Guangzhou 2-Day Tour
Guangzhou melds ancient charm with urban energy. Explore Qing-era Chen Clan Hall, colonial Shamian Island, and Yongqingfang’s arcades. See 2,000-year-old Song wall on Beijing Road. Visit Nanyue King’s 2nd-century BCE jade burial suit. View skyline from Haixinsha Island (Canton Tower optional). End with a Pearl River night cruise past illuminated landmarks.
Included with every escorted tour
Day 1: Guangzhou
Chen Clan Ancestral Hall – Shamian Island – Yongqing Fang – Beijing Road – Dafosi Temple
No Hotel
No Breakfast
Begin at the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, a Qing-Dynasty masterpiece blending exquisite wood carvings, ceramic murals, and courtyard gardens. Marvel at the “Three Carvings”—brick, stone, and woodwork—that adorn the ancestral halls, once used for imperial examinations. After exploring the ancestral halls, take a 10-minute car to Shamian Island, a colonial-era enclave with European-style villas, lush banyan trees, and the iconic Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel. Stroll along the pedestrian-friendly streets, pausing for coffee at Starbucks Reserve housed in a 1907 British consulate.
Post-lunch, wander through Yongqingfang, a revitalized 1930s neighborhood blending traditional arcade buildings with art galleries and boutiques. Stroll along Beijing Road next, a bustling pedestrian street lined with shops, street food stalls, and historical relics like the Millennium City Wall (a 2,000-year-old Song-Dynasty ruin). As dusk falls, visit Dafoshi Temple, a Tang-Dynasty Buddhist sanctuary glowing with lanterns. The temple’s star attraction is the Grand Buddha Hall, housing a 6-meter-tall gilded Maitreya statue.
Day 2: Guangzhou
Nanyue King Mausoleum Museum – Haixinsha Island – Canton Tower – Pearl River Night Cruise
No Hotel
No Breakfast
Begin at the Nanyue King Mausoleum Museum, built atop the tomb of Zhao Mo, a 2nd-century BCE king of Nanyue. Highlights include the jade burial suit, silk-banner murals, and a life-sized bronze chariot.Then take a 20-minute car to Haixinsha Island, the 2010 Asian Games venue-turned-urban park. Snap photos of the Guangzhou Opera House and Canton Tower from the island’s flower-lined promenades, and pause at the Asian Games Memorial Wall for a panoramic skyline view.
After lunch, ascend Canton Tower (Optional Activity), the world’s fifth-tallest TV tower. For thrill-seekers, the Skywalk (488m) offers transparent glass floors; the 450m Observation Deck provides panoramic views of the Pearl River and city skyline. Board a Pearl River Night Cruise from Tianzi Pier at 7 PM. The 1.5-hour voyage glides past illuminated landmarks like the Canton Tower, Liede Bridge, and White Swan Hotel.
Pro Tip: Rent an audioguide at the museumfor context on the artifacts’ historical significance. Dress warmly at night—deck winds can be chilly.
