In the southeast of the People’s Republic of China lies Guangzhou, the provincial capital of Guangdong. It is located about 130 kilometers northwest of Hong Kong and is crossed by the Pearl River, the most important river in southern China. This river runs from Guangzhou to Macau and Hong Kong to the South China Sea (Pearl River Delta).
The metropolis is spread over an area of over 7,400 square kilometers and is divided into a total of ten city districts and two independent cities. With its more than eleven million inhabitants, it is one of the most important and largest industrial and commercial cities and has the largest foreign trade port in all of southern China. Thanks in part to its proximity to Hong Kong , Guangzhou has been a strategically important port city for centuries.
Guangzhou is also known as the “goat city”, which is also reflected in its coat of arms. That’s where the five goats can be found, which are also statues in the city’s own Yuexiu Park. This nine-hectare park in Guangzhou is China’s largest urban green space.
Interesting sights in Guangzhou
Basically, the Chinese port city of Guangzhou is designed more for industry and trade than for tourism. Nevertheless, there are also some beautiful places and interesting sights that should definitely be taken a closer look.
In addition to old temples and buildings that tell of times long past, there are also shiny skyscrapers and buildings that are architecturally and technically state-of-the-art. Guangzhou has a lot to offer and is a popular destination in China for many holidaymakers.
The ancestral temple of the Chen family
For example, the ancestral temple of the Chen family is extremely worth seeing. It was financed by donations from the Chen family and was built between 1890 and 1894 during the reign of Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty. The temple complex has a total of 19 buildings with nine halls and six beautiful courtyards, all of which are connected by corridors. The main hall is the focal point of the temple, which was built in the traditional Chinese symmetrical style. The entrance area houses two huge stone drums as well as color paintings that are considered the best in the entire province. Today, Chen Temple is the site of the Museum of Folk Arts and Crafts and is popular with curious vacationers.
The Memorial Hall for Sun Yat-sen
This special memorial commemorates the esteemed statesman and revolutionary Sun Yat-sen (born in 1866 and died in 1925). He made a decisive contribution to the overthrow of the Qing government and is considered an important founder of the Republic of China. The memorial hall was built from 1929 to 1931 and is located on the southern slope of Yuexiu Mountain. The magnificent building is almost 50 metres high and consists of a main building and an annex. Here you can find out more about his life and work. Particularly impressive is the bronze statue of Sun Yat-sen, which stands in front of the entrance to the palatial building. The blue, octagonal roof tiles are also something very special and are often used by tourists as a photo motif. The entire building is a masterpiece of the palace architectural style.
The Canton Tower in Guangzhou
The extraordinary observation and television tower “Canton Tower” is a very special attraction of the city of Guangzhou. The building stands in the center of the city and, at 600 meters, is the tallest television tower and the fifth tallest building in the world. Its eye-catching design consists of a hyperbolic structure and looks particularly spectacular in the evening or at night, when the entire tower is illuminated in different colours. The Canton Tower consists of almost 40 levels, each with something different to offer: there are cafes, restaurants, cinemas, tea houses, exhibition and conference rooms, arcades and, of course, great corners to enjoy the fantastic view. A special highlight is the horizontal Ferris wheel at a height of 455 meters. There, a total of 16 transparent glass gondolas rotate around the Canton Tower and offer a spectacular view of the metropolis of a good eleven million inhabitants. A gondola can accommodate up to six people and a circumnavigation takes about 30 minutes. A ride costs the equivalent of about 14 euros.
Fun and variety at the Guangzhou Chimelong Tourist Resort
If tourists want to spend a different day in Guangzhou, they are in good hands at the Guangzhou Chimelong Tourist Resort. This special resort consists of an amusement park (“Chimelong Paradise”), a water park (“Chimelong Water Park”), two zoological gardens (“Chimelong Safari Park” and “Chimelong Birds Park”) and three hotel complexes.
Chimelong Paradise is an amusement park opened in 2006. It is one of the largest and most popular in all of China and has over 60 rides and spectacular attractions: water rides, half pipe, motorcycle roller coaster, bumper cars, free fall tower, carousel and much more. The associated Chimelong Water Park is the most visited water park in the whole world. It is particularly child-friendly, which is why a good 70% of the visitors are families with children. In addition to various water rides, there are also water slides for young and old. The Safari Park is also part of the facility and particularly curious visitors can book tours by jeep to get up close and personal with wild animals such as lions, giraffes, (white) tigers, elephants, koalas, panda bears and many other species. But there is also a zone where you can walk through the extensive areas and explore everything. This huge wildlife park is home to over 20,000 animals.
