaurant. As per usual when in a Chinese hotel, the breakfast buffet was staggering and impressive from any standards. While here be sure to check out the lotus chandelier in the lobby as well as the somewhat unexpected German Beer Stube on the deck upstairs.

EAT

Guangzhou is likely home to many wonderful restaurants and eateries. Due to a busy schedule, jet lag, and especially appealing options, I ate at the hotel more often than I usually would. In addition to this, I hit the Strand Beer Cafe for some craft beers with an old college friend. Other recommendations from local friends include the restaurant South Beauty and the bar the Happy Monk. These spots, along with The Irish Pub and Social + Co. cater to a more western audience which is not necessarily a bad thing in this city. The area these places are called is called Zhujiang New Town and is a good starting point on a visit if you’re looking to play it safe. The W Hotel I stayed at this trip had an amazing brunch which I would strongly recommend.