If you’re planning a visit to Guangzhou, China, there are a lot of things to see and do. From the famous Canton TV Tower to the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, there are many reasons to make this port city your next destination. When you fly into Guangzhou with your Cathay Pacific flight, remember the following as top attractions to add to your bucket list.
Guangdong Museum
Among the numerous attractions in Guangzhou, Guangdong Museum is one of the most interesting ones. The museum offers an overview of the region and also has a group of distinctive artifacts.
This museum is located on the Ersha Island in Guangzhou. It is one of the major cultural institutions in China. The museum exhibits various artworks, such as paintings, sculptures, and fine arts. There are over 60 special exhibitions each year.
As the first-rate provincial museum in China, the Guangdong Museum is known for its large collection of artifacts. Here, visitors can see ancient calligraphy, paintings, ceramics, gemstones, and woodcarvings.
This museum features an excellent management system. Over 160,000 artifacts are stored and there are five permanent exhibitions. These include a dinosaur exhibition, an exhibit of Chinese art, and a collection of antiques from different periods of time.
Visitors will find the interior of the museum spacious and comfortable. Each floor is designed in a unique way. The main circulation space is a spiral staircase that connects the various exhibition areas on each floor.
The new Guangdong Museum building opened to the public in 2010. The new museum aims to house and preserve historical cultural relics. In addition, the museum uses modern technologies for the display of modern collection.
The Guangdong Museum is free to the public since 2010. Its main building has an area of 20,000 square meters. The museum has five floors above ground. Besides, it also has four pavilions.
Baiyun Mountain
Baiyun Mountain is one of the most beautiful natural wonders in the city of Guangzhou. It’s a cluster of scenic peaks in the northern suburbs of the city. This green oasis provides clean surface water from several mountain springs.
This mountain is famous for its beauty and the variety of plant species. It’s a wonderful place for bird watching.
A cable car takes you to the top of the mountain. You can enjoy a wonderful view of the Pearl River delta. The best time to visit is during the autumn and winter, as the view is even more magnificent.
If you’re looking for a peaceful park to rest and take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city, then you should visit Baiyun Mountain. There are ponds, gardens, and majestic peaks.
The scenic area of Baiyun Mountain is divided into seven zones. Here you can visit a huge garden, an ancient temple, and a beautiful lake.
Another park close to the mountain is the Sculpture Park. This is the largest sculpture theme park in China. There are hundreds of stone steles inscribed with poetry. Also, this park is a good place for observing birds.
Yuntai Garden is also located near the foot of the mountain. It’s a very large garden, which features a variety of plants, including rare flowers. Besides, this park has a lake and a greenhouse. In addition, there are some beautiful Roman and stone carvings in the garden.
Temple of the Six Banyan Trees
During your visit to Guangzhou, you can’t miss out on visiting the Temple of the Six Banyan Trees. This temple is one of the most recognizable icons of Canton. It was originally built in the Liang Dynasty, and was rebuilt in the Northern Song Dynasty. The temple’s name derives from six banyan trees that surrounded the complex.
You’ll find plenty of cultural relics at this Buddhist sanctuary. It’s the home of Guangzhou Buddhist Association. Despite its age, the temple remains active. There are many monks who worship here.
Temple of the Six Banyan Trees has a storied history that dates back to AD 537. This is when Emperor Wu of the Liang Dynasty decided to build the temple. He was the most ardent Buddhist devotee of the time. In order to preserve the Buddha bones that were brought from Kampuchea, he ordered a master priest, Tanyu, to build the Baozhuangyan Temple.
When Su Shi visited the temple in the Northern Song dynasty, he wrote a poem. After that, the temple was renamed from Liurong to Temple of the Six Banyan Trees.
Although the temple was damaged and burned several times, it still retains a beautiful pagoda. It’s a red and white structure.
The main hall of the temple, the Daxiong Baodian Hall, features three massive copper Buddha statues. These are some of the biggest ancient Buddhist statues in Guangdong.
The Flower Pagoda is another popular attraction at the Temple of the Six Banyan Trees. Its octagonal design makes it look like nine flowers blooming in the sun.
Safari Park and Chimelong Circus
Chimelong Safari Park is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Guangzhou, China. Besides its zoo, the park also features a variety of other activities and educational programs. The park is open year round. Some of its attractions include the Chimelong Circus, the Birds Park, and the African Animal Performance.
Chimelong has an extensive network of tourist facilities, including theme parks, hotels, convention centers, and a variety of other entertainment venues. It is one of the top tourism businesses in China.
Chimelong’s water park has the highest attendance in Asia. Many of its rides have won international awards. A new roller coaster was added in 2008.
Chimelong’s safari park is the largest in China, spanning 320 acres. The park houses more than 20,000 animals. There are ten giant pandas, fifty koalas, and hundreds of other rare species. This park is located in the Panyu District of the city.
Chimelong International Circus is another must-see attraction in Guangzhou. It offers shows that feature hundreds of performers from all over the world. The circus is one of the most famous circuses in the world. During the show, the audience can see a variety of animals, including reptiles, amphibians, and birds.
Visitors can enjoy a ride on a ten-looped roller coaster that is the first of its kind in Asia. It reaches speeds of 105 kilometers per hour.
Chimelong’s Safari Park and Chimelong Circus are must-see destinations for tourists in Guangzhou. They are also a must-visit for families.
Cathedral
The Sacred Heart Cathedral in Guangzhou is a Gothic revival Roman Catholic church. It is the largest Gothic Revival cathedral in Southeast Asia. In fact, it is one of four churches entirely made of granite in the world.
The construction of this Gothic-style cathedral took place in the late 19th century. A French architect named Guillemin began construction of the cathedral in 1861.
This all-granite structure was constructed with the help of Chinese workers. Construction was complicated because the local population had strong opinions against the construction. They felt that the pointed spires of the cathedral would bring disasters.
However, local Christians helped fund the construction. After the Second World War, the Chinese government took control of the chapel. Currently, it is under the supervision of the Archbishop of Guangzhou.
Inside the church, you can see the stained glass windows. Each window has a colorful image of various Bible stories. These are decorated with mosaic patterns and yellow, red, violet, and blue glasses.
There are two towers on each side of the main facade. The east tower has a large bronze bell from France.
One of the most distinctive features of the Sacred Heart Cathedral is its seven-meter rose windows. You can see the rose window shining in the sunlight.
There are also two towers on the west and east sides of the cathedral. The east tower is the bell tower and it contains a large bronze bell shipped from France in the 19th century.
