City Guide

• General Info
• Public Holidays
• Transportation
• Airport Info
• Main Attractions

Guangzhou, the South Gate of China, is a prosperous metropolis full of vigor.

Guangzhou is the capital city of Guangdong, and the center of its political, economic, scientific, educational and cultural life. Sui (Ears of Rice) is short for Guangzhou and the City of Ram (Yang Cheng) is also an alias of Guangzhou. The kapok is the city flower and the kapok tree is the city tree of Guangzhou.

Guangzhou is located in the middle south of Guangdong Province, north of the Pearl River Delta. It lies close to the South China Sea, Hong Kong, and Macau. Zhujiang (The Pearl River), the third largest river of China, runs through Guangzhou and is navigable to the South China Sea. Situated in such an excellent geographical region, Guangzhou is called China's South Gate.

Covering an area of 7434.4 square kilometers (2870 square miles), Guangzhou is home to more than 11 million people, including a 3.7 million transitory population. With the opening of China to the outside world, a large number of people from other regions of China swarmed into Guangzhou, one of the first 'open' cities in China. This has accelerated its economic development.

Guangzhou is a famous historical city. In ancient days, Guangzhou was the capital city for three Chinese dynasties: the Nan Yue (South Yue), the Nan Han (South Han) and the Nanming (South Ming). Thus it was put in the list of the 24 most famous historical cultural cities and became a tourist destination. You can not understand most Chinese cities deeply until you know their history. This is true of Guangzhou. Many historic sights: the Western Han Nanyue King's Tomb Museum, the Zhenhai Tower and the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall tell us the 2,000-year history of Guangzhou.

Today, Guangzhou retains its ancient customs, but is also a large city full of vigor and current fashions. You can find something worth taking home in Shangxia Jiu Lu, Beijing Lu and Di Shi Fu Lu.

Trying Yue Cai (Cantonese Cuisine), one of eight Chinese famous cuisines, is definitely a must in Guangzhou! Eat delicious food with ingredients you have never heard of.

Hotel facilities and service in Guangzhou are fine. A word of warning: Do make a reservation beforehand if you decide to visit Guangzhou during the Canton Fair. For visitors, especially those plan to attend the Canton Fair, transportation in Guangzhou is more and more convenient. You can choose plane, train, ship or bus.

Guangzhou is famous as a hometown for overseas Chinese. It boasts the largest population of overseas Chinese people. These overseas Chinese do a great deal of good for Guangzhou: opening international markets, bridging Guangzhou and the rest of the world, and establishing many schools, hospitals, nurseries, kindergartens and rest homes in Guangzhou.
 

China Public Holiday Calendar 2010

1. New Year's Day: Jan 1-3, 2010 (FRI-SUN)
New Year's Day is the first day of the year. On the modern Gregorian calendar, it is celebrated on January 1, as it was also in ancient Rome (though other dates were also used in Rome). In all countries including China using the Gregorian calendar, except for Israel, it is a public holiday, often celebrated with fireworks at the stroke of midnight as the New year starts.

2. Chinese New Year: February 13-19, 2010 (SAT-FRI)
For millions of Asians, Chinese New Year is more than one special day. Families spend weeks preparing for the big event - cleaning house, painting doors and windows red, and cooking special foods. Celebrations for Chinese New Year, also called the Spring Festival, last a full fifteen days. (Date of Chinese New Year Day: first day of the first Chinese lunar month).

3. Ching Ming - the Tomb Sweeping Festival:  April 3-5, 2010 (SAT-MON)
A gravesite picnic? Why not? The Tomb Sweeping festival is a time for families to honor the memory of their ancestors. Along with “tomb sweeping” - performing standard gravesite maintenance such as removing debris from the gravestones and replacing dead flowers - family members offer gifts of food, fruit and wine to the departed. After a formal ceremony, the food is shared among family members. Another tradition is to burn incense to ward off any evil spirits that may be lurking.

4. International Labour Day: May 1-3, 2010 (SAT-MON)
Like most countries in the world, Labour Day is celebrated on May 1, and is a public holiday in China. In the 1990s, the Labour Day holiday was extended from 1 day to 3 days. The Chinese government made it a 7 day holiday by moving the prior and upcoming weekends together with these 3 days. The Labour Day holiday was one of the three Golden Weeks in China, allowing millions of Chinese people to travel during this period. But Starting January 1, 2008, China reduced this holiday period down to 1 day, while simultaneously reviving three traditional Chinese holidays: Dragon Boat Festival, Tomb-Sweeping Day, and the Mid-Autumn Festival.

5. Dragon Boat Festival: June 14-16, 2010 (MON-TUE)
There are few sites more spectacular than a fleet of painted dragon boats racing toward the finish line, with a drummer in each boat hammering out the rhythm for the rowers to follow. The Dragon Boat Festival is China’s oldest festival. Find out more about this exciting event and learn how to make Zongzi, the sticky rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves that are an essential feature of any Dragon Boat Festival celebration. (Date: fifth day of the fifth Chinese lunar month).

