Guangzhou Activities

Guangzhou’s selection of child and family-orientated activities and attractions is limited. If you are only passing through or taking a short trip there then the zoos, the circus and the puppet theatre will probably suffice to keep the young ones occupied for a few days.

Guangzhou Zoo
The Guangzhou Zoo is an impressively large facility covering some 430,000 square metres and claiming the title of the biggest zoo in the South China region. The facility is home to over 2,000 animals from more than 200 different species and includes favourites such as the giant panda, golden-haired monkey, red-crowned crane and a variety of other indigenous creatures.

Panyu Safari Park
This zoo-style facility can offer an entertaining day out. Visitors get to observe animals in slightly less restricted conditions than a zoo and also can watch them performing in shows; with bears, elephants, tigers and horses the chief participants.

Panyu Chime-Long Night Zoo
The oddly named Panyu Chime-Long Night Zoo is actually not a zoo at all but rather a circus featuring both Chinese and international performers and presenting a nightly showcase of magic, acrobatics, animal acts and ethnic dancing. The big top arena has seats for 1000 spectators and regularly sees full houses, entertaining adults and children alike.

Guangdong Puppet Art Centre
Every Saturday and Sunday at 10:30 and 15:00, the Guangdong Puppet Art Centre opens its doors and invites the public to experience its traditional Chinese puppet show. Narratives are in Chinese but non-Chinese speakers can still appreciate the visual elements of this wonderful old fashioned art.

Guangzhou Ocean World
This major aquarium facility is located within the Guangzhuo Zoo and is a must for anyone with an interest in the oceans and the various specimens of life that they are home to. The facility is split into a variety of different themed sections including Relief Square, Ocean Square, Deep Sea Scenery, Submarine Tunnel, Treasure Window, Seaweed Pillar, Rocky Seashore, Fresh Water World, Hall of Popular Marine Science, Shark Hall, Ocean Theatre, Touch Pool, Sea Turtle Pool and Sealion Amusement Park. Each section offers its own unique selection of sea life.

As a city with a long and fascinating history and a unique heritage, Guangzhou is certainly not short of culturally-rich sights, centres and attractions. Ancient and classical Chinese architecture is something of a dominant theme with fine temples, halls and museums offering something of interest for those with a specific interest in Chinese history and those wishing to appreciate nothing more than the aesthetic properties on offer also. Thousands of years of Chinese history can be found in Guangzhou’s most popular cultural locations.

Guangxiao Temple
Erected during the Western Han Dynasty, Guangxiao Temple is an ancient building that was constructed originally as a residence for Prince Zhao Jiande of the Nanyue Kingdom. A large golden Buddha statue is the centrepiece of this fascinating temple which, during the 7th century, was used by the Chan master Hui Neng for the pursuit of Zen-related activities.

Sun Yatsen Memorial Hall
Constructed during the Chinese revolution in 1931, the Sun Yatsen Memorial Hall was designed by famous Chinese architect Lu Yanzhi. The hall was built in memory of Dr Sun Yat-sen, otherwise known as the Father of China, who led the overthrow of the Qing Dynasty during the revolution. The building is now used for concerts and conventions and has seating for some 4,700 guests. Visitors are invited to admire the stunningly beautiful architecture and ornate interior furnishings.

Temple of Chen Family
The Temple of Chen Family is one of the best preserved examples of classic Chinese architecture in the Guangdong province. Originally constructed as the ancestral temple of the Chen Family in the late 19th century, it now serves as the fascinating Museum of Guangdong Folk Arts and Crafts. The entire property houses a total of 19 buildings within which are a variety of artefacts, works of art and beautiful carvings.

Temple of the Six Banyan Trees
Contrary to its name, the Temple of the Six Banyan Trees is not home to any trees of the Banyan variety but is however a working Buddhist temple which did once feature arboreal life. Visitors are invited to come and admire the temple’s 9-storey Flower Pagoda which is hailed as the tallest pagoda in Guangzhou.

Western Han Dynasty Nanyue King Mausoleum Museum
The Western Han Dynasty Nanyue King Mausoleum Museum is the biggest and the oldest tomb hailing from the Han dynasty, covering a massive 14,000 square metres. With the buildings now housing a large number of related artefacts, it is among the world’s most famous museums and offers a total of 10 exhibition halls for visitors to explore. Exhibits cover the Yue Culture of south China and aspects of Central Chinese culture as well as the Chu Culture also from south China.

Of the three cooking styles that contribute to Cantonese cuisine, Guangzhou cuisine is the most dominant with Chao-Shan cuisine and Dongjiang cuisine making roughly equal contributions. It’s fair therefore to describe food in Guangzhou as Cantonese and to say that traditional restaurants tend to create typical Cantonese dishes. Cantonese food is only mildly spiced and based heavily around staple ingredients such as spring onion, sugar, salt, soy sauce, ginger, rice wine, corn starch and sesame oil.

Shopping in Guangzhou is a unique experience. The city has long offered goods at low prices, but it was only in the 1990s that the range of products available started to grow. In addition, many international name-brand boutiques and branches of Hong Kong department stores arrived in the city such as Sincere and Jusco. There are a number of markets and souvenir shops offering local handicrafts and Chinese silk, both of which are popular buys. Food markets can be found throughout and are an experience that must be tried at least once.

When you’re in need of increasing your pace or getting a little gentle exercise then either head for one of the city’s parks and organise your own activity or set off in search of one of the city’s purpose-built sporting centres.

Golf
Golf lovers are offered several venues at which to indulge their passion for the game with the moist Guangzhou climate providing the perfect conditions for lush green courses. The Guangzhou Luhu Golf and Country Club covers a total of 75 hectares and offers an 18-hole course set amid pleasant natural and manmade scenery. The Sino Golf and Country Club and the Guangzhou International Golf Club meanwhile offer equally impressive facilities and are open to non-members on payment of the required fee.

Paintball
A highly organised paintball centre is located within easy distance of downtown Guangzhou offering commando-style terrain and the opportunity for participants to don army fatigues and get into real soldier-in-action mode. Guns are supplied and paint bullets can be purchased in large rounds allowing uninterrupted offensives against your fellow players.

Parks and Gardens
Guangzhou has a number of parks which lend themselves perfectly to the pursuit of outdoor activities such as playing football, jogging, walking, sunbathing and picnicking. The Yuexiu Park is China’s largest city park and aside from its fascinating historical monuments and structures, it offers large areas of open greenery as well as a large outdoor swimming pool where you can cool off on those steamy summer days.

Orchid Park meanwhile is a nice place to take a summer stroll with its winding paths that take you through groves in which over 100 different species of orchid can be found. Elsewhere at People’s Park, you’ll find opportunities for jogging and walking as well as some interesting people watching. When the weather’s good, the park hosts outdoor Chinese opera which is always enthusiastically attended. The last park on the list is Culture Park which besides open green spaces; offers paths on which to roller skate, performances by Guangzhou's School of Acrobats and the occasional art exhibition.

Tennis
Guangzhou offers a number of venues where you can fine tune your serve, hone your forehand and polish up your smash. The Guangzhou Luhu Golf and Country, mentioned above, has a total of eight courts while the Ramada Pearl Hotel also offers courts within the hotel grounds. Other courts include those at Sha Mian, Er Sha Dao and Tian He Stadium. Courts are normally booked by the hour with prices varying depending on what time of day you choose to play.