Travel Guide to Guangzhou, China

China is fast becoming a world-class tourist destination replete with new five-star hotels that spring up every year and many UNESCO world heritage sites. The country is expected to become the third most popular tourist destination worldwide in the next couple years, and will surely generate more interest with the upcoming Olympic games.

While most tourists plan their China holidays around the major cities, such as Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai, and Hong Kong, there are many more quality destinations throughout the vast country. Many of the lesser-known cities provide tourists with traditional Chinese culture, modern comforts, and amazing sites.

Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province, has been a major center of trade, resting on the Pearl River. This city is the traditional home of Cantonese culture and history dating back nearly 2,800 years. In recent years, foreign trade has brought a wealth of modernization to the region, along with many tourist spots and luxury hotels. The expansive and new metro system awaits visitors and locals on their journeys through the city.

One of the most popular destinations is the Western Han Nanyue King museum (located on Jiefang Bei Road, around the corner from the metro station and China Hotel). This museum houses a large collection of burial artifacts-mostly jade-as well as a complete jade burial suit held together by silk thread that was for the remains of Zhao Mei, the second king of the Western Han Dynasty.

For travelers more interested in artistic cultural history, there is Chen's College (also known as the Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family). This ancient home, which dates back to the Qing Dynasty, now holds a vast collection of Chinese folk art. The art collection includes paintings, woodwork, and ivory and bone sculptures. There are some working artists on the premises for visitors to observe, and most work is for sale.

Another major stop on any tour of Guangzhou is Shamian Island on the banks of the Pearl River. This island is a quiet oasis away from the busy traffic and ever-present construction of the city. There are few cars on the tree-lined streets that run around the island. Most of the construction is European colonial style-there are many signs to tell visitors how old the homes are and what their original uses were.

This is also the center of adoption of Chinese babies-visitors can see many foreign couples with their new families wandering about the parks while processing their paperwork. This is also home to the U.S. consulate and White Swan Hotel (one of the three best hotels in Guangzhou).

Other site include: Yuexiu Park, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, and Guangxiao Temple, which is more than 1,700 years old.

The best time to visit Guangzhou is from late autumn to early spring. Even in the winter the city may be quite warm for most. The summer months can be unbearably hot and humid, which may cause a lack of enjoyment at the outdoor sites of Chen's College, Shamian Island, and Guangxiao Temple.

Traveling to Guangzhou is easy with its international airport. There are also short train and boat rides to and from Hong Kong and Shenzhen that leave relatively often.