6. Mid-Autumn Mooncake Festival:  September 22-24, 2010 (WED-FRI)
When the autumn harvest moon is at its fullest, the Chinese celebrate by lighting colorful lanterns and enjoying delicious mooncakes. Learn more about the legends behind the festival and try some mooncake recipes. (Date: fifteenth day of the eighth Chinese lunar month). The Mid-Autumn Festival falls on October 3, which is during the National Day holiday of 2010.

7. National Day: October 1-7, 2010 (FRI-THU)
The new China was founded on October 1, 1949 with a ceremony at Tian’anmen Square, Beijing. The Central Government passed the resolution and declared that October 1 is the Chinese National Day. The National Day Holiday is a golden week in China. When the anniversary is a multiple of five (e.g. the 50th, 55th, or 60th), large scale official celebrations may be held, including an inspection of troops on Tiananmen Square. The year of 2010 is the 61th anniversary.

The terminal building of Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport boasts a total floor area of over 300,000 square meters, composed of the main building, the connection building, terminal concourses and elevated passages. The terminal building has four floor. The third floor is departure hall, the second floor is arrival interlayer, the first floor is arrival hall, and the minus-one floor can get through to the underground and the park. 

The departure hall is on the third floor of the main terminal, with 8 entrances. Taxi and Airport Express buses can stop directly at the door of the departure hall. You may check the check-in and flight information from our Information Display ahead of Gate 4 of departure hall before approaching to the counters.  

There are altogether 6 check-in islands and 144 check-in counters in the domestic departure hall. 

Among them are islands C, D, and M for the check-in procedures handled by China Southern Airlines for flights of itself as well as other airlines including Xiamen Airlines (MF) and China Eastern Airlines (MU). 
Islands E, K, and L are for the check-in procedures handled by Baiyun International Airport for different airlines, including Air China (CA), Hainan Airlines (HU), Shandong Airlines (SC), Sichuan Airlines (3U) and Shenzhen Airlines (ZH), and some flights of China Eastern Airlines (MU). 

Island N, which is right to Gate 16 of the departure hall, is for the ticket desks and service counters of different airlines. Airlines that provide ticket services as well as other services there include China Southern, Air China, China Eastern, Hainan Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Xiamen Airlines, Shandong Airlines and Shanghai Airlines. They provide services of ticket inquiry on international or domestic flights, reservation, ticket issuing, changes of ticket and seat-reconfirmation for return flight, designated assistance on check-in, as well as reception of irregular flights, etc.  

There are total 4 fully equipped check-in islands and 102 check-in counters located at international departures hall.  

The check-in island G and H are dedicated for providing check-in services to passengers whose flight is handled by China Southern Airlines. It includes the fights of China southern Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Asiana Airlines, Japanese Airlines, Thai Airways, Vietnam Airlines, Korea Airlines, Kennya Airlines. 

The check-in island F and J are dedicated for providing check-in services to passengers whose flight is handled by Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport Company. It includes the fights of Russia Far-east, Batavia, Ethiopian Airlines, Garuda, Air France, Lufthansa, Air Phillipine, Tiger, Orient-Thai, Northwest, Lufthansa Cargo, All Nippon, Air France Cargo, Finnair,  Hongkong Express, Air Macao, UPS. 

Domestic Boarding Area is divided into two parts, Area A and Area B. 

Area A is in the east side of the terminal. Passengers who check-in in Islands E, K, and L, or whose check-in procedures are handled by Baiyun International Airport, will board their flights in Area A. Boarding Area A is divided into two Concourses, including East 1 Concourses (for international flights) and East 2 Concourses (for domestic flights). Boarding gates in East 2 Concourses are 15 boarding gates from A17 to A31, with A17 to A20 being Remote-Parking Gates. 

Area B is in the west side of the terminal. Passengers who check-in in IslandsC, D, and M, or whose check-in procedures are handled by China Southern Airlines, will board their flights in Area B. Similarly, Boarding Area B is divided into two Concourses, including West 1 Concourses and West 2 Concourses. Boarding gates in West 1 Concourses are 17 boarding gates from B101 to B117, with B101 to B104 being Remote-Parking Gates. Boarding gates in West 2 Concourses are 13 boarding gates from B118 to B131, with B118 to B121 being Remote-Parking Gates.  

All international passengers will board their flights in East 1 Concourses of Area A. Boarding gates in East 1 Concourses are 16 boarding gates from A1 to A16, with A1 to A4 being Remote-Parking Gates.  
 

Guangzhou is one of the twenty-four famous historical and cultural cities in China. It does not, however, have the amount of cultural attractions found in some cities such as Beijing and Xian.

