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Guangzhou (广州) is the capital and largest city of Guangdong Province with a history of over 2,200 years, and was a major terminus of the Silk Road. It is located 120-km Northwest of Hong Kong and 145-km North of Macau.
Leisure trip at a glance
Country / Region: People's Republic of China (Guangdong Province)
Period: 24 to 27 Sep 2016
Flight timings:
24 Sep: TR 2986, SIN–CAN, ETD 0600 ETA 0955
27 Sep: TR 2987, CAN–SIN, ETD 1040 ETA 1505
Air tickets: Return tickets at SGD 310.12 (inclusive of airport taxes)
Accommodation:
Clayton Hotel Guangzhou – 广州克莱顿酒店 (24 to 27 Sep)
Currency exchange rate:
CNY 100 = SGD 20.33 (Aug '16 period)
There is no time difference between Singapore and China as both countries are in GMT+8 time zone. Total damage was about SGD 650 including transport, food & hotel, and excluding personal expenses.
Day One
Took a taxi to the airport early in the morning to meet up with my friend.
Straits Food Village @ T2 Changi
Decided to have breakfast in this food court located at Terminal 2 Level 3 Departure Lounge (left photo below). Got myself a bowl of "Bak Chor Mee" soup at SGD 5.00 (right photo below). Taste was acceptable for this soup noodles.
Tiger AirwaysBooked the flight months before the trip. The leather seat in the plane was comfortable. Although did not pre-book any meal onboard, I did not feel hungry during this 4-hour long flight and even managed to doze off several times.
| ✍ Update: |
|---|
| Tigerair was merged into Scoot on 25 Jul 2017 by their parent company Singapore Airlines. |
There was a long queue at the Immigration Clearance in the airport and this was followed by a long wait at the luggage belt for our checked-in bags.
Guangzhou Metro (广州地铁)
The Guangzhou Metro is a rapid transit system in the city of Guangzhou. During my trip, there were 10 lines in operation, including Line 3 that connected directly to the airport (photo below).
The Clayton Hotel Guangzhou was booked via internet at SGD 259.65 for 3 nights per family room. The room was big with comfortable beds and came with a working desk (photos below).
Although there were cafés and restaurants in the hotel, it was not directly accessible to any public transport (left photo below). When we first arrived, we even had to take a cab from the Yuancun Metro Station (员村站) at a cost of CNY 12 after unsuccessful search for more than 15-minutes. Thankfully we found out that there was shuttle van from the hotel to Yuancun station at a cost of CNY 2 per person on our second day (right photo below).
Huayan Restaurant (华宴食府)Proceeded to Huayan Restaurant to have our late lunch (left photo below). Ordered some fried noodles as stable food for a start (right photo below).
And followed by several dim sum dishes (photos below).
This restaurant is patronized mainly by the locals. The food was served fast and warm, and most importantly taste was authentic. Total cost for this meal was CNY 111 with additional 23% discount during its high-tea period from 2 to 4 pm.
| 🍔 Huayan Restaurant (华宴食府) | |
|---|---|
| Address: | 6th and 7th floor of Zhonglv Commercial City (中旅商业城) No. 219 Zhongshanwu Road (中山五路219号) |
| Access: | Gongyuanqian Station (公园前站) Exit A |
| Operating Hours: | 0800 hours to 2200 hours |
Yide Road (一德路)
Our shopping spree starts from the Yide road where there are many large-scale wholesale areas located along the road, such as dried food, toys and stationeries. We took metro and alighted at Haizhu Square Station (海珠广场站) and walked along Yide road. Bought some souvenirs for give-away and some dried food for personal consumption.
Shiliaoju Restaurant (食疗居)
Took metro to Changshou Road Station (长寿路站) as my friend wanted to browse at the loose jade jewelries. After much walking, we decided to have our dinner in this Shiliaoju restaurant located at Changshou West Road (left photo below). As recommended by the restaurant owner, we ordered a "monkey head mushroom" herbal soup to try (right photo below). The "monkey head mushroom" (猴头菇) is also called "lion's mane mushroom" in Europe and the US or "yamabushitake" in Japan. It is known to have health benefits of enhancing memory and brain function.
This was followed by some ordinary assorted roasted meat (left photo below) and a hotplate tofu (right photo below).
Food was delicious and the total cost for this dinner was CNY 120.
| 🍔 Shiliaoju Restaurant (食疗居) | |
|---|---|
| Address: | No. 83 Changshou West Road (长寿西路83号) |
| Access: | 10 to 15-mins walk from Changshou Road Station (长寿路站) Exit A |
| Operating Hours: | 1100 to 2300 hours |
Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street (上下九步行街)
Shangxiajiu is the first business street in Guangzhou opened in Sep 1995. It is the collective name of Shangjiu Road (上九路), Xiajiu Road (下九路) and Dishifu Road Pedestrian Street (第十甫路步行街). The street is composed of unique and historical architecture based on Tong lau (唐樓) and Teahouses featuring the characteristics of European and Chinese styles (photo below).
