Guangzhou
China · Country profile
Guangzhou is the immense, ancient and relentlessly energetic capital of Guangdong province, the great commercial hub of southern China that has traded with the world for more than two thousand years. It is the southern gateway of the country, a port city of the Pearl River where the everyday Cantonese life, the dim sum teahouses, the flower markets and the bicycle-canals of the old districts run beside the modern towers of the financial century. The city balances the historic temples, the colonial buildings of the Shamian island and the markets of the antique with the extraordinary scale of a metropolis of the delta, and its eating culture is arguably the finest of the whole country. Powerful, delicious and surprisingly green, Guangzhou is the essential southern counterpoint to the northern capitals.
About Guangzhou
Guangzhou is a city in China. The city's documented population is around 18,700,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the Chinese Yuan (CNY) and Chinese is spoken; the dialling code is +86. It is served by 1 airport in our guide: Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport.
The Pearl River Capital and the Canals of the Delta
Guangzhou is a vast but surprisingly manageable city of the delta, divided into distinct pedestrian-friendly districts connected by one of the world’s busiest metro systems. The essential days mix the Temple of the Bright Filial Piety, the colonial streets of the Shamian island, the Sun Yat-sen memorial and the marathon of the eating of the city, from the dim sum halls of the morning to the markets of the night. The Canton tower and the Pearl river cruises give the modern skyline, while the metro carries the visitor to the flower market and the old villages of the suburbs. The city is safe, orderly and endlessly lively, and its food alone justifies the journey of the whole continent.
The Humid Heat, the Peak Seasons and the Twin Towers of the South
The climate is subtropical with hot, humid summers and the heavy rains of the monsoon months, while the autumn and the winter bring the dry, comfortable and most travel-worthy weather of the year. The renminbi is the currency, the Mandarin and the Cantonese the languages, and the mobile payment and the metro card of the city cover nearly every transaction and journey. The historic core, the museums and the food districts of the city fill the longer stay, while the day trips to the Foshan and the villages of the delta extend the reach of the metro. The foldable umbrella of the rainy season and the light clothing complete the practical list.
The Dim Sum of the Teahouses, the Shamian and the Temple of the Bright Filial Piety
The Temple of the Six Banyan Trees, with its brick pagoda, and the Temple of the Bright Filial Piety anchor the Buddhist heart of the old city, while the cathedral of the Sacred Heart and the colonial mansions of the Shamian island preserve the foreign-century quarter of the capital. The Canton tower, the tallest structure of the country and the modern icon of the waterfront, and the river cruises of the Pearl at night give the dazzling modern face of the metropolis. The dim sum and the Cantonese barbecue of the city’s legendary teahouses and restaurants complete the experience, and the exquisite food of Guangzhou is widely celebrated as the king of the cuisines of the nation.
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- Country
- China
- Population
- 18,700,000
- Coordinates
- 23.3924, 113.2988
- Capital
- Beijing
- Region
- Asia
- Currency
- Chinese Yuan (CNY)
- Languages
- Chinese
- Calling code
- +86
- Country code
- CN
Entry requirements for China
Visa status for travellers from common origins visiting China for tourism.
Getting to Guangzhou
Airports we list for Guangzhou:
Other airports in the