Ultimate Guangzhou Travel Guide (With Itinerary Suggestions)

“Have you had tea today?” (你今日饮咗茶未？) is the warmest greeting among locals. Enjoying morning tea has long become a social ritual. Blessed with abundant resources and living off the sea, Guangzhou people are truly deserving of their reputation for being “food lovers” and “food connoisseurs.” Let’s explore the beauty and flavors of Guangzhou!

I. Guangzhou Attractions

Canton Tower

Chen Clan Ancestral Hall

Sacred Heart Cathedral (Shishi Catholic Church)

II. Guangzhou Specialty Food

1. Featured Dishes
(1) Morning Tea (Yum Cha):
For locals, nothing beats starting the day at a teahouse with a newspaper, savoring “one pot of tea and two delicacies” (一盅两件). Dim sum is iconic:
Congee: Freshly boiled congee (Boat Congee – Tíngzǎi zhōu, Scholar’s Congee – Jídì zhōu)
Savories: Turnip and beef offal stew, Egg tarts, Spare ribs, Chicken feet, Siu mai (Pork & shrimp dumplings), Har gow (Shrimp dumplings), Soup dumplings, Sticky rice in lotus leaf, Turnip cake, Char siu bao (BBQ pork buns), Molten egg custard buns, Durian pastries, Spring rolls.
Popular Teahouses:
Taotaoju (Tourist favorite), Lianxiang Lou, Guangzhou Restaurant, Dian Dou De (Tourist favorite), Datong Restaurant, Yindeng Restaurant, Bideliao, Luyun Tea House, Heyuan Restaurant, Lei Garden Restaurant (Upscale).

**(2) Main Dishes:**  
Cantonese Roast Suckling Pig, Eight Treasures Winter Melon Soup, White Cut Chicken, Braised Pigeon, Slow-simmered Soup (Lǎohuǒ liàngtāng), Sweet and Sour Pork, Deep Well Roast Goose, Baked Lobster.

**(3) Snacks:**  
Dry-fried Beef Hor Fun, Cheung Fun (Rice noodle rolls), Ginger Milk Curd, Char Siu Bao, Pan Tang Water Chestnut Cake, Wonton Noodles, Phoenix Tail Pastries (Chicken Biscuits).

2. Food Streets
(1) Old Town Routes:
① Duobao Road (Changshou Rd Metro) -> Baohua Road -> Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street
② Xihua Road (Chen Clan Academy Metro) -> Beijing Road (Gongyuanqian Metro) -> Wenming Road -> Dezheng Road (Nongjiangsuo Metro)

**(2) Duobao Road:**  
Sang Kee Cheung Fun, Ming Kee Cheung Fun, Yuen Kee Cheung Fun, Lee's Noodles, Kai Kee Dessert, Kin Kee Noodle Shop.  

**(3) Baohua Road:**  
Shun Kee Ice Cream (Coconut flavor), Chan Teng Kee (Fish Skin).  

**(4) Shangxiajiu:**  
Guangzhou Restaurant, Nanxin Milk Dessert Expert, Taotaoju, Lianxiang Lou.  

**(5) Xihua Road:**  
Zhenzhen Snacks, Shawan Dessert, Hop Hing Snacks, Niu Lao Beef Offal Soup, Xingxingwang Noodles, Rongsheng Jibei Water Snake Congee, Master Lam's Food Shop, Shi Ying Bowl Shark Fin Soup, Fu Kee Fish Ball Noodles, Sesame Paste Master, Eat Well (Shidehao), Luk Congee.  

**(6) Beijing Road:**  
Fu Lin Restaurant, Mei Rong Rice Noodles, Lianxiang Lou, Master Lam's Congee.  

**(7) Wenming Road:**  
Da Yang Original Stewed Soup, Kwong Kee Delicacy, Baihua Dessert, Popo Noodles.  

**(8) Dezheng Road:**  
Qiqi Snack Shop (Claypot Rice), Tao Yuan Delicacy, Yong Chun Scallion Pancake.  

**(9) Shamian Island:**  
Wu Cai Kee Noodles, Bao Sheng Dessert, White Swan Hotel - Jade River Spring, Tao Ran Xuan.  

III. Accommodation & Transportation

• Accommodation:
  Guangzhou has excellent transport. Stay near metro lines:
  Old Town: Beijing Road (lively) / Nongjiangsuo (quieter area near food streets).
  Downtown: Zhujiang New Town or Tiyu Xilu for convenience.
  Near Chimelong: Stay near Chimelong on Metro Line 3.
• Transportation:
  Airport: Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (T1/T2), accessible via Metro Line 3.
  Railway Stations: Guangzhou Railway Station, Guangzhou East Railway Station (High-speed rail hub), Guangzhou South Railway Station (Major high-speed rail hub).
  Metro: Extensive network of 16+ lines. QR code payment accepted on all lines. Lines 1, 2, and 3 serve most major attractions.

IV. Suggested Itineraries

3-Day Itinerary:

• Day 1: Sacred Heart Cathedral -> Shamian Island -> Chen Clan Ancestral Hall -> Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street
• Day 2: Yuexiu Park -> Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall -> Yongqing Fang -> Canton Tower
• Day 3: Guangzhou Chimelong Safari Park / Guangzhou Chimelong Paradise

5-Day Itinerary:

• Day 1: Sacred Heart Cathedral -> Beijing Road Pedestrian Street -> Shamian Avenue -> Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street
• Day 2: Chen Clan Ancestral Hall -> Site of the Peasant Movement Institute -> Eat your way through Dezheng Road -> Canton Tower
• Day 3: Guangdong Museum -> Guangzhou Library -> Xihua Road
• Day 4: Full day at Guangzhou Chimelong Paradise
• Day 5: Yuexiu Park -> Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall -> Haixinsha Island

Tip: Use luggage storage services like CunzhiJi Storage! Find convenient luggage drop-off points near major attractions and metro stations across Guangzhou.