After some walking in the area, we then took a cab back to the hotel at about 9 pm. The cost of the cab ride was CNY 49. Had a good rest in the hotel thereafter.
Day Two
Teochew style Chee Cheong Fun
Took the shuttle van to the Yuancun station (员村站). Before entering the station, we saw a modest eatery outside the metro station (left photo below). Ordered a chee cheong fun as breakfast at CNY 6 (right photo below).
This Teochew style chee cheong fun was different from the Cantonese style where it had egg, minced pork and bean sprouts wrapped by the steamed rice flour rolls and complemented by its savory sauce. It was a fulfilling and appetizing breakfast with an affordable price.
| 🍔 佰搭潮汕汤粉肠粉 (员村店) | |
|---|---|
| Address: | 广州市天河区怡景大街怡景花园 |
| Access: | Yuancun station (员村站) |
| Operating Hours: | 0000 hours to 2400 hours |
Museum of the Mausoleum of the Nanyue King (西汉南越王博物馆)
The Museum of the Mausoleum of Nanyue King is always on the top list of museums to visit in Guangzhou for archaeological lovers and Chinese history enthusiasts (photo below). This museum houses a 2,000-year-old mausoleum relic, which is widely regarded as the largest and oldest stone chamber in the Lingnan region (south of Nanling Mountains).
- The museum is built on the tomb site of the second Nanyue King – Zhao Mo (赵眜), who ruled from 137 BC to 122 BC. Nanyue Kingdom was a dependent state of Western Han Dynasty in China (202 BC- 8 AD), hence the name of the museum: "Western Han Museum of the Nanyue King Mausoleum" (left photo below). The tomb, hidden 20-meters underground, was accidently discovered in 1983 when people were digging and measuring to build a new hotel there. More than a thousand pieces of relics were unearthed from the intact tomb. A modern museum was then set up and opened in 1988 (right photo below).
- The tomb is nearly 11-meters long and over 12-meters wide, and divided into seven parts, with a front chamber, east and west wing rooms, the main coffin chamber, east and west side rooms and a back storage chamber (photos below).
- The tomb of Liu Sheng (刘胜), or Prince of Zhongshan (中山王), was discovered in 1968 where over 2,700 artifacts were excavated. This special exhibition was collaborated with Hebei Museum and selected relics were on display from 06 Sep till 16 Nov 2016 (photos below).
Special objects such as the "Bronze Umbrella Stick Hoop Inlaid with Silvering and Gold Plating" (left photo below) and "Gilt Copper Vase" (right photo below) were on exhibition.
The most noteworthy relic was the "Gilt Bronze Human-shaped Lamp (Replica)" which is considered the earliest environmental-friendly lamp where smoke would be channeled through the sleeve of the figure into its body (left photo below). The highlight definitely was the intricated Jade Burial Suit (金缕玉衣) of Liu Sheng that contained over 2,000 pieces of jade joined using gold thread (right photo below).
Permanent Exhibition on King of Nanyue
- This permanent exhibition displays the relics that were excavated from the tomb of Nanyue King (photos below).
The "Jade Openwork Disc with Dragon and Phoenix" is partitioned into two rings where the inner ring is a flying dragon with its jaws stretching out to the outer ring. On the dragon's front claw sits a phoenix with its luxurious tail in cloud patterns covering the space of the outer ring (left photo below). This design was selected to be the emblem of this museum.The "Jade Ornament with Monster Mask" was carved out from a single piece of jade with a rectangular animal head in the center and a disc hanging from its nostrils (right photo below).
Bronze tiger inlaid, with height of 11.6-cm and 19-cm, was gold inscribed with "The King orders the carriage to move" (王命車徒) and used as command to mobilize chariots and soldiers (left photo below). The most spectacular was the Silk-jade Burial Suit (丝缕玉衣) made up of 2,291 pieces of jade joined using silk which is unique and makes it the only one of its kind in the world (right photo below).
| 🎫 Museum of the Mausoleum of the Nanyue King (西汉南越王博物馆) | |
|---|---|
| Website: | https://www.nywmuseum.org.cn/ |
| Access: | Yuexiu Park (越秀公园) Station Exit E and walk about 290-meters |
| Opening Hours: | 0900 hours to 1730 hours; opens daily |
| Admission: | CNY 15 (Adult) |
Simple Lunch
Had subway as lunch where I got a six-inch tuna and a milk tea at CNY 34 (left photo below). The price was similar to what I would pay in Singapore.
