Things to Do in Guangzhou: 11 Things You Must Do

There are many things to do when you travel in Guangzhou. Some of them you just have to do. For example, you can face your fears and go to the center of the Canton Tower. You can take a boat ride on the Pearl River and enjoy the views on both sides. You can also sit down with a few friends and enjoy dim sum. If you haven't done these things, then you can't say you've really been to Guangzhou.

1. Yum Cha

Yum Cha is one of the most iconic ways of life in Guangzhou. Local people call the place a tea house. These places usually have morning, lunch, and evening sessions.

If they serve tea and dim sum all day, it is called an all-day tea. Among them, Guangzhou Restaurant and Tao Tao Ju are well-known time-honored brands. They carry the taste memories of several generations.

In the early morning, when you walk into a tea house, you order a pot of Pu'er tea. Then you choose shrimp dumplings, pork dumplings, chicken feet, and rice rolls. These are all classic dishes you must try. Sitting with a few friends, eating and chatting, it is truly a wonderful experience.

Related Reading: Guangzhou Food - center 10 Dishes to Eat

2. Tasting Cantonese Cuisine

Cantonese cuisine, also called Guangdong food, can be described in one word: freshness.

In the hands of Guangdong chefs, a simple dish like white-cut chicken becomes a classic. They control the heat just right and focus on the natural taste. People never get tired of it. Even a cheap pork bun can turn into something special. With careful cooking, it becomes soft, tasty, and smells wonderful. It is a must-have in every restaurant.

If you are new to Cantonese food and don't know what to order, try these three classic dishes. One is white-cut chicken. You can taste the fresh and tender meat. Another is slow-cooked soup. You can feel the warmth of long-simmered goodness.

The last is roasted meat. You can enjoy the rich mix of fat and sweet flavors. With just these three dishes, you can already experience the richness and satisfaction of Cantonese food in one meal.

3. Visiting the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall

Opening Hours: 8:30 to 17:30

Ticket: CNY10

The Chen Clan Ancestral Hall is a treasure of Lingnan architecture. The moment you step inside, you cannot help but be amazed. Its beauty is far beyond what you can imagine. The roofs are covered with colorful ceramic figures of people and animals.

They are stacked in layers and look so real. The wood carvings and stone carvings at the entrance are detailed and rich. They leave almost no space. The visual impact is something you have to see with your own eyes to truly understand.

As the largest, most beautifully decorated, and best-preserved traditional Lingnan clan temple in Guangdong, the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall is more than just a temple. It is also a living museum of folk arts and crafts.

4. Walking Through Beijing Road Pedestrian Street

Opening Hours: All Day

Ticket: Free

Beijing Road Pedestrian Street is one of the busiest shopping streets in Guangzhou. It is also an open-air history museum. As you walk, you can look down through glass windows and see ancient roads from over a thousand years ago.

The road layers from the Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties are stacked on top of each other. You can see them clearly.

Standing on a modern shopping street while looking at the roads where ancient people walked is a strange and wonderful feeling. You can hardly find this experience in other cities.

This area is also one of the best places in Guangzhou for food. Right next to it, Huifu East Road is packed with all kinds of snack shops. You can find beef offal, rice rolls, sweet soups, and roasted meats.

There are so many choices. You can eat from morning till night. Every bite is a taste of real Guangzhou. Every turn might bring you a new surprise. The energy of this thousand-year-old trading city and the warmth of local life come together on Beijing Road. It creates a unique memory of Guangzhou.

5. Going to the center of the Canton Tower

Opening Hours: 9:30 to 22:30

Ticket: It depends on which activity you choose. Prices start from CNY150.

The Canton Tower is the tallest TV tower in China. It is also an observation deck that reaches up into the clouds.

When you stand on the observation deck more than 400 meters high, and look down, the whole city of Guangzhou spreads out below you like a small model. The Pearl River runs through the city like a thin ribbon. You can clearly see the buildings and streets. The visual experience of being up there is something no photo can show.

If the weather is nice, it is best to go up in the evening. You can see three different faces of Guangzhou in one visit. First, you see a clear and wide view during the day. Then you watch the sunset paint the sky with colors. Finally, you see thousands of lights turn on as night falls.

The Ferris wheel at the top is the most popular attraction at the Canton Tower. You ride in a clear glass cabin that slowly goes around the tower. In 20 minutes, it draws a gentle circle in the sky.

If you want something more exciting, try the drop tower at the center. In that moment when you fall straight down from 400 meters high, it is a real conversation between brave hearts and the limits of adventure.

6. Strolling Through Huacheng Square

Opening Hours: All Day

Ticket: Free

Huacheng Square is the best place to take photos of the Canton Tower. There is no better spot.

It sits right across from the Guangzhou Tower. You can see the whole beautiful shape of the Guangzhou tower from here. At night, the musical fountain in the square dances to the rhythm of the music.

When the lights come on, the Canton Tower reflects in the pool in front of you. The tower's image mixes with the dancing water. It looks more dreamy and layered than looking up from right under the tower.

Around the square, you see the most modern buildings in Guangzhou. The Opera House, the Museum, the Library, and the Children's Palace stand in a line. Each one was designed by world-famous architects. As you walk around, every step brings a new view. In just one evening, you can take in the brightest skyline of this whole city.

7. Taking a Pearl River Cruise

Opening Hours: 9:30 to 22:00

Ticket: Each route has a different price. Better service means a higher price.

A night cruise on the Pearl River is the most relaxing way to enjoy Guangzhou's evening scenery.

You don't need to walk. You don't have to deal with crowds. You just sit on the boat and let the river breeze touch your face. The tall buildings and bridge lights on both sides slowly pass by as you move along.

The best moment is when the boat goes under a bridge. You look up from below and see the bridge all lit up. It looks completely different from seeing it on land. That feeling of being surrounded by lights is truly beautiful.

You can board at Tianzi Wharf. Many boats are leaving from here. It is also close to Beijing Road Pedestrian Street. This makes it perfect for a day of shopping followed by a night cruise.

8. Stepping into Xiguan

Opening Hours: All Day

Ticket: Free

Xiguan is the best-preserved old town area in Guangzhou. It is like a museum of Lingnan culture without walls.

You don't need to enter a museum to feel history. You can walk on real century-old granite roads. The stones beneath your feet have been smoothed by time. On both sides, you see rows of arcade buildings and traditional craft shops.

Old masters still make copper items and craft lion dance heads right in front of you. Their focus and skill seem to slow down time itself.

Hidden inside these old buildings, you can also find many cafes and unique little shops. The old and new mix together, creating a special atmosphere.

The old glory of this area may be gone, but the food lives on. As the city grew, these tastes stayed. Tucked away in small lanes, time-honored shops keep Xiguan's flavor memories alive. They serve wonton noodles and slow-cooked soups just like before.

This is why people still say: Food is in Guangzhou, but the true taste is in Xiguan.

9. Explore the Sacred Heart Cathedral

Opening Hours: It is usually closed all day on Monday and on Sunday mornings.