FACILITIES & SERVICES

Guangzhou (Guǎngzhōu 广州 or just simply GZ) is the capital of Guangdong Province in Southern China and has a population of over 10 million (The official registered population is 7.3 million, with over 3 million unregistered residents). It is adjacent to Hong Kong and Macau. In the era of tea clippers, Guangzhou was known in the West as Canton. The food and the language of the area are still known as Cantonese, and the airport code is CAN.SummarizationAt first sight, Guangzhou appears less a city that's developing than one that's about to explode. Every corner seems packed with high-rise buildings, overpasses, and people running a marathon. It can be overwhelming, and the initial instinct of many travelers is to get out as soon as possible. However, those that overcome this urge and stay longer will discover a gentler and more personable side to the city.

   

1. Eating in Guangzhou

Guangzhou Wenchang Chicken

Wenchang Chicken has two historical references: First, the chicken used was originally a high-quality chicken from Wenchang County in Hainan Province; and Second, the first Guangzhou restaurant offering this dish was located on Wenchang Road in Guangzhou City. During the 1930s Guangzhou master chef Liang Ruijiang created this ingenious dish by removing the bones and boiling, steaming and frying the chicken meat with ham and chicken liver. By doing so, he made the best use of the ingredients and bypassed their disadvantages resulting in the perfect chicken dish. Over the past decades, Wenchang Chicken has gained popularity in China and beyond. 

Today, it ranks among Guangzhou's top eight chicken dishes.Guangzhou Restaurant (广州酒家)Address: 2 Wenchang Nan Lu (文昌南路2)Tel:86 20 8138-0388.Route: Metro 1 Chang Shou Lu

Sliced Suckling Pig

This dish featuries a suckling pig prepared with a bright red, oilly textured skin and tender meat. Its unique flavor has earned it wide popularity. Roasted suckling pig is one of the grandest dishes for the people of Guangdong and Guangxi Provinces and is served when entertaining guests at home or in a restaurant.Datong Restaurant (大同酒家)Address: 63 Yanjiang Lu (沿江路63)Tel: 86 20 8188-8988.

Snacks

These snacks and dim sum are not just something to eat; rather, they are an integral part of Guangdong's food culture. Guangzhou's snack cuisine consists of a wide spectrum of choices which are roughly classified into seven varieties: oil-fried small dishes; porridges; rice noodles; cakes; sweets; glutinous rice dumplings and variety of small dishes. These snacks are low-priced and available throughout the city.Panxi Restaurant (泮溪酒家)Address: 151 Longjin Xi Lu (龙津西路151)Tel: 86 20 8181-5718Noodles

There are a wide variety of noodles including rice-flour noodles, wonton noodles, Shahe noodles, pork intestine noodles and Guilin rice-flour noodles. Among local people the wonton and Shahe noodles are the most popular. Pork intestine noodles are often offered in the morning and sell out very quickly. Rice-flour noodles and Shahe noodles are often boiled or fried with various meat ingredients such as beef brisket, trotters, fish balls, shredded pork or sliced fish. E-fu noodles are the most famous Guangdong noodles.You can find Noodles everywhere in Guangzhou Traditional Buy

Canton embroidery

Canton Embroidery, namely Yue Embroidery, is one of the Four Famous Chinese Embroideries together with Su Embroidery, Xiang Embroidery and Shu Embroidery.

Canton Enamel

Canton Enamel is short for Guangzhou Colorful Pottery. It has a history of over 300 years.

Jade Sculpture

Jade sculpture has a history of more than 1000 years.

Ivory Sculpture

Canton Sculpture includes Canton Ivory Carvings, Jade Sculpture, Wood Sculpture and Olive Sculpture. The ultimate piece of ivory sculpture is the sculpted ivory ball.

Lychee

Lychee is one of the most popular fruits of Guangdong and is the main local products of Dongguan. The most famous kinds of lychee are Dongguan Guiwei and Nomici. Guiwei tastes cript, freshly sweet and delicious, and Nomici has bigger size and tastsd likely sweet. From the end of June to the middle of July every year is the best time to appreciate these two kinds of Lychee.

 

2. Shopping Centre

Teem Mall (tiān-hé-chéng 天河城)Address: 208 Tianhe Lu (天河路208).Route: Metro 1 Ti Yu Xi LuBeijing Lu Pedestrian Street (běi-jīng-lù 北京路步行街)Route: Metro 1, 2 Gong Yuan Qian - Exits C, DShangxiajiu Pedestrian Street (shàng-xià-jiǔ上下九商业步行街)Route: Metro 1 Chang Shou Lu - Exits D1, D2Xiguan Antique Street (西关古玩城)Address: Liwan Road, near Liwan Park (荔湾湖公园).Opening time: 10AM - 5PMRoute: Bus 2825556674226.Get off at Pantang StationGuangzhou City.

 

3. Transportation

Guangzhou City Transportation. If you intend to stay in Guangzhou for an extensive period of time, it is highly advisable to purchase a multi-purpose Yang Cheng Tong (羊城通) stored value card, similar to the Octopus Card in Hong Kong. It can be used not only for public transportation (bus, subway, parking meters and some taxis), but also for public phones and designated shops, places of interests and certain vending machines. The card includes a 30 refundable deposit. While you can purchase the cards in many places, returning your card at the end of the trip is a hassle, since service locations are limited. The best place to do so is at the service center at the metro Gong Yuan Qian station. It may be worth it to simply keep it as a souvenir.By busThere is also a comprehensive public bus service that covers Guangzhou from end to end.

By far, it is the cheapest way to move around. Bus fares are 1 for the older buses and 2 for the air-conditioned ones, although the older buses are slowly being retired.There are also 3 tourist bus lines, passing through many scenic spots in the city.By subwayGuangzhou's metro system opened in 1999. The network covers much of the city center and is growing rapidly outward. The fare ranges from ¥2 to ¥12. Most of the signs and announcements are also in English. Tickets are bought from vending machines in the stations. Bills from ¥5 - ¥20 or coins from ¥0.5 - ¥1 are accepted at ticket vending machines. You can change smaller bills at the customer service counter. The ticket is a small plastic token, which you use at the gate entering the platform, and at the exit. Multi-Pass and Yang-Cheng-Tong are also accepted and can be purchased at the customer service counter.

By taxi. This is the most popular way for foreigners to get around, and it is very affordable. The starting charge is 7 for the first 2.3 kilometers, or about 1.4 miles. After that is 2.6 for each kilometer. The cost may be slightly different, depending on the taxi operators. 1 fuel surcharge is now added. Although widely publicized, many of them actually do not accept Yang Cheng Tong as payment. The taxi hot line is 96900. This comes in handy when you forget your valuables in a taxi. Save your receipt because it contains the taxi's identification number.Business names and addresses on this guide are also in Chinese. Print them out and show them to the taxi drivers. Most drivers do not speak English; many not even Cantonese.

Tips: When to visit Climate wise, the best time to visit Guangzhou is in October and November. Alternatively, April and May are also good months. Guangzhou has a sub-tropical climate with humidity levels at their highest in the summer, so unless you enjoy Turkish steam baths, this is a season to avoid! Typhoon season is from June to September. Please note that the Canton Trade Fairs take place annually in 3rd and 4th weeks of April and October, so finding accommodation at these times can be difficult.WARNING: The last two weeks of April and October coincide with the annual Guangzhou International Trade Fairs. Hotel room rates are unreasonably hiked up anything from 200% to 400%, including hostels! If you're not travelling to see the Trade Fair, you might want to consider another period of time.

    


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