Huadiwan Metro Station (花地湾站)
After lunch we took metro to the Huadiwan station where it is the only station in Guangzhou Metro to use 'cut and cover' construction, The station is located in a large single-vault tunnel with two side platforms and two mezzanine-style concourses located each at the end of the platform (right photo below).
Huadi Bird Fish & Insect Market (花地花鸟虫鱼市场)The Huadi Bird Fish and Insect Market is known to be the world's largest aquarium market and ornamental fish sales center (photos below).
Besides fishes, this market has the largest wholesale and distribution center for ornamental birds in South China and the largest wood and root carving market in Guangdong Province. The market could be reached from the Huadiwan Metro Station.| ✍ Update: |
|---|
| Due to the redevelopment on existing land, most of the stalls are relocated to the Guangzhou Flower Expo Garden (广州百艺城) since 2020. |
Chen Clan Ancestral Hall (陈家祠堂)
The Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, or Chen Clan Academy, is an academic temple built by 72 Chen clans for their juniors' accommodation and preparation for their imperial examinations in 1894. Now it houses the Guangdong Folk Art Museum (photo below).
- The entire complex covers 13,200 square meters and consists of 19 buildings with nine halls and six courtyards that are connected by corridors from north to south in a symmetric pattern. On the main axis lie the Head-entrance, the Gathering Hall and the Back Hall, and the three buildings are separated with courtyards.
The Head-entrance (頭門) is 27.56-meters wide and 14.91-meters deep with 17 columns, and decorated with flowers and figures (left photo below). On top of the gate of the entrance hangs a tablet with words "Chen Clan Academy" (陳氏書院). Behind the entrance is the four double-sided engraved screen (right photo below).
The Gathering Hall was once a place for meeting and worship of the Chen clansmen (left photo below). It is 27.84-meters wide and 16.7-meters deep with 21 main beams and 6 carved stone columns. Inside the hall sit twelve engraved folding screens (right photo below).
In the Back Hall (後堂), memorial tablets of ancestors were placed on a 21-step shelves (left photo below). In this complex, buildings are separated with "Qingyun alleys" (青雲巷) and connected by corridors (right photo below).
- One of the most distinguished features of the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall is the 11-pottery ridge crest, which was installed on the nine great halls of the academy (photos below). Each ridge crest has a theme taken from famous traditional dramas.
In traditional Lingnan architecture, carved decorations are mainly applied to the frame structure. The best of stone-carving comes from the Chaozhou (Shantou) area. It took the craftsman a lot of time and hard work to carve it out from a whole piece of solid stone.An example of such intricate carving is the "Stone Hanging Flower Basket" made in 1920s and was originally part of a stone beam in the ancestral hall (left photo below). Similar masterpiece is the "Structural Member of Double-faced Openwork Stone Carving" where it was carved in a bow shape and inserted under the moon beam through mortise and tenon (right photo below).
We left this academy at about 4 pm.
| 🎫 Chen Clan Ancestral Hall (陈家祠堂) | |
|---|---|
| Website: | https://weibo.com/gdmjgybwg |
| Access: | Chen Clan Academy Station (陈家祠站) Exit D |
| Opening Hours: | 0900 hours to 1730 hours; opens daily |
| Admission: | CNY 10 (Adult) |
Hotpot Dinner
Took metro to Haizhu Square Station to have dinner. Decided to have hotpot in the Haiye Tea House (海椰茶居) located on second floor of Haiyin Binfen Plaza (left photo below). Ordered a coconut-based hotpot with some meat balls, tofu, vegetables, mushroom and noodles at CNY 111 (right photo below). Taste was bland for the coconut soup and the serving was slow in this restaurant.
| 🍔 Haiye Tea House (海椰茶居) | |
|---|---|
| Address: | 2nd floor of Haiyin Binbin Square (海印缤缤广场) No. 1 Qiyilu Road (起義路1号) |
| Access: | Haizhu Square Station (海珠广场站) Exit B2 |
| Operating Hours: | 0700 to 2100 hours |
After which took metro to Yuancun station (员村站) and then paid CNY 2 per person for the shuttle van back to hotel.
Day Three
Fast-food Breakfast
Had MacDonalds as breakfast. Ordered a typical Teppanyaki McGriddles set with tea and hashbrowns at CNY 19 (left photo below). While having the meal, we saw other customers having youtiao (油条), or Chinese fried dough. Thus out of curiosity, we bought a cup of soy bean milk, a youtiao and fried Asian buns to try (right photo below).
