About China
China is a land of beauty and fascination, which tempts adventurous travelers from all over the world. The Peoples Republic of China is a massive country covering some 6 million square miles. There are an infinite variety of peoples, enchanting natural landscapes, intriguing history and a brilliant cultural heritage. China boasts many fascinating destinations, which may bewilder and bewitch visitors in equal measure.
At present, China was divided into 23 provinces, 5 autonomous regions, 4 municipalities directly under the Central Government, and 2 special administrative regions.
Guangzhou
The capital of Guangdong province since the Ming dynasty; an international port of transportation and trade, and main port of entry for tourists; has the title of "South Gate of China"; it previously used to be known as "Yangcheng" and "Suicheng"
Location: located in the south part of China, at the head of the Pearl River Delta and close to Hong Kong
Population: 6.66 million
Urban Population: 3.95 million
Area: 7,434 sq km
Nationalities: Han, Li, Yao, Zhuang, Miao, Hui, Manchu and She
History: with a history of 2,200 years, regarded as the earliest among the international trade port cities in the world; built as Chuting by the Chu people from the middle reaches of the Yangtse River in the 9th century B.C.; established as Nanhai Prefecture in the Qing dynasty and became Nanyue Kingdom in the Western Han dynasty; the starting point of the Silk Road on the sea which links China with the Arabian and western countries in trading; China's only foreign trade port at sea before the Qing dynasty
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Climatic Features: subtropical humid monsoon climate, hot and rainy
Average Temperature: 21.7C annually with the highest of 38.7 and lowest of 0C
Rainfall: annual precipitation 1982.7 mm, with rainfall concentrated in spring and autumn
Mountains: Western Hills, which belong to the Taihang Range; Mt. Jundushan, in the north, which is part of the Mt. Yanshan
Rivers: Pearl River (West River, North River, East River), Nanhai, Liuhua Lake, Li Lake, Dongshan Lake
Products: paddy rice, potato, wheat, corn, jowar, silk, sugarcane, earthnut and hemp.
Industry: Flowers, Ceramics and Furniture
Tropical or Subtropical Fruits: banana, citrus, lichee, and pineapple
Local Highlights:
Yue Drama or Cantonese Opera
Famous Guangdong Folk Music: Bubugao and Xiyangyang
Handcraft: Traditional Ceramics, Ivory Carving, Sandalwood Fan
Shopping
There are many districts with the best shopping, restaurants and entertainment being to the centre and south towards the Pearl River. At night you can join a boat trip for a floating dinner, bar and dancing.
Tianhe Plaza
Located in Tianhe Road North, The CITIC Plaza faces Tianhe Sports Centre, and offers a vast range of shopping with many international brands competing with local outlets. Donghai Seafood Restaurant on the third floor is open from morning to midnight. The fifth floor is the club for the rich and powerful, covering an area of 4,500 sq. meters, with complete facilities including those for sports and entertainment, children’s playground and swimming pool. The main shopping streets are Beijing Road, Zhongshan 4th Road and Xiajiu Road
Food
Guangzhou is world-renowned for its fine foods and visitors will not be disappointed with the variety of dishes on offer, not just the local Cantonese specialities such as pastries, but also culinary delights from all over the world. This you would expect from a city boasting over 18,000 restaurants, which are spread out over the main shopping areas and riverside
Attractions
Guangzhou Zoo, 120 Xianlie Zhong Road, is well worth a visit and a good chance to see Pandas, Tigers and other native species. However, the conditions are a little cramped by western standards and some may find this off-putting.
Within Guangzhou Zoo, is a new attraction Ocean World. This is very well worth visiting and offers many specialised areas featuring all manner of aquatic life and a large pool with glass bottom you can walk beneath.
Places to see:
Bright Filial Piety Temple
The Temple of Bright Filial Piety on Guangxiao Road is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Guangzhou and was the mansion of Prince Zhao Jiande of the Nanyue Kingdom during the Western Han dynasty (206 B.C.-A.D.24).
Temple of the Six Banyan Trees
Temple of the Six Banyan Trees, situated on Liurong Road, is a world famous ancient Buddhist temple. It was built in 537 in the Liang dynasty during the Southern dynasties (386-581).
Flowery Pagoda, built in 1097, is the major structure in this temple. Named for its colourful exterior, the pagoda stands 57 meters high in the centre of the temple; having a bronze column with 1,000 Buddhist sculptures on its top. Viewed from outside, the pagoda has nine stories while in fact it has 17 stories inside.
Western Han Nanyue King Tomb Museum
The Nanyue King's Tomb Museum, located in Jiefang road, stands on the site of the tomb of Emperor Wen, the second ruler during the Southern Yue Kingdom dating back to 100 B.C.
The tomb was originally 20m under Elephant Hill and was discovered in 1983. More than 1000 burial objects were excavated, among which are a chariot, gold and silver vessels, musical instruments, and sacrificial human remains.
