Guangzhou
Fri, 12/12/2008 - 17:22
| Guangzhou, used to be known as Canton in the West, is an important commercial center on China's southern coast, situated a short distance north of Hong Kong. Even not a tourist city per se, Guangzhou has served as an important entry point for travelors who come to China for business or pleasure. | | | |  | Attractions | Baiyun MountainBaiyun Mountain (Baiyun Shan) is located north of Guangzhou (15 km or so), with its highest peak standing at over 380 m. It is a quiet and green mountain close to Guangzhou's busy city life. In the mountain there scatter pagodas, temples and other historical sites. It is also a good place to take a look at the city from high-above, if weather cooperates (Baiyun means "White Clouds").
Chen Family Ancestral Temple - Guangdong Folk Art MuseumIn the late 19th century, members of the Chen clan scattered in the 72 counties of Guandong Province donated money to build a temple to honor their common ancesters, which also served as a private school for the childen in the family. The compound well illustrates practices of traditional culture and traditional architectural styles. Located in Currently, the temple/academy houses the Guangdong Folk Art Museum.
Huaisheng MosqueHuaisheng means "In memorial of the Prophet". The mosque was initially built in the Tang Dynasty (7th to 10th century), by Arab merchants who had come to Guangzhou to trade. Burned down and damaged a few times over the centuries, the existing structure was established 1695, during the Qing Dynasty. Standing on the premise of the Mosque is Guangta, "Light Tower," which measures 36.6 m in height. Huaisheng Mosque is still an active service center and may not be open to non-worshipers. Location: the intersection of Zhongshan Road and Remin Road, about 500 m east of the Chen Family Temple and close to Ximenkou Station on Subway Line 1.
Pearl RiverThe Pearl River is the third longest river, after the Yangzi River and the Yellow River. The river flows through the heart of Guangzhou. There are evening cruises down and up the river, which make a good way to take in a long stretch of the city view in a relatively short period of time. There is also a riverside walk, which follows the dike the river.
Shamian IslandShamian does not appear to be an island, but it is. In the south, the little enclave borders on the Pearl River, the main river that flows through Guangzhou; on the northern side, a small river separates the community from the rest of Guangzhou. In the late 19th and early 20th century, Shamian was a foreign settlement in Guangzhou, as testified by the Western-style architecture in the area testifies. There is nothing extraordinary on Shamian, but it is a nice little place to be - to watch the traffic on the Pearl River, to ponder on the old buildings, to watch local Chinese exercise or play board games, to dine in the luxurious Swan Hotel or the humbler restaurants that scatter around. On Shamian there is also the U.S. Consulate General in Guangzhou. That's why you'll probably come across some American couples with Chinese babies, whom they must have recently adopted.
Shopping Streets and CentersLike Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a good place to do some shopping, except that in Guangzhou it is more likely for you to find cheaper goods in Guangzhou. Places in Guangzhou you can go to if you have shopping in mind: Shangxia Jiu Lu (Upper and Lower Nine Road), about 1 km north of Shamian; Beijing Lu (Beijing Road), about 3 km east of Shamian; Zhuangyuan Fang (Leading Scholar Lane), close to both Shamian and Shangxia Jiu Lu, at the cross with the main road Remin Nan Lu (People South Road); Tianhe Cheng (Teemall or Teem Plaza), in Tianhe District, off Subway Line 3; Haiyin Dianqi Cheng (Haiyin Electric Appliances Market), Nos. 56-58 Donghu Xi Lu (Donghu West Road), close to Jiangwan Bridge and Haiyin Bridge, about 1,000 m south of the Lishi Lingyuan (Martyrs Park) Station on Subway Line 1.
Six Banyan Temple and Flowery TowerSix Banyan Temple, "Liu Rong Si", is a Buddhist temple located in the heart of Guangzhou. The history of the temple can be traced back to the 6th century. Standing in the temple is what the Flowery Pagoda (Hua Ta). The pagoda was built close to 1,000 years ago, in 1097. One climb up the 57-meter tower to view the scenes of the neighborhood. The original banyan trees, after which the temple was named, no longer exist.
Sun Yat-sen Memorial HallSun Yat-sen, the founding father of the Republic of China, was a native of Guangdong Province. The city of Guangzhou played an important role in Sun's revolutionary career. Here, in the early 1920s, Sun headed a government that fought the warlords of China. After Sun's death in 1925, the memorial hall was built to honor this champion of the republican cause in China. Location: No. 259 Dongfeng Zhong Lu, off Subway Line 2.
Yuexiu ParkYuexiu Park is a short distance north of central Guangzhou. It is named after the mountain, on the slopes of which the park is located. Here one can stroll around to have some peace in a busy and bustling city. Among attractions in the park is Zhenhailou, "Sea Pacification Tower." Originally built in the 14th century, the five-story structure now houses Guangzhou Museum.
| | | Guangzhou TransportationAirport:
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport. It is 30 km north of the city center of Guangzhou.of the city center. Transportation: Shuttle buses), taxis.
Railway Stations:
Guangzhou Station (Guangzhou Zhan) and Guangzhou East Station (Guangzhou East). Guangzhou Station is the main station for Guangzhou.
Subway:
Line 1, Line 2, Line 3, Line 4.
Taxi:
¥8 for the first 3 km; depending on classes of cabs, ¥2.6, ¥2.4 and ¥2.2 each additional km.
Bus:
Most city buses ¥2; some suburban buses ¥3-5. | | | | | | | | | |
|