Here is a brief introduction to the tourist sights in Guangzhou.

LIURONG Temple(Six Banyan Temple) is situated on the Liu Rong Road. Built in 537, it is a renowned Buddhist cultural site. The temple enshrines three large Buddhist statues--the biggest copper Buddhist statues existing in Guangdong province. The thousand-Buddha copper pillar cast in the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) is kept on the top story of the pagoda. The 184-foot pagoda appears to have nine stories; inside, however, there are 17 levels. Because of the colorful exterior carvings, it is popularly known as the Flower Pagoda.

Beijing Road Pedestrian Street is central axis of ancient Guangzhou city and the most prosperous commercial distributing center in the history. Reputed "Famous Street of Lingnan", its average traffic is about 350000 person-times per day, and is the most bustling pedestrian street in Guangzhou. Beijing Road is the main street in Guangzhou in Tang, Song, Yuan and Qing Dynasties, and therefore has become the most prosperous cultural pedestrian mall of Guangzhou since Ming Dynasty.

Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family (Chen Clan Academy) is famous for its exquisite craftsmanship including wood, stone, and brick carving, and metalwork using copper and iron. There are also wonderful murals. As for the carving techniques, both realistic and imaginative styles were employed to give the temple a magnificent yet solemn atmosphere.

White Cloud Mountain (Baiyun Mountain) is easy to reach. Take the public bus, No. 199, 233, 24, 36, 285, or 540. Tourists can take a cable car to reach the top of the mountain. The entrance fee is CNY 5.

Bright Filial Piety Temple (Guangxiao Temple) located at Guangxiao Lu, is the oldest and largest Buddhist temple in the Lingnan Area. The Bright Filial Piety Temple plays an important role in Chinese Buddhism history because many famous Buddhist monks came here to preach religious doctrines, bringing glory to this temple.

Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall is the most important relic in Guangdong Province. It was built for Dr. Sun Yat-sen after his death in 1925. It was completed in October of 1931.

Five Rams Sculpture and Zhenhai Tower in Yuexiu Park reflects the history of Guangzhou. Yuexiu Park is a perfect combination of cultural relics and ecological tourism, reputed for its pretty water and hills as well as cultural relics including Five Rams Sculpture and Zhenhai Tower.

The Five-Ram Sculpture is one of the most famous structures in Guangzhou. It has become the emblem of Guangzhou City. Legend has it that more than 2,000 years ago, Guangzhou was a barren land with people who despite hard work were suffering from famine. One day five immortals in five-color garments came riding on five rams, playing their legendary music. The rams held sheaves of rice in their mouths. The immortals left the sheaves of rice for the Guangzhou people, gave blessings to the city and left. The rams turned into stone and the city of Guangzhou became a rich and populous place. Guangzhou got the name of the City of Rams and the City of Ears.

Zhenhai Tower is better known among the locals as the Five-Story Tower, is one of the landmarks of Guangzhou city. An interesting historical record has it that Zhu Liangzu, Yongjia Marquis of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), saw yellow and purple air rising over Yuexiu Mountain and was told by a sorcerer that it was the omen of a new emperor. To subdue this omen, Zhu Liangzu ordered this tower to be built in 1380. Over the past 600 years, the tower has been destroyed five times and set up five times. Now it is the Guangzhou Museum, housing relics and documents showing Guangzhou's history over 2, 000 years. Known as the first tower in Lingnan (South of Nanling Mountain) Area, Zhenhai Tower now is 28 meters (91.9feet) high and 16 meters (52.5 feet) wide. The striking contrast of green glazed titles and red walls makes the tower elegant.

The Pearl River flows through Guangzhou City. The evening cruise on the Pearl River is one of the tourist highlights in Guangzhou. The beauty of the Pearl River at night can be compared with that of Hong Kong's Victoria Park. The cruise section from the White Goose Pool to Guangzhou Bridge is the highlight of the Pearl River cruise. Scenery along this part is so fascinating, with jade-coloured water, coloured lights on shore.

Chimelong Paradise is one of the leading Amusement Parks in China. Opening in 2006, Chime-Long Paradise has more than 70 high adventure rides and is home to the world’s largest Water Stunt Show, comprising of an international cast of stunt men and women.

Chimelong Xiangjiang Safari Park is recognised as the leading zoological park throughout all of China. It holds a 5A class tourism attraction level, the highest level obtainable and is presently the only zoo in China to hold this ranking. Xiangjiang Safari Park is home to over 20,000 animals from over 450 species including giant pandas, polar bears and koalas to name but a few and it prides itself in its large collection of African and Asian species.

There are more sites to visit than those above listed. Huaisheng Mosque (Remember the Sage Mosque) was built in 7th century in memory of the ancestor of Islam, Mohammed; Western Han Nanyue King's Tomb Museum is the oldest and largest Han tomb with the most funerary objects in Lingnan Area.