Taste was simple but it was interesting to see Chinese food being sold in an American fast-food chain restaurant.Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall (中山纪念堂)
The Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, or Zhongshan Memorial Hall, is an octagon-shaped building built with funds raised by local and overseas Chinese people in memory of Dr. Sun Yat-sen (photo below). Construction work began in 1929 and completed in 1931.
- The 6,600-square meters main building has a framework of steel and reinforced concrete. In front of the 49-meters tall memorial hall, there is a statue of Sun Yat-sen (left photo below). The central coping of the octagonal pavilion of the Memorial Hall has four decorative double eaves in the front, back, left, and right sides of it. Above the front door hangs a golden slab of four Chinese characters "The World is for All" (天下为公) which was the original handwritings of Sun Yet-sun (right photo below). The whole edifice is majestic, solemn and rich in Chinese culture.
- The auditorium inside the memorial hall has a huge domed roof made of glass that span over 71-meters in diameter. It houses a large stage (left photo below) and capable of accommodating 3,240 audiences (right photo below). There are no supporting pillars to impair the view, and it is designed to dampen echoes.
- A small exhibition showcased the structure of the memorial hall (left photo below) as well as some historical records on Sun Yet-sen such as the 285.6-cm long print on the funeral procession of Sun Yet-sen in 1929 (right photo below).
| 🎫 Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall (中山纪念堂) | |
|---|---|
| Website: | http://zs-hall.cn |
| Access: | Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall Station (纪念堂站) Exit C |
| Opening Hours: | 0800 hours to 1800 hours; opens daily |
| Admission: | CNY 10 (Adult) |
Dim Sum Lunch
Took metro to Haizhu Square Station. Decided to have lunch in the same Haiye Tea House (海椰茶居) as was told that it served good dim sum (photos below).
Ordered chrysanthemums tea (left photo below) and century egg porridge (right photo below).
Followed by char siew steamed rice rolls (left photo below), fried shrimp rolls (right photo below), steamed pork ribs (bottom left photo) and some har gow or shrimp dumplings (bottom right photo).
The dim sum served in this restaurant was much better than its dinner. Total cost for this meal was CNY 97.
| 🍔 Haiye Tea House (海椰茶居) | |
|---|---|
| Address: | 2nd floor of Haiyin Binbin Square (海印缤缤广场) No. 1 Qiyilu Road (起義路1号) |
| Access: | Haizhu Square Station (海珠广场站) Exit B2 |
| Operating Hours: | 0700 to 2100 hours |
One Link Plaza (万菱广场)
The One Link Plaza is a large wholesale market for a variety of items such as toys, teddy bears, home decorations, paintings, hairpins, fashion jewelry, bags, clocks, and ceramics (left photo below). It has over 1,000 shops and stalls occupying about 40,000 square meters.
As items sold are for wholesale, therefore do expect that the minimum quantity sold in most shops is between 5 to 10 pieces. Bought some palm-sized Pokémon stress balls for my colleagues which cost only CNY 5 per piece (right photo below).
The business hours between 0900 to 1800 hours and the plaza is just 5-mins walk from the Haizhu Square station.Tao Heung Restaurant (Tianhe City) 稻香酒家 (天河城店)
Tao Heung Restaurant is a Hong Kong chain restaurant that had one of its outlets located on level 7 of Tianhe City (left photo below). While most go for their dim sum, we chose to have our dinner there. The dinning area was spacious with simple decoration (right photo below).
We ordered a hotpot with peppery pig stomach soup as its base (left photo below). Among the sauces, I preferred the peanut based sauce which gave the food an extra flavor (right photo below).
Hotpot food like mushrooms (left photo below) and meat paste together with dumplings (right photo below) were also included in our meal.
Total cost for this meal was CNY 178 and it was the most delicious meal I had in Guangzhou.
| ✍ Update: |
|---|
| Due to rising rental cost, Tao Heung Restaurant in Tianhe City is closed permanently on 29 Feb 2024. |
Back to the hotel to pack our luggage and have a good rest.
Day Four
After breakfast, we took a cab to the airport. Unfortunately, one of the tires went flat along the highway. We even had to get off the cab to wait for the driver to change the tire wheel. Glad that it did not affect our schedule and we arrived at the airport on our expected timing. Total cost for this cab ride was CNY 159.
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (广州白云国际机场)
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport is an international airport serving the Guangdong province. The interior of the departure hall is sleek in design and has many shops for passengers to spend their remaining Chinese Yuan or Renminbi (photos below). The IATA code for this airport is CAN which is derived from Guangzhou's historical romanization name "Canton".
The flight TR 2987 took off on time and landed safely on Singapore. With this, it ended my 4-days trip to Guangzhou.