Guangzhou travel journal

10 May 2026 – 15 May 2026

Guangzhou

Six days across Old Guangzhou, Chimelong, Baiyun Mountain, and Canton Tower.

Sunset over Guangzhou between the Canton Tower Bubble Tram cabins
Sunday, 10 May

Day 1 - Arrival & Old Guangzhou

Route
樟宜机场Zhāngyí Jīchǎng→广州白云国际机场Guǎngzhōu Báiyún Guójì Jīchǎng→朴居酒店Pǔjū Jiǔdiàn→侨美食家Qiáoměi Shíjiā→沙面岛Shāmiàn Dǎo→珠江Zhū Jiāng→万菱广场Wànlíng Guǎngchǎng→石室圣心大教堂Shíshì Shèngxīn Dà Jiàotáng→天字码头Tiānzì Mǎtóu→海珠广场Hǎizhū Guǎngchǎng

After an early flight from Singapore, we dropped our bags near Beijing Road and headed out for roasted pigeon and pork. We spent the afternoon around Shamian Island and Sacred Heart Cathedral, then ended the day on a Pearl River night cruise.

Twin spires of Guangzhou Sacred Heart Cathedral

Sacred Heart Cathedral

Guangzhou Sacred Heart Cathedral · 广州圣心大教堂

Orange cat resting at an outdoor table in Guangzhou

Shamian Island

A cat we met outside a café

Family lunch at Qiaomeishijia in Guangzhou

侨美食家

Qiáoměi Shíjiā · Family lunch

Owl-themed photo stop during the first day in Guangzhou

Starbucks stop

Hedwig at the Harry Potter Starbucks

Breakfast buffet on the first morning in Guangzhou

Hotel breakfast

Breakfast before heading into Old Guangzhou

Spacious room at Puyu Hotel in Guangzhou

朴居酒店

Pǔjū Jiǔdiàn · Our first hotel room

Roast pigeon served at Qiaomei Shijia

侨美食家

Qiáoměi Shíjiā · Roast pigeon

Cantonese lunch dishes spread across the table at Qiaomei Shijia

侨美食家

Qiáoměi Shíjiā · Cantonese lunch

Yellow colonial-era building among the trees on Shamian Island

沙面岛

Shāmiàn Dǎo · Tree-lined architecture

Side view of Sacred Heart Cathedral without the crowds

石室圣心大教堂

Shíshì Shèngxīn Dà Jiàotáng · Gothic stonework

Bright dining room at Green Island Western Restaurant

绿岛西餐厅

Lǜdǎo Xīcāntīng · Dinner setting

Steak and prawns served for dinner at Green Island Western Restaurant

绿岛西餐厅

Lǜdǎo Xīcāntīng · Steak and prawns

Monday, 11 May

Day 2 - Xiguan & Yongqingfang

Route
上下九步行街Shàngxiàjiǔ Bùxíngjiē→东急新天地购物广场Dōngjí Xīntiāndì Gòuwù Guǎngchǎng→莲香楼Liánxiāng Lóu→永庆坊Yǒngqìng Fāng→粤剧艺术博物馆Yuèjù Yìshù Bówùguǎn→动漫星城Dòngmàn Xīngchéng→万国奥特莱斯Wànguó Àotèláisī→文通冰室Wéntōng Bīngshì→北京路步行街Běijīng Lù Bùxíngjiē→大佛寺Dàfó Sì

We spent the day around Xiguan — Cantonese food, restored lane houses, the Cantonese Opera Museum, and Yongqingfang. After dinner we walked down Beijing Road and saw Dafo Temple lit up at night.

Calligraphy covering a cylindrical installation in Yongqingfang

Yongqingfang

Calligraphy installation

Guangzhou-shaped ice cream held outside a shop on Shangxiajiu

Shangxiajiu

Guangzhou-shaped ice cream

Traditional courtyard building at the Cantonese Opera Museum

Cantonese Opera Museum

Courtyard buildings

Wooden Wing Chun dummy in a traditional courtyard

Yongqingfang

Wing Chun dummy

Colourful contemporary facade set against grey brick in Yongqingfang

Yongqingfang

Colourful facade on the old grey brick

Decorative relief climbing the side of a building in Yongqingfang

Yongqingfang

Relief on a building wall

Collage of lunch dishes from Saizeriya

Saizeriya lunch

Lunch before exploring more of Xiguan

Dinner dishes at Men Tong Bing Sutt

文通冰室

Men Tong Bing Sutt · Dinner

Bruce Lee heritage display and Wing Chun training dummies in Yongqingfang

永庆坊

Yǒngqìng Fāng · Bruce Lee heritage

Interior atrium of Wanguo Outlets in Guangzhou

万国奥特莱斯

Wànguó Àotèláisī · Outlet stop

Tuesday, 12 May

Day 3 - Yuexiu & Chimelong

Route
越秀公园Yuèxiù Gōngyuán→五羊石像Wǔyáng Shíxiàng→长隆野生动物世界Chánglóng Yěshēng Dòngwù Shìjiè→长隆国际大马戏Chánglóng Guójì Dà Mǎxì

We started the morning in Yuexiu Park, then spent the whole afternoon at Chimelong Safari Park. Cable car over the animals, then the circus at night — the busiest day of the trip.

