Guangzhou has a long and fascinating history having been subject to several dynasties and experiencing the influences of European nations who long used the area for trading purposes. It retains many fascinating historical structures which are among its key attractions for both domestic and international visitors.

Food in the city is typically Cantonese which is known for its subtle use of spices and interesting raw ingredients. Eating out is an essential part of the cultural experience for non-Chinese visitors and few cities offer the standard of Cantonese cuisine that you are likely to find in Guangzhou.

A myriad of activities are on offer to the holiday maker and include everything from sightseeing tours to shopping, to a round of golf or an evening of Cantonese opera. Parks offer pleasant places for relaxing summer afternoons or equally for engaging in some manner of outdoor activity.

There are various places within easy reach of Guangzhou that would make worthwhile trip destinations and could be visited easily within a day. The canals and peach orchards at nearby Xinjiao are notable as is the as is the Yuanxuan Taoist Temple near Bi Village in southwest Xinhua Town. Meanwhile Foshan is just an hour away, Hong Kong two to three hours away and Shenzen one to two hours away.

Accommodation options are plentiful with budget, mid-range and up market establishments available depending on your own fiscal means. Most hotels in the city are Chinese-owned and offer exceptional service. There are some mid-range hotels which include the worldwide Holiday Inn chain.

Historians believe that the site that is now occupied by Guangzhou was originally home to a settlement known as Panyu which was founded in 214 BC. Panyu eventually evolved to become the capital of the Nanyue Kingdom in 206 BC and has since been permanently occupied by some settlement or other. The arrival of the Han Dynasty in 111 BC saw Panyu as the provincial capital of the region and later in 226 AD, it became the seat of the Guang Prefecture.

Guangzhou was in point of fact, the full name of the prefecture and not the name of the city at all; however with Panyu’s growing importance, it became common for citizens to refer to the city as Guangzhou.

Guangzhou’s advantageous position as a trading port was exploited by many foreign ships arriving there to procure cargo. The Portuguese, Spanish and Indians were initially the key players in the region but by the end of the 17th century, the French and English also began trading at the port. Later the Danes, Swedish, Americans and Australians also made use of the city’s trading possibilities. Guangzhou’s status as one of the world’s most successful trading ports remained unshaken until the outbreak of the Opium War in 1839 and the subsequent establishment of other Chinese ports in the mid-19th century.

The end of the First Opium War between China and Britain saw the signing of the Treaty of Nanking and Guangzhou subsequently instated as one of the five Chinese treaty ports. Up until this time, the city’s official name was still Panyu but it was changed to Guangzhou in 1918 on the establishment of an official council.

On October 14, 1949, the city was occupied by Communist forces who brought with them a new prosperity for many through their urban renewal projects. The arrival of Deng Xiaoping to power in the late 1970’s saw reforms which led to the city’s rapid economic growth, exploiting to some extent its proximity to Hong Kong and accessibility to the Pearl River. The city has since continued to grow, benefiting from the opening of industrial plants and an influx of cheap labour.

Guangzhou is subject to a subtropical monsoon climate meaning that temperatures are warm throughout the year, with average highs rarely less than 15ºC and lows not less than 11ºC. The months of July and August are the city’s hottest with temperatures soaring to highs of 33ºC, while the months of June and September are also hot ones with highs regularly hitting 31ºC. Rainfall throughout this season is significant with June seeing around 10.8 inches. May is however in fact the beginning of the rainy season and next to June sees some of the heaviest rainfall with volumes commonly reaching 10.4 inches.

November sees the first significant drop in temperature after the wet period with daily highs generally not exceeding 25ºC. This is a good time to visit the city as the weather is both moderately warm and dry relative humidity is low compared to other seasons. December, January and February see temperatures dropping further. Volumes of rainfall are low during this season as are humidity levels. April is the first month that the temperatures begin to pick up again and the city shakes off the dust of the winter season with temperatures hitting 25°C and rainfall increasing to 7.3 inches.