Insiders Guide – Things to do in Guangzhou, China


History weds modernism in Guangzhou; a sprawling metropolis on the banks of the Pearl River in Southern China. There is so much to see and do with the city appealing to everyone from history buffs, art lovers, romantics, shoppers to party revelers. From a cruise or stroll along the Pearl River to indulging in a bit of luxury shopping at the TaiKoo Hui Shopping Centre and thereafter club or bar hopping downtown in Huanshi Dong Road; Guangzhou’s brilliance is clear for all to see. LuxuryLaunches together with the concierge of the Mandarin Oriental Guangzhou give you a more elaborate explanation to why this is a great holiday destination.


Top day trip
Shamian Island is an elliptical sandbar in Liwan District of Guangzhou and always stands high on the bucket-list of Guangzhou-bound travelers. The island’s name literally means “sandy surface” in Chinese. The island is a gazetted historical area that serves as a tranquil reminder of the colonial European period, with quiet pedestrian avenues flanked by trees and lined by historical buildings in various states of upkeep. The island is the location of several hotels, a youth hostel, restaurants and tourist shops selling curios and souvenirs.

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Must try dish
Guangzhou locals love BBQ Pork just as much as Americans fancy their burgers an steaks. This dish is sure to get your mouths watering. Bingsheng restaurant serves the best BBQ Pork.


Best activity / Excursion
Head to Dafu Mountain Forest Park and rent a bike for only CNY 10 to ride off the beaten track. It is an excellent place for exploring nature with its beautiful greenery and lakes.


Best One Stop shop
The TaiKoo Hui Shopping Centre at Tianhe is Guangzhou’s most luxurious shopping mall and houses everything from luxury brands to high street attire, a large lifestyle store, al fresco dining and also a well stocked supermarket – Ole.


Best place for local shopping
Guangzhou Baiyun World Trading Leather Centre is a wholesale department complex of 20,000 square meters. In the office tower you can find logistics companies, a design centre, exhibition centre and more. Baiyun world leather trading centre is part of Guangzhou’s largest leather product district. You can spend several days in this area, browsing through all the different buildings and side streets. This building is a good starting point in your quest for handbags, belts and accessories.

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Best restaurant for a celebration
Ebony Restaurant at Mandarin Oriental, Guangzhou has the perfect setting for a fantastic celebration.


Must see museum
The Chen Clan Ancestral Temple in Guangzhou City is a major cultural tourist site in Guangdong Province. It is a compound complex consisting of nine halls, six courtyards and nineteen buildings connected by corridors, all separated by walls from the outside world. There are various carvings extolling nature in the form of wood, brick, pottery, stone, lime etc.


Where: Mandarin Oriental, Guangzhou
389 Tianhe Road, Tianhe District,
Guangzhou 510620, China.
Phone: +86 20 3808 8888