Travel Report Guangzhou (China)
Guangzhou travel report: tips & highlights for your 24-hour visit
Guangzhou is a modern industrial city and a major economic center in China. In addition to impressive skyscrapers such as the Canton Tower, the city offers an incomparable shopping experience and culinary highlights.
Where is Guangzhou?
What you should definitely think about:
National currencies: There are several names for the Chinese currency. Although renminbi (RMB) and Chinese yuan (CNY) are often used interchangeably, the yuan is technically a unit of the renminbi currency. Credit cards are taken in the major hotel chains, otherwise China is largely cashless. Alipay or WeChat Pay are essential for making payments or calling a cab. ATMs are available, but ID is often required. US dollars are the only currency that can be exchanged outside of banks.
Tip: Install and set up the payment app beforehand!
Vaccinations: No vaccinations are required if you are coming from Germany. However, the standard vaccinations are recommended, see Foreign Office suggestions.
Luggage: The photo equipment should definitely be taken on board, so pay attention to the cabin luggage dimensions (!) Otherwise, any type of suitcase or bag will do.
Alipay & WeChat Pay
Before traveling, you should definitely install Alipay or WeChat Pay on your smartphone. In China, almost everything is paid for without cash, and even cabs are difficult to call without these apps. We used Alipay, which worked without any problems.
Taxi in Guangzhou
Cabs are best used via the Didi function in Alipay – China’s answer to Uber. A cab ride within the city usually only costs 2 to 5 euros, and the route from the airport to the city costs around 20 euros.
Shopping in Guangzhou
Guangzhou is considered the shopping paradise of China. All major designer brands are represented in countless shopping malls. At the same time, the largest selection of designer fakes can be found here. Many visitors come to the city for the huge range of shopping alone.
Culinary experiences
Guangzhou is also home to the popular Din Tai Fung chain, known for its delicious dumplings. If you want to try something different, you will find a variety of restaurants – from simple cookshops to luxurious gourmet temples.
Marriott at Tianhe Place
We opted for the Marriott on Tianhe Square. The hotel is located in the middle of a shopping district and is surrounded by excellent restaurants. Many sights are within walking distance, which is a great advantage.
Chinese Massage
If you have never tried a Chinese massage before, we recommend Guangzhou. Right next to the Marriott Tianhe Hotel is a really recommendable massage studio. You can find it in the shopping center on the 6th floor when you walk out of the hotel to the left in the Grand View Mall. Here, for example, you can get an excellent 90-minute massage for just under 50 US dollars.
The Canton Tower - experience Guangzhou from above
At over 400 meters, the Canton Tower is an architectural highlight. There are two attractions at the top: the Bubble Train and the Freefall. Tickets include different platforms, but we recommend the ticket with the lower open-air platform and the bubble train. A visit at sunset is particularly impressive.
With the bullet train to Hong Kong
The fastest and most pleasant connection between Guangzhou and Hong Kong is the bullet train. You can reach your destination in just over an hour. There are three ticket classes – First or Business Class are recommended. The station is more reminiscent of an airport and the entire travel process takes place via the passport.
Internet & Roaming in China
The internet is heavily controlled in China. Facebook, WhatsApp & Instagram can only be used with a Western mobile network or VPN. A global FlexiRoam or Airalo eSIM ensures unrestricted access.
Flying within Chinas
You often need a printed ticket at the airport. Security checks are very precise and take longer than usual. Business Class is worthwhile on long routes, especially with Air China in the Airbus A350, e.g. on the route from Shanghai to Guangzhou, which takes less than 3 hours but in which you are spoiled with a real Business Class.
Fazit
Guangzhou is a fascinating metropolis that combines modern technology with tradition. With the right apps, a good schedule and a little preparation, the trip will be an unforgettable experience, even if you only have 24 hours to concentrate on the main highlights!
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What photo equipment for Guangzhou?
We actually only took an iPhone 14 Pro with us for Guangzhou, which in hindsight was a mistake, especially for the night shots. You can find the photo equipment we should have taken with us in our Photo-Shop. There are also lots of extras there.