Guangdong · 21 m

Guangzhou

The old trading port of Canton, where morning dim sum, a former concession island and a lit-up Pearl River fill your days.

Altitude

21 m

Best time

Oct–Dec

Suggested stay

2–3 days

Guangzhou

Guangzhou, long known abroad as Canton, has been a trading port on the Pearl River for more than 2,200 years. It is a city to eat your way through, from morning dim sum to old arcade streets and a glittering river at night.

Best way to see it

Old west side (Liwan): Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, Yongqingfang and Shamian Island, all along Metro Line 1.
Riverside: the granite Sacred Heart Cathedral by day, then a Pearl River night cruise.
South bank: Canton Tower at sunset, when the lights come on.

When to go

October to December is mild and comfortable. April to September is the hot, humid rainy season.
The Canton Fair is held every April and October, so check the dates when you plan.

Dim sum is a morning and early-afternoon meal. Most teahouses serve it at breakfast and lunch, so go early.

Sights

A restored corner of the old Xiguan quarter on Enning Road, an arcade street of qilou shophouses saved from demolition. Inside are the Cantonese Opera Art Museum, built as a Lingnan garden with a courtyard stage, and Bruce Lee's ancestral home.

Flat lanes, with everything within a short walk.

Good to know

Metro gates accept contactless Visa, Mastercard, JCB and Amex cards, and Alipay or WeChat Pay work with a linked foreign card. Line 1 serves Chen Clan Academy and Huangsha (for Shamian and Yongqingfang); Line 3 and the APM go to Canton Tower.
Chen Clan Ancestral Hall tickets are booked ahead on its official WeChat account with your passport, and weekend slots can sell out. The Cantonese Opera Art Museum also takes bookings through WeChat.
The rainy season runs from April to September and is hot, wet and very humid. Carry an umbrella and use the air-conditioned metro between sights.