Canton Tower
Slender twisted tower of steel on the Pearl River, lit up at night. Observation levels, an outdoor walkway and a small ride on top offer wide views.
Guangzhou
In southern China, a major hub of trade and food, the city is known for Cantonese cuisine and for the twice-yearly Canton Fair.
Attractive locations
Shamian Island
Tree-lined island that was once a foreign trading concession. Quiet lanes, European-style buildings and cafes make it a calm place for a walk.
Sacred Heart Cathedral
Gothic stone church with twin spires, built in the 19th century. It is still used for services and is a notable landmark of the old city.
Temple of the Six Banyan Trees
Buddhist temple known for its tall Flower Pagoda. Its halls and old trees are a peaceful stop in the old town.
Guangxiao Temple
One of the city's oldest Buddhist temples, with old trees, historic halls and small pagodas. A quiet spot beside a busy shopping area.
Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall
Blue-roofed octagonal hall honouring the revolutionary leader Sun Yat-sen, set in a park with old trees and open lawns.
Nanyue King Museum
Museum built over the tomb of a king of the Nanyue kingdom, more than 2,000 years old. Treasures include a famous burial suit made of jade pieces.
Baiyun Mountain
Hilly scenic area north of the city with wooded paths, viewpoints and cooler air. Locals climb it on weekends for exercise and views.
Yuexiu Park
Large hill park in the city centre with lakes and the Zhenhai Tower, home to the city museum. A statue of five rams is the symbol of Guangzhou.
Huaisheng Mosque
One of the oldest mosques in China, known for its plain white Guangta minaret. Visitors are welcome to see the grounds, but the prayer hall is for worshippers.
Chen Clan Ancestral Hall
An ornate ancestral hall built by the Chen clan in the late nineteenth century, with carved wood and stone, brick sculpture and colourful ceramic roof decoration. Part of it now holds a folk art museum.
Guangdong Museum
The provincial museum near the Canton Tower, in a building shaped like a treasure chest. Its galleries cover natural history, art and the history of Guangdong.
Airports
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport CAN
It is about 29 km in a straight line from Guangzhou.
Foshan Shadi Airport FUO
It is about 20 km in a straight line from Guangzhou.
Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport SZX
It is about 78 km in a straight line from Guangzhou.
Getting around
Baiyun Airport Terminal 3
Guangzhou's government gives two ways to reach Baiyun Airport Terminal 3: Metro Line 3 or 9 to Gaozeng Station followed by the free T3 shuttle bus, or travel to Baiyun Airport North Station (T2) and ride the intercity train one stop. A free shuttle also loops between Terminals 1, 2 and 3. Taxis and ride-hailing vehicles cannot drive onto the departure level, and the ride-hailing pick-up zone, on floors 1 and 2 of the P12 car park, should be confirmed in the app.
- Source: Guangzhou Municipal Government (international portal): Baiyun Airport's T3 Terminal opens (checked 4 Nov 2026)
Guangzhou Metro interchanges
In its metro guide, Guangzhou's government notes that Line 8 and Line 11 connect at Pazhou through designated out-of-station interchange gates, and that Line 12's Chigang Station interchanges with Line 8. The Guangzhou Metro app is recommended for real-time updates. Key stations have service desks for consulting, translation and ticketing help, and bilingual customer service robots work at Pazhou and Xingangdong.
- Source: Guangzhou Municipal Government (international portal): Metro guide for the Canton Fair (checked 4 Nov 2026)
Foreign cards and exchange
Metro travel in Guangzhou can be paid for with UnionPay, Mastercard, American Express, Visa and JCB cards, the city's government says, and 11 stations, including Pazhou and Xingangdong, have international-card terminals. Currency can be exchanged at Xingangdong, Guangzhou East Railway Station and Airport North Station. According to the city, visitors from Hong Kong can also pay metro, bus, tram and ferry fares with AlipayHK QR codes.
- Source: Guangzhou Municipal Government (international portal): Metro guide for the Canton Fair (checked 4 Nov 2026)
- Source: Guangzhou Municipal Government (international portal): AlipayHK accepted for metro in Guangzhou (checked 4 Nov 2026)
Scams and safe taxis
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan14.0 °C49 mm
- Feb16.9 °C41 mm
- Mar20.1 °C96 mm
- Apr23.8 °C152 mm
- May26.5 °C298 mm
- Jun27.8 °C332 mm
- Jul28.3 °C213 mm
- Aug28.3 °C244 mm
- Sep27.0 °C178 mm
- Oct23.7 °C55 mm
- Nov19.9 °C41 mm
- Dec14.8 °C30 mm
Driest months: Feb, Nov, Dec. Wettest months: May, Jun, Aug.
Costs
Prices here are about 47% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Festivals and events
trade
Canton Fair (autumn session)
Three phases make up the largest trade fair in China. Pazhou hotels are fully booked, so planning should begin months ahead.
Official sitetrade
Canton Fair (spring session)
The largest trade fair in China runs in three phases. Hotels around Pazhou are all booked up, so plan months in advance.
Official sitetrade
Canton Fair (autumn session)
Three phases make up the largest trade fair in China. Pazhou hotels are fully booked, so planning should begin months ahead.
Official siteWho can help
Emergency
Police 110. Ambulance 120. Fire 119.
ngo
Red Cross Society of China
Helps with: China's national Red Cross society. Its site covers emergency rescue and disaster relief, first aid training, humanitarian assistance, and blood and stem cell donation. The site is in Chinese only.
Who qualifies: People in China affected by disasters or needing its humanitarian services; contact the head office or a provincial branch.
Phone: 010-84025890
un agency
International Organization for Migration (IOM) China
Helps with: The UN migration agency, with an office in Beijing. In China its work covers migration management, crisis response, international cooperation and partnerships.
Who qualifies: Migrants and government or other partners working on migration. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Phone: +86-10-59799695
Address: 北京市朝阳区塔园外交公寓9-1-82 100600
embassy
Foreign embassies in Beijing (Beijing government list)
Helps with: For a lost passport or serious trouble, contact your own country's embassy. The Beijing government's English site lists foreign embassies by letter, with chancery addresses and phones.
Who qualifies: Citizens of each country, through their own embassy. The list is for Beijing only and its page addresses are dated 2020.
local government
Guide to Guangzhou's 12345 hotline English service
Helps with: The Guangzhou government's international site publishes an English guide (updated April 2026) to using the city's 12345 government service hotline. The page itself gives no phone number.
Who qualifies: English speakers in Guangzhou wanting to use the city's government service hotline.