Flights and Travel Guide to Guangzhou

Overview

The Goat City, Guangzhou, is Guangdong Province’s capital. It is the political, technological, cultural and economic hub of Southern China and the open coastal city is well-known for being an example of China’s comprehensive reform experiment region. Guangzhou is the most flourishing and the largest foreign and industrial trade center in south China. It has been given the honor of being acknowledged as "Flower City" owning to the blossoming flowers all year round.

Geography

Geography of Guangzhou is situated in the middle southern Guangdong Province and the Pearl River Delta’s north. It lies near Hong Kong, Macau and the South China Sea. The province Guangdong covers an area of about7434.4 square kilometers. Longitude and Latitude of is located at 22°26′N to 23°56′N and 112°57′E to 114°3′E.

Climate

Guangzhou hosts a humid subtropical monsoon climate. It is rainy and hot without very distinctive seasons. Lasting from mid April to September, this city experiences a very hot and humid summer with plenty tropical showers. These months count for above 80% of the yearly rainfall, which stands at about 1800mm. July and August are the warmest are, with an average temperature of 30 degrees Celsius. While keeping the temperate in mind alone, it is not very high. In fact it is the humidity that makes the climate feel much hotter.
In general, the weather in November ranges from 15.7 to 24.4 and the relative humidity during this month is from 30% to 70%. The precipitation is much lower, thus giving space to drier weather. The cooled months are December till February.

Getting in

Getting to the city of Guangzhou by Air is one of the best options there is. This metropolis encompasses Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, which is undeniably one of the most sophisticated transport hubs in China’s Southern part. Situated close to Macau and Hong Kong, Guangzhou continues to attract myriad tourists through this airport. It has extensive services of international as well as domestic international flights. The opportunity of availing flights from 20 international destinations and 70 domestic cities makes getting to Guangzhou by Air  a viable option.

Major airport

This metropolis is served by the Baiyun International Airport which is to be found in the Haidu District. This is China’s second busiest airport and is used by overseas visitors all around the year.

Major airlines

The airport serves as the base of China Southern Airlinesand has not only a wide range of domestic and Asian flights, but also hosts some direct international connections. Some of the major international airlines found here are:

• Lufthansa
• Air France
• Emirates
• China Southern

Travelling in and around Guang Zhou

Guangzhou has a rather efficient and swiftly expanding transportation system for public. If your intention of staying in Guangzhou is for an extensive period of time, purchasing a multi-purposeLing Nan Tong - Yang Cheng Tongstored value card would be a wise idea. It can be utilized not only for public transportation such as subway, bus, taxis and parking meters but also designated shops and public phones. There are many options to travel within the city, they are mentioned as follows:

• By subway
  The network wraps much of the city center and continues to grow rapidly outward.
• By bus
  There is also a wide-ranging bus service for public that covers Guangzhou from one end to the other. So far, this is the cheapest way to move around the city.
• By BRT
  The Bus Rapid Transit system went is essentially a lengthy segregated bus lane that runs along the Avenue corridor and Tianhe Road towards the eastern side of the suburbs.
• By taxi
  This mode of transportation is most popular among the foreigners to get around places, and it is also very affordable.
• By car
  Rental cars along with a driver are available; however these are not as cheap as the ones mentioned earlier. Driving yourself would not be advisable for overseas tourists due to the unfamiliar with the driving conditions.

Attractions in Guangzhou

Popular destinations

Guangzhou has been China’s capital for three dynasties thus Guangzhou, the well-known historical city has a prosperous heritage which contributes greatly in making it one of the most famous destinations to attract the tourists from all around the world. Mentioned below are some the famous destinations:

• Chenjiaci
• Guangdong Museum of Folk Handcraft
• Shamian Island
• Guangdong Provincial Museum
• Museum of the Tomb of the King of Southern Yue in Western Han Dynasty
• Temple of the Six Banyan Trees
• Shishi Holy Heart Cathedral
• Yue Xiu Park
• Baiyun Mountain
• Lie shi ling yuan

Sight seeing in Guangzhou

Various Sightseeing Destinations in Guangzhou:

• Guangdong Cultural Center is house to contemporary and traditional Chinese art. Baiyun Mountain provides access to the Mingchun valley-an which is an ornithologist’s paradise.
• Furthermore, Wong Tai Sin Temple was a temple constructed in the memory of renowned Wong Tai-sin.
• Guangxiao Temple was built in the second century B.C. as a palace for the prince of the Nanyue Kingdom and it later became a seat of Chinese Buddhism.
• Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall is undeniably one of the most impressive memorials of the founder of today’s China.
• Yuexiu Park one of the city’s oldest and is home to artificial lakes along with boating, swimming, fishing, table tennis, body building and much more.  

Museums

If you are interested in populace and their inherited history and culture fascinates you, then Guangzhou Museums should definitely be on top of your Guangzhou itinerary.
The Guangzhou’s museums are the best places to discover about China, the city of Guangzhou itself, its people, history, culture and arts. To name the best, The Western Han Dynasty Nanyue King Mausoleum Museum is the by far the oldest and biggest Han tomb. It will amaze you with its compilation of funerary bits and pieces in Lingnan Area.

Cuisines/ restaurants

If you are worried about where to eat in the city of Guangzhou, then stop wondering because Guangzhou is known across the world for its numerous restaurants and excellent food. Among the famous eight in China is the Cantonese cuisine with features different flavors and styles.
If you are in search for that perfect place to eat, then pick one from the list below. Besides the various local restaurants, it has many American, Japanese, Thai,  French, Chinese and Indian, restaurants.Some celebrated restaurants in Guangzhou include:

• Pan Xi Restaurant.
• Guangzhou Restaurant
• Da Tong Restaurant
• Nan Yuan Restaurant
• Bei Yuan Restaurant
• The Dong Jiang Restaurant

Festivals and events

Born out of beliefs of locals are much of Guangzhou’s festivals which are due to due to the traditional, age old folk customs. These traditions have been passed down from one generation to other and are immensely celebrated on big scale over a course of days. During such a festival or event, new clothes are purchased, houses are painted again, gifts are exchanged, and temples are given a visit in great numbers. Apart from these, most of the events and festivals are accompanied by dances and songs. This is surely a sight not to miss by the tourists who seem to enjoy it thoroughly.

Things to do

Shopping

Deciding on where to shop in the city of Guangzhou can be over whelming. It south China’s most important Commodity distribution center. Guangzhou swanks eight major streets for shopping such as Dishpan, Beijing Road, Night Market, Culture Street and the Golden Fish Street.

The Famous Bazaars in Guangzhou

The bazaars in Guangzhou are very well-known. These include:

• Tianhe City Square
• Guangzhou Department Store
• Xindaxin Company
• Nanfang Building

Nightlife

Nightlife in the city of Guangzhou is pretty attractive. With the opening of more restaurants and pubs, this place has given a whole new meaning to the night life. One of the best ways to spend the night is by experiencing The Pearl River Night Cruise, Zhujiang Yeyou. Indulge in a boat ride and get enchanted by the thirty attractive areas along the bank.

Useful Tips

The Many Names of Guangzhou

While making travel arrangements to the amazing city of Guangzhou, keep in mind the many names of this city. Even though Guangzhou is the most frequently used name, it is referred to as Canton by English speaking people along with names such as Kwangchow or Gwongzau. Visiting it in summer should be avoided since it is very crowded during this season. However if you do choose to visit Guangzhou during the summer, make sure that the reservations are confirmed in advance.