Red Zhenhai Tower rising above Yuexiu Park

Yuexiu Park

Zhenhai Tower

White cat resting beside a path in Yuexiu Park

Yuexiu Park

A white cat lounging on the steps

Entrance to Chimelong Safari Park

Chimelong Safari Park

Park entrance

Giraffes looking over a safari truck at Chimelong

Chimelong Safari Park

Giraffes over the safari truck

Monkey sitting on a wooden platform at Chimelong Safari Park

Chimelong Safari Park

Monkey on the forest trail

Toucan perched on a branch at Chimelong Safari Park

Chimelong Safari Park

Toucan

Two tigers in a forested enclosure at Chimelong Safari Park

Chimelong Safari Park

Tigers

Koala resting in a tree at Chimelong Safari Park

Chimelong Safari Park

Koala habitat

Giant panda eating bamboo at Chimelong Safari Park

Chimelong Safari Park

Panda feeding time

Illuminated stage display at Chimelong International Circus

Chimelong International Circus

Before the show

Performers and a hippopotamus on stage at Chimelong International Circus

Chimelong International Circus

The stage show

Motorcyclists performing inside a steel globe at Chimelong International Circus

Chimelong International Circus

Motorcycle globe act

Wednesday, 13 May

Day 4 - Baiyun Mountain

Route
白云山Báiyún Shān→摩星岭Móxīng Lǐng→足足有愉Zúzú Yǒuyú→正佳广场Zhèngjiā Guǎngchǎng

We took the cable car up Baiyun Mountain and continued on foot to Moxing Summit, the mountain's 382-metre high point. After the climb, we stopped at 足足有愉 for a massage before ending the day at Zhengjia Plaza in Tianhe.

Stone pavilion shaded by trees on Baiyun Mountain

Baiyun Mountain

Pavilion on the climb

Guangzhou skyline viewed from Baiyun Mountain

Moxing Summit

Guangzhou from 382 metres

Massage room in Tianhe

Massage stop

Massage at 足足有愉

Couple at Moxing Summit on Baiyun Mountain

Moxing Summit

At the top

Cable car travelling over Baiyun Mountain

Baiyun Mountain cable car

The ride up the mountain

Room at ECHIC Hotel

宜致酒店

Yízhì Jiǔdiàn · Our room in Guangzhou

Beijing roast duck delivered through Meituan

北京烤鸭

Běijīng Kǎoyā · Meituan supper

Thursday, 14 May

Day 5 - Science Centre & Canton Tower

Route
广东科学中心Guǎngdōng Kēxué Zhōngxīn→东山口Dōngshānkǒu→广州塔Guǎngzhōu Tǎ→广州塔摩天轮Guǎngzhōu Tǎ Mótiānlún→天河Tiānhé

We spent the morning at Guangdong Science Centre, walked around Dongshankou in the afternoon, then went up Canton Tower for the Bubble Tram and sunset over the Pearl River.

Curved silver facade of Guangdong Science Centre

Guangdong Science Centre

The main entrance

Guangdong Science Centre

Driving simulator exhibit

Arched wooden doorway on a quiet Dongshankou street

Dongshankou

Arched doorway on a quiet street

Cold tea from CHAGEE during a Guangzhou café stop

Tea break

CHAGEE

Couple seated by the windows near the top of Canton Tower

Canton Tower

By the windows near the top

Aerial view of Guangzhou from Canton Tower

Canton Tower

Tianhe and the Pearl River

Pearl River curving through Guangzhou below Canton Tower

Canton Tower

The Pearl River below

Bubble Tram cabin beside a sunset view over Guangzhou

Canton Tower Bubble Tram

Sunset over the Pearl River

Lunch dishes at Secret Trip Western Restaurant

秘密旅行西餐厅

Mìmì Lǚxíng Xīcāntīng · Dongshankou lunch

Lunch at Secret Trip Western Restaurant

秘密旅行

Mìmì Lǚxíng · Lunch

Dinner dishes at Kapeng Western Restaurant near Canton Tower

卡朋西餐

Kǎpéng Xīcān · Dinner near Canton Tower

Steak served on a hot plate in Tianhe

Tianhe

Dinner on the hot plate

Canton Tower framed by a circular opening

Canton Tower

Framed through a circular opening

Red Bubble Tram cabins circling the rooftop of Canton Tower

广州塔摩天轮

Guǎngzhōu Tǎ Mótiānlún · Bubble Tram

Friday, 15 May

Day 6 - Departure

Route
宜致酒店Yízhì Jiǔdiàn→广州白云国际机场T3航站楼Guǎngzhōu Báiyún Guójì Jīchǎng T3 Hángzhànlóu→樟宜机场Zhāngyí Jīchǎng

We left early for the airport and flew home, arriving back in Singapore by mid-afternoon.