Location: Guangzhou
Top Things to do in Guangzhou
Top Restaurants in Guangzhou
Top 10 Budget-friendly Things to do in Guangzhou, Guangdong
China’s third-largest city is the capital of Guangdong Province and a thriving commercial center. Its location on the Pearl River and proximity to Hong Kong has made Guangzhou a strategic port for centuries. Glimpse old temples and gleaming steel towers on an architectural tour. Visit one of four Chimelong theme parks for thrills and chills. Once called Canton, Guangzhou is considered the home of traditional (read Cantonese) “Chinese food.” Foodies will find more restaurants per capita here than anywhere else in China.
Restaurants in Guangzhou
1. Chen Clan Ancestral Hall-Folk Craft Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,095 reviews
A must-see attraction, with a history of more than 100 years and still in its original shape. The buildings are famous for their exquisite and mythical decorations, such as the brick carvings of historic figures. The temple also functions as a museum under the auspices of Guangdong Folk Arts Museum, exhibiting a variety of folk arts and crafts.
Reviewed By Ailton007 - Seattle, United States
Great intro into Guangdong Folk Art. Traditional Chinese architecture and decoration, beautiful ornaments and ceramics on display and the building / temple as such is a sight itself. We started our day here and there's lots of other places nearby to check out, all easy to reach by taxi and some even on foot.
2. Bright Filial Piety Temple (Guangxiao Si)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 118 reviews
A wooden Laughing Buddha greets you at the entrance of this 4th-century Buddhist temple, one of the oldest in Guangzhou.
Reviewed By KimLeng - Totnes, United Kingdom
I still have dreams of walking this temple; a wonderful place in the middle of the city, you’d expect the city noise to drown out the peace but surprisingly, it’s very quiet within the grounds. My partner and I visited here not knowing what to expect, we just wanted to make offerings and pray which we were welcome to do. There are several different Buddha halls you can visit, with the large Buddha hall in the centre where you can katow or walk around. Many locals visit here to pay their respects, with ancient artefacts kept for hundreds of years. Here, it is said that Bodhidarma came to stay, he used the temple’s well to wash out his bowl which you can see and pay respects to. We had a very special time here where the nuns invited my fiancé and I to pray with them in the sleeping Buddha hall. The temple thrives with practicing monks and nuns so be on the look out for this. There is an outdoor market kitchen to the right of the temple which you can access from within the grounds in case you wanted to grab something to eat. There are also public toilets for you to use.
3. Huaisheng Mosque
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 100 reviews
Reviewed By KodoDrummer - Yekaterinburg, Russia
Beautiful Chinese-architecture mosque. It is believed to be the oldest mosque site in China, dating back over 1,300 years. Nice and well-maintained buildings and gardens. Over the years, the buildings have been rebuilt, time and again.
4. Shamian Island
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,950 reviews
This lovely, tree-lined neighborhood bordering the Pearl River was once home to foreign merchants, and today is a laid-back area ideal for strolling or stopping for a meal or cup of tea.
Reviewed By TheUhlmen - Yakima, United States
We stopped by after hearing about this area of town from plenty of other folks. We took a cab over from our hotel- roughly 15 minutes - and walked around for about 2 hours. Even at 9 am in the summer, it’s hot! We went through plenty of water and even found a 7-11 where we got a slurpee! I hadn’t had one is about 20 years, but that cools to the core! The white swan hotel, the fingerprinting guy at Helen’s place and the fabled friendship garden statues were all on the agenda and made for a good morning. We got plenty of souvenirs at Michael’s place and worked up an appetite sweating the rest of the morning! Takeaways - the maps here are not helpful and things can be hard to find. If you can map things out s bit beforehand, it’s worth it...or just get on WiFi. A great half day excursion that can go, basically as long as you want it to! Worth checking out for sure!
5. Museum of the Western Han Dynasty Mausoleum of the Nanyue King
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 434 reviews
Reviewed By SeeMoreLiveMore - Singapore, Singapore
An interesting place showcasing the history of the greater region before it became a part of China proper. Museum has many artefacts and is well-presented. The mausoleum on the grounds is simpler, but nonetheless, a good visit paired with the museum.
6. Baiyun Mountain
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 954 reviews
Reviewed By KodoDrummer - Yekaterinburg, Russia
We climbed to the top of Baiyun Mountain, enjoyed the super-good fresh air, and the energizing hike.
7. Yuntai Garden
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 94 reviews
Reviewed By S1821EGrichardb - Basildon, United Kingdom
Small charge for entry. Immaculately maintained park, Tons of flowers, Good glass house with many cacti and orchids. Rose garden. Water cascade. Colonnade with fountains. Lovely park for a walk. Like most parks nowadays, no smoking anywhere.
8. Baomo Scenery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 178 reviews
This area has magnificent gardens and beautiful sculptures.
Reviewed By zunaidbux - Guangzhou, China
Great day at these awesome gardens. Visited both Baomo and Nanyue Gardens for ¥80 (after discount). Outstanding and meticulously detailed building structures, walls, roof tops, arches, pillars and ceilings. The sculptures were expertly crafted, the colours are vibrant and rival elaborate structures found around he world. There are beautiful lakes with absolutely large Koi fish, several fountains, some expertly designed waterfalls through rocks, an awesome boat as the center piece of Baomo Garden and a beautiful waterfall as the main attraction in Nanyue Garden above a well designed and lit up cave with stalagmites and stalactites . Well worth a visit. Kids and seniors pay half price and seniors over 65 are free. Several restaurants and tea garden cafes inside but a bit on the expensive side, but still worth the price with with a decent atmosphere and good service. However, outside the gardens nestled between the two gardens are some cheaper outdoor restaurants. Baomo also has a swimming pool for families with kids, as well as some boat rides. You also get discount coupons for the boat rides. All in all well worth spending a few hours exploring...
9. Southern China Botanical Garden
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 190 reviews
Reviewed By MapleLeafRJ - Barry's Bay, Canada
Guangzhou us known for its maddening crowds, especially on weekends, but there is so much space at the Botanical Gardens, you may forget where you are for awhile. The stars of the Garden are its many greenhouses (which you need to pay for separately or at the time you get your gardens entry ticket), and the endless varieties of flowering plants, cacti and rare plants. As a bit of a amateur photographer, I must have taken 300 photos of everything I saw over 3 hours, and that merely touched the surface of what was there. Many families were picnicking and flying kites with the kids, so you get an idea of the vibe of the place.
10. Muslim Hero Tomb
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 40 reviews
Reviewed By afzal_j - Mumbai, India
Here lies the resting place of hazrat Saad Bin Abi Waqas (R.A.) uncle of Prophet Mohammad (S.A.W.) who was the first one to come to China to spread the message of Islam. The place is filled with peace and tranquility and you will find all walks of life coming here. Earlier there was a halal food street esp before Friday namaz but its shut down for some reasons. Have to be here if you happen to be in Guangzhou ,personally its my favorite place.
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