Caravan Travel Service

The rapid developing city of southern China has new financial districts, dense culture, and foreign business friendly environments.

The city is famous for foreign trades and businesses. It holds China’s largest trade fair, the Canton Fair.While Guangzhou is not usually high on the list of Asian tourist destinations, it is amazing how much the city actually has to offer.

The New Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, IATA: CAN, ICAO: ZGGG, [2]) is a major hub in Southern China, second only to Hong Kong. The airport is the base of China Southern Airlines [3] and has not only an extensive range of domestic flights, but some international connections, including Air France to Paris, China Southern to Los Angeles, Thai Airways to Bangkok, Singapore Airlines to Singapore and Finnair to Helsinki. Other direct international destinations include Amsterdam, Kuala Lumpur, Penang ,Jakarta, Frankfurt, Tokyo, and Osaka.

The airport is 28 km north from downtown Guangzhou, and should not be confused with the former Baiyun Airport which was closed in 2004. A metro line to the airport is under construction but won’t be ready until around 2009. In the meantime, taxi is the fastest option. See the airport fare table [4] for approximate fare cost. A taxi ride to downtown should cost no more than ¥120, inclusive of a ¥15 toll fee. As of the end of 2005, there is a ¥1 fuel surcharge that is not shown on the fare meter.

By train

Standard trains cover the 182 kilometers from Hong Kong in one and a half hours or less. Guangzhou-Kowloon Through Train from Hong Kong (Hung Hom station) to Guangzhou East station is operated by the KCR…

Where to go

Guangxiao Temple 109 Guangxiao Lu – As the sixth patriarch of Zen Buddhism, Hui Neng, trained at this temple in the 7th Century, it is a popular pilgrimage site for Zen Buddhists. The temple has been destroyed several times by fire, and the current buildings date only from the mid 19th century. Admission ¥4.

Liurong Temple 87 Liurong Lu – The Temple of Six Banyan Trees, which includes the 17 story, eight-sided Hua Ta, or Flowering Pagoda, is one of the most popular attractions in Guangzhou. The temple dates back to the 6th century, while the pagoda predates it by about 300 years. Admission ¥5, Flower Pagoda ¥10.

The buildings and streets of the former British and French concession on Shamian Island have been beautifully renovated, creating an oasis of tranquility in an otherwise bustling and hectic metropolis. One of the old structures is Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel, located at 14 Shamian Street. Attractions on the island are all free. As an island, Shamian is not particularly spectacular, but what makes it special that for several hundred years this tiny spit of land was the only place in all of China that Europeans could establish settlements. The architecture reflects that era, and it has a very unique atmosphere.

What to Buy

If time and weather permits, walking is perhaps the best way to see the city as the back alleys, which are littered with antiquities, are not accessible by motorized vehicles. Most trades and goods categories are concentrated in a specific area or along one main street.

1.Guangzhou wholesale marker directory

2.Global International shoes Trade Centre

3.Xiguan Antique Street

Beijing Lu Pedestrian Street – This is the main shopping thoroughfare, a pedestrian street where most stores are open from 9AM-10PM. Avoid individuals who solicit pirated DVDs and imitation goods. Don’t follow anyone into the small dark alleys in between buildings to see their goods. Remember to visit Mayflower Plaza at 68 Zhongshan 5 Lu, at the northern end of the Pedestrian Street. This is a place where young people hang out and shop.

Cantonese cuisine is well-known for its blend of color, fragrance, taste and presentation, and it is ranked among the top four in the country. In particular, dim sum, a delicate pastry, is famous for being simple yet delicious. Local customs have also played a major role in the development and diversity of Cantonese cuisine, as it is often said that Cantonese people eat everything that swims except a submarine, everything that flies except an airplane, and everything with four legs except a table. However, despite the culinary achievements in the kitchen, the standards of hygiene still leave a lot to be desired, and so care should be taken in choosing restaurants and dishes. If in doubt, it is safer to avoid food containing meat, and fortunately Cantonese cuisine is famous for its vegetarian dishes.

Drink

Bars & Pub

When it comes to drinks, Guangzhou is one of the best cities in China to knock back a few. With a relatively large population of foreigners here, the city offers a wide variety of nightspots that cater to all tastes.

Tsing Tao and Zhu Jiang are the two major Chinese beer brands that are sold almost everywhere. Both are fairly standard light lagers. Carlsberg is also brewed in Guangzhou, which explains the reasonably large amount of Carlsberg taps in the bars.

C:Union, No.115, Shuiyin Rd., Chengshihui. Located to the left and behind a large bank and hotel, C:union is a great place to hear aytipical live music like reggae or classic rock. The bar has both an indoor section consisting of a dance floor and couches and an outdoor section with patio seating. Recently a new basement . C:Union has a wide beer selection and bartenders carefully measure all drinks out in plain view. Prices are extremely reasonable ranging from ¥25 for 1.5 pints of Tsing Toa to ¥50 for .75 pints of Chimay. Shots run ¥15 each. Early on the bar is populated mostly by locals, however as the night progresses the bar quickly fills with english speaking locals and expats. Recluses beware, patrons tend to be very friendly open to meeting new people. There is usually at least one english speaking bartender at each station.

Tielu Tong Tong Hotel , 101 Guangyuan Xi Lu . A few blocks down from the train station, this hotel has rooms for ¥100 for the first night and ¥80 for subsequent nights. The hotel includes hot water, toilet and air-conditioned. It’s spacious, but noisy .