White Cloud Hill
People like to describe the natural beauty of Guangzhou as the "pearl sea and white cloud". White Cloud Mountain is a park with natural hills and waters, ideal for sightseeing and as a summer resort, with a history of development of over 1,000 years
Described as the premier spectacle of Guangzhou by some brochures, the site is also widely known for the well-ordered traffic conditions. In good weather, travelling there is really rewarding and peaceful for those who choose to walk.
In recent times new tourist attractions have been created and these include facilities for water sports, a golf course, botanical gardens and a sculpture park.
Yuexiu Park
Yuexie Park is Guangzhou’s biggest stretch of greenery, encompassing over 90 hectares of sports facilities, historic monuments, teahouses and shady groves. Besides a number of artificial lakes and a huge swimming pool, the park is renowned for its Zhenhai Tower and the Sculpture of the Five Rams.
Zhenhai Tower stands on the top of Yuexiu Hill in the northern suburbs, the 28-metre-high five-storey tower - also known as the Five-storey Pagoda - is a magnificent building, commanding a bird's-eye view of the whole city. The tower now houses the City Museum, with exhibits, which describe the history of Guangzhou from Neolithic times till the early part of this century.
British and French troops occupied the tower during the Opium Wars on account of its strategic location. The 12 cannons in front of the tower are from that time.
The Sculpture of the Five Rams, the symbol of Guangzhou, was erected in 1959. A beautiful legend said that long, long ago there were five celestial beings, who wore robes of five colours. One day they rode rams through the air to Guangzhou, each carrying a stem of rice. They presented to the people the auspicious sign from heaven and told them that the area would be free from famine forever. Later, according to the story, the city took a name: City of Rams, or just Goat City. Its official name Guangzhou, however, means 'broad region" in Chinese
Memorial Hall of Sun Yat-sen
The Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, situated in the original site of Sun Yat-sen's Presidential Office on the southern slope of Yuexiu Hill, is a memorial building built in 1931 with the funds raised by the Guangzhou people and overseas Chinese in memory of Sun Yat-sen, the pioneer of China's bourgeois democratic revolution. He is respected for fighting against the Japanese invaders, but died before the Cultural Revolution. His legacy remains today, as his followers are the ruling party in Taiwan
The Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family
This Temple was built between 1890 and 1894 during the reign of Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty, and is the largest, best preserved, and best decorated ancient architecture existing in Guangdong province. The buildings are of traditional Guangdong style, and the temple is especially renowned for its beautiful decorations. Inside the temple, historical figures, legends, and scenes are represented in many art forms, including woodcarving, brick carving, and pottery carving, stone carving. In 1986, the State Council designated it as an important cultural relic. The temple now is the site of the Museum of Guangdong Folk Arts and Crafts.
Huaisheng Mosque
Located on Guangta Road, Huaisheng Mosque, popularly known as the Light Tower Mosque, is one of the earliest mosques established following the introduction of Islam into China in the 7th century. An important feature is the minaret, which is 36 meters in height with a pointed tip. It has a typical Arabic architectural style. In the past sailors often climbed the minaret to observe weather conditions before going to sea and at night, the minaret used to serve as a beacon for the boats on the Zhujiang River. Hence the name Light Tower
Other Attractions
Baiyun Shan is the nearby mountain, offering a relaxing retreat from the hustle and bustle of city life. You can walk along the side of the mountain and visit a Buddhist temple
In the Suburbs, there are such scenic spot on Conghua Hot Springs, Xiqiao Hill Scenic spot, and Seven Star Crags
Foshan
Foshan has an Ancestral temple where Bruce Lee’s master taught and Lee visited often. It is relatively large and may need several hours to see all. There are performances including traditional Buddhist music and dancing, but check out the times when you enter
Foshan Folk Art Studio is a good place to look for souvenirs, including excellent Chinese ‘Paper-Cuts’; as well as gaining an understanding into the lessons learned during the Cultural Revolution, including the modernisation of agriculture
Liang Yaun is one of the Pearl River Delta’s historic gardens built by a family of famous poets and artists of the period. Artistically arranged gardens and ponds surround elegant residential buildings
Shopping
There are several areas for shopping with a range of prices, the main ones being Bai Hua Plaza in the city centre. As well as the main plaza there is a two story market complex just next door with some seriously cheap prices for both clothing and shoes. The streets outside offer a range of shopping with many brand names known in the west. Some distance away to the north and east is the old city with some remarkable buildings. This also houses another shopping area, and those who brave the side streets will be rewarded by more unusual shops such as ones selling traditional Chinese lanterns, and some very cheap prices. At the other end of the old city is a brand new supermarket called Jusco, which is truly western in style. The prices may not be particularly cheap, but the range of goods is very large, including western delights such as cheddar cheese, Kraft cheese slices, English bacon, sausages, coffee, Indian tea, baked beans, western type bread and pasta. It is well worth a visit.
