Guangzhou the Capital of Guangdong, China

Guangzhou, known as Canton to is 19^th century foreign residents, is Guangdong's capital and an ancient and significant port. The city's trade links throughout Asia during the Tang dynasty gave it a sizeable Muslim community and later Western merchants made their first contact with China through this port. Today Guangzhou is a bustling and affluent city with some interesting sights such as the 2000-year-old tomb and excavated palace gardens of the Nanyue kings.

Sights

Qingping Market

Open daily the Qingping Market is one of China's most famous and largest markets with vendors selling all types of produce.

Here you are able to purchase spices, medicines, vegetables, cats, dogs, grains, meat, fish, dried seafood and endangered species. Thankfully the amount of endangered species on sale at this market has greatly decreased over recent years.

Although the market is spectacular some visitors find it far too gory whilst others see it as exhilaratingly Chinese.

Hualin Si

This Buddhist Temple founded in AD 526 is Guangzhou's liveliest temple and was one of the many shrines that were visited by Bodhidarma, the Indian founder of Chan Buddhism.

In the main hall there are 500 images of Iouban or arhat (those freed from the recycle of birth). The one wearing the broad brimmed hat is supposed to be the merchant Marco Polo.

Open daily

The Sacred Heart Church

The Sacred Heart Church is a Gothic styled Roman Catholic Church. Built by the French between 1860 and 1880 the land was granted to France as compensation for its losses during the Opium War.

There are four bronze bells that were actually cast in France in the Bell Tower.

The Peasant Movement Institute

In this former Ming Confucian temple you will find Guangzhou's revolutionary past.

Peasant revolutionaries were taught in this building by teachers such as Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai.

The school was closed after the Guandong uprising and 5,000 people were killed under the orders of Chiang Kai Shek.

Open 9am-4pm daily

Nan Yue Palace Gardens

The Yue palace Gardens are truly remarkable and it is here that the excavated gardens that surrounded the palace of Zhau Tuo are contained. Zhau Tuo was the founder of the ancient Nan Yue Kingdom.

After the fall of the Qin dynasty this Qin general from Hebei province founded an independent kingdom.

Covered by a corrugated roof there are raised pathways that lead to all the main sights.

To the northeast there is a paved lake and an ornamental stream whilst to the southwestern corner you can see the even older remains of the Qin Dynasty shipyard.

In the small museum there are roof tiles and slabs that bear the inscription 'Panyu', which was Guangzhou's original name.

Open daily 9am - noon &2.30pm - 5.30pm

Huaisheng Mosque

This is one of China's oldest Mosques and is said to have been built by Abu Waqas during the Tang Dynasty.

Although restored this Mosque does still contain an ancient Islamic style minaret and numerous stone stelae.

Open to Muslims only

Guangxiao Si

The Guangxiao Si (Temple of Glorious Filial Piety) is one of the city's most attractive sights. This Temple was thought to have been founded during the Han Dynasty and is constructed over the palace of the last Na Yue king.

Non of the original buildings have survived and most of the current halls date to the 19^th century.

One of its most impressive features is the pillared main hall that displays several images of Buddha.

The three pagodas behind the Guangxiao Si are of great antiquity with one of them being built in AD 676 and the other two are 10^th century structures.

Open daily

Liu Rong Si

Established in AD537 Liu Rong Si was built to hold some of the Buddha's ashes. These having been brought over from India and enshrined ion the flower pagoda.

The Liu Rong Si was rebuilt in 1097 and the octagonal pagoda appears to be nine stories high, but in fact are 17 stories high.

The climb to the top is well worth the effort.

The wooden eaves are covered in elaborate carvings of lions, birds and insects.

At the top there is a bronze pillar with reliefs of mediating figures.

Open 8am -5pm daily

Nan Yue Tomb

The Nan Yue Tomb is the site of the 2,000 year-old tomb of Zhao Mo. Zhau Mo was the grandson of Zhau Tuo, a Qin general from Hebei Province and was sent here to control southern China in 214.

Contained within the tomb are magnificent burial items made from gold and precious stones including a burial suit made from jade.

Here you will find many of the captions are in English and there is a video that can be watched that tells the story of the 1983 excavation.

Open 9am - 5.30pm daily with the last entry being at 4.45.

Source: China - Eye Witness Travel Guides