Guangzhou—once known to the world as Canton—has been a maritime crossroads for over two millennia. As the southern gateway of China and capital of Guangdong, it shaped the flavors, trade, and stories that traveled the Pearl River and beyond. Today, Gothic bell towers, Qing-era clan halls, and Art Deco arcades coexist with a skyline sharpened by the Canton Tower.

This city is a pilgrimage for food lovers. Cantonese cuisine began here: delicate dim sum, slow-roasted meats glazed to lacquered perfection, clay pot rice, and ethereal desserts like double-skin milk. Expect morning tea culture (yum cha) at venerable halls, unfussy neighborhood canteens, and chefs who whisper with steam and flame.

Guangzhou is practical, efficient, and welcoming. The metro is extensive, tap-and-go payments are widely accepted, and English signage is solid at major sights. Plan for short showers in the subtropical climate, carry cashless payment options, and leave room in your day—and stomach—for spontaneous discoveries.

Guangzhou

Guangzhou’s character is best read along the Pearl River: from colonial-era Shamian Island to the neon gloss of Zhujiang New Town. The city’s Lingnan architecture—verandas, patterned tiles, and airy courtyards—reveals how locals designed life around shade, breeze, and community.

• Top sights: Canton Tower for sunset views; Guangdong Museum for natural and cultural collections; Chen Clan Ancestral Hall for exquisite wood, brick, and ivory carvings; Museum of the Mausoleum of the Nanyue King for a 2,000-year-old royal tomb; Yuexiu Park and the Five Rams statue; Beijing Road with its excavated ancient roadway; Shangxiajiu arcades and Lychee Bay.
• Eat & drink: Dim sum at Dian Dou De, banquet classics at Guangzhou Restaurant, roasted meats and seafood at Bingsheng, garden dim sum at Panxi, desserts at Nanxin Milk Desserts, cocktails at award-winning Hope & Sesame, and specialty coffee at Lock Chuck Coffee or % Arabica (Parc Central).
• Local tips: “Morning tea” often starts early; arrive by 9–10 a.m. for the best dim sum selection. Buy a Yang Cheng Tong transit card for buses/metro. For tea souvenirs, browse the sprawling Fangcun Tea Market.

Where to stay: For skyline views and easy metro access, base yourself in Zhujiang New Town. For heritage streets and traditional snacks, choose Liwan/Shamian. Browse stays on VRBO Guangzhou and hotels on Hotels.com Guangzhou.

Getting in: Fly into Guangzhou Baiyun International (CAN). Compare fares on Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com. Airport to downtown: 45–60 minutes by taxi (~CNY 120–180), or 35–50 minutes on Metro Line 3 (~CNY 7–10). Arriving by high-speed rail? Guangzhou South links to Shenzhen in 30–60 minutes and to other Chinese hubs—check schedules on Trip.com trains.

Day 1: Arrival, Huacheng Square, and a Pearl River Welcome

Morning: Fly in and get settled in Zhujiang New Town or Shamian. If you arrive before check-in, drop bags and stretch your legs around Huacheng Square, framed by the Guangzhou Library, Guangdong Museum, and the IFC towers.

Afternoon: Coffee at % Arabica Parc Central (smooth single-origin espresso with signature Spanish lattes) or Lock Chuck Coffee for light, balanced pour-overs. Early dinner at Bingsheng Pinwei (order the honey-glazed char siu, poached “white-cut” chicken, and wok-fried seasonal greens).

Evening: Glide along the Pearl River night cruise to watch bridges and the Canton Tower ignite in color (about 60–90 minutes; budget ~CNY 120–180). If you prefer land, stroll the flower-lined embankment from Haixinsha toward Ersha Island for skyline photos.

Day 2: Ancient Guangzhou—Nanyue King, Yuexiu Park, and Beijing Road

Morning: Start with dim sum at Guangzhou Restaurant (try shrimp har gow, rice rolls with you tiao, and steamed pork ribs). Walk to Museum of the Mausoleum of the Nanyue King to see the jade burial suit and 2nd-century BCE artifacts; allow 1.5–2 hours.

Afternoon: Wander Yuexiu Park to the Five Rams statue—an emblem of prosperity—then head to Beijing Road to peer through glass floors at excavated roadway layers dating back centuries. Pop into side alleys for iced herbal teas from old apothecary stalls.

Evening: Dinner at Dian Dou De (DimDouDuck)—a local favorite for precise, translucent dumplings and baked custard buns. Dessert at Nanxin Milk Desserts on Shangxiajiu: order the double-skin milk and ginger milk curd. Nightcap at Hope & Sesame in Dongshankou, a speakeasy known for market-driven infusions and award-winning technique.

Day 3: Lingnan Masterpieces—Chen Clan Hall, Lychee Bay, and Shamian Island

Morning: Explore the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, a late-Qing academy adorned with some of the finest wood, brick, and gypsum carvings in southern China. Snack on a warm pineapple bun from a nearby bakery before continuing to Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street.

Afternoon: Meander around Lychee Bay’s restored canals and Xiguan mansions, then cross to Shamian Island, a former foreign concession shaded by banyans and lined with neo-classical villas. Stop for lemonade or a flat white at a riverside café before browsing boutiques.

Evening: Garden-set dinner at Panxi Restaurant by Liwan Lake—dim sum classics and Cantonese roasts amid pavilions and ponds. Alternatively, book Tao Tao Ju near Shangxiajiu for crisp-skinned roast goose and steamed crab roe dumplings. Enjoy a peaceful riverfront stroll under the lanterns.

Day 4: New Guangzhou—Zhujiang New Town, Guangdong Museum, and Canton Tower

Morning: Dive into the sculptural Guangdong Museum (free timed entry; check same-day slots). Exhibits range from Lingnan woodcarving to South China biodiversity. Walk the gardens of Huacheng Square for straight-on skylines.

Afternoon: Lunch at Bingsheng (Zhujiang New Town) or try a modern-casual canteen for clay pot rice topped with Chinese sausage. Cross the bridge to Haixinsha and amble toward the Canton Tower.

Evening: Ride up the Canton Tower for the city’s best sunset-to-neon transformation (observation decks from ~CNY 150–198; Bubble Tram extra). Dine either at the tower’s revolving restaurant or head back to Taikoo Hui for a relaxed supper and gelato.

Day 5: Day Trip to the Kaiping Diaolou (UNESCO)

Morning: Depart by 8:00 a.m. for Kaiping (2–2.5 hours by long-distance bus from Fangcun or Jiangnan West; ~CNY 70–90 each way) or hire a private car for flexibility. Start at Zili Village, where fortified diaolou watchtowers rise over rice paddies—built by overseas Chinese returning with ideas from Europe and North America.

Afternoon: Visit Li Garden (Li Yuan) and the elegant Majianglong cluster for fusion details: Roman columns, arcades, and Chinese rooflines in a single courtyard. Lunch on rustic Cantonese fare—steamed river fish, stir-fried shoots, and clay pot dishes—at a village restaurant.

Evening: Return to Guangzhou by early evening. Light supper near your hotel—try a late bowl of wonton noodles or a sweet-soup shop (tong sui) for black sesame paste and almond tofu. Rest up after a full day outdoors.

Day 6: Baiyun Mountain, Tea Market, and a Seafood Feast

Morning: Take the cable car or hike up Baiyun Mountain for hazy city panoramas and cool groves; ideal for photos and fresh air. Snack on baked buns and soy milk at a local stall at the base.

Afternoon: Head to the Fangcun Tea Market, one of China’s largest tea hubs. Sample oolong, tieguanyin, and aged pu’er, and pick up a travel-friendly gaiwan set. Ask vendors to pack teas “for hot southern climate” to ensure optimal storage.

Evening: Experience Huangsha Aquatic Market: choose live seafood (spotted shrimp, mantis prawns, razor clams), then take it to an upstairs restaurant to be cooked to your taste—ginger-scallion wok fry, black bean sauce, or steamed with garlic. After, grab a drink at The Happy Monk (multiple branches) for easygoing beers and live music.

Day 7: Last Bites and Souvenirs

Morning: One more dim sum session—book Tao Tao Ju or revisit Dian Dou De for any must-repeats. Browse Taikoo Hui or Parc Central for gifts: tea, local snacks, elegant chopstick sets, and silk fans.

Afternoon: Airport transfer for your departing flight. If time allows, grab a Cantonese bakery box—wife cakes, mung bean pastries, and egg tarts—for the road.

Evening: —

Where to Book and How to Get Around

• Stays: Compare apartments and villas on VRBO Guangzhou and hotels by neighborhood on Hotels.com Guangzhou.
• Flights and trains: For best schedules and fares, check Trip.com flights and Kiwi.com. For intercity high-speed trains within China (e.g., Shenzhen–Guangzhou ~30–60 minutes; ~CNY 75–100), use Trip.com trains.
• Local transport: The metro is fast and inexpensive; rides are typically CNY 3–7. Taxis are plentiful; use hotel cards to show addresses in Chinese. Cashless payments via major apps work widely as of 2025.

In seven days, you’ll taste the city’s culinary soul, walk through 2,000 years of history, and see how Guangzhou looks toward the future. Whether you come for dim sum or design, rivers or rooftops, this itinerary leaves space for both ritual and surprise.