In the other direction from the city centre is a department store called A-Best, which offers a full range of goods and includes a supermarket offering a similar variety of western goods to Jusco. Quite near A-Best is a small shop offering a vast choice of outsize clothing, including very large sizes of tee shirts, shirts and tops
Near and opposite the Foshan Hotel is a street full of cd and DVD shops, eight all in a row. Prices vary from shop to shop, with the first one offering the lowest prices at Y7 per item
Food
As you might expect, Foshan offers a wealth of good food, though some is pricey. One of the best is the Rhine Café, which offers a full menu including real, western style steaks. Leaving the café and walking due east for one and a half blocks, cross the road and you will be at the door of a more traditional Chinese restaurant with superb food and reasonable prices. There are three places of note opposite the Foshan Hotel: John’s Bar, a western style restaurant / café which offers draught beer and a selection of western dishes. Non-Chinese often frequents it, though the charge always seems to be rather high. Beneath is a Japanese restaurant with a good reputation, but it may be advisable to book in advance, as it is always busy. At the north end of this block is another restaurant providing some of the best traditional Chinese food in the city. The prices are reasonable for the standard of catering
Visitors to Foshan will find MacDonald’s on virtually every street corner, with a sprinkling of KFC’s in between. The best area though is Bai Hua Plaza, where MacDonald’s, KFC and Pizza Hut all face each other on opposing street corners. The later is probably the only place you will find proper Italian style pizza, as Chinese pizza is made using a pastry base – very odd
Daliang
Another local town worth visiting is Daliang, often referred to as Shunde, which is 20 minutes away from Long Jiang by bus. It has a large pedestrianised shopping centre with a great selection of goods (Hua Gai Street). Near the centre are several renowned sweet shops (Desserts), which are famous for ‘Double Skimmed milk’, a lovely Chinese version of blancmange; the most famous being Minxin.
The restaurants are centred to the north of the precinct on Jianhai Road, also known as food square. Recommended restaurants include: Zhu Yuan for traditional Cantonese food, Tianfu for spicy Sichuan food, Bao Xiang Lou for Hunan cuisine and Guang De Tea House for a selection of local Shunde dishes
There are many other places of interest including Fengling Park on Fengshan East Street and Qinghui Garden on the main road, Qinghui Road, with West Hill Temple nearby
No visit to Daliang is complete without a visit to Bar Street, or Guipan Road. It also has many bars and nightclubs along the riverside district, for those of you that may enjoy the nightlife. During the day you can take a boat trip to ShunFeng Park, near the new government building and centre. This area also features the Baolin Temple and there is a small Bruce Lee museum nearby
The bus to Daliang is ¥6 and a taxi back ¥40 (£2.60). Note, Daliang is usually referred to as Shunde, which is in fact a county of Guangdong
Hong Kong
Both Hong Kong and Macao are less than four hours away and well worth visiting. Hong Kong is very compact and features many interesting places including a jade market, street markets for clothes, a park and The Peak; all a must see. Prices are expensive and a hotel may well cost 1,000 HK dollars (About £70) per night for a 4 star room per person. The best way to visit is by coach from Long Jiang, and later, boat straight into Kowloon harbour. Travelling around Hong Kong is easy due to the good underground railway system and numerous buses. Taxis are everywhere, but they are expensive and most places you are likely to visit are within walking distance or a short boat ride. The southern shores of Hong Kong Island offer a relaxing contrast to the hustle and bustle of the main city. There are many walks, and for the more adventurous, there are over 100 other islands to visit.
Macao
Macao is smaller and probably worth visiting on a day trip for ¥90 (£6). The buildings are very beautiful and the shopping is good. At night Macao turns into a casino and the only entertainment is centred around gambling. If you wish to stay overnight a hotel costs around ¥500 (£33) for 4 star accommodation
Zhaoqing
Zhaoqing is a lovely quiet city some 2 hours away by direct sleeper coach. Prices there are very cheap and it features a fantastic restaurant with delicious food. A 3-4 star hotel 5 minutes from the city centre costs less than ¥200 (£13) per room. The centre itself has a square, which at night has a fountain complex with water that dances to music. This sits beside the large Seven Stars Lake that is very beautiful and hosts a restaurant built on stilts over the water, several small bars and nightclubs on moored boats. Opposite runs the main street with a wealth of shopping including department stores and covered street markets. Nearby are many hills, one of which is noted for its clean air, butterfly sanctuary and Buddhist retreat.
Shanghai
Shanghai is a large cosmopolitan city some two hours distant by plane from Guangzhou and offers tourists a glimpse of modern China, with many western influences and developments. Visitors will enjoy a busy city with many restaurants serving dishes from all over China as well as the rest of the world. Shopping is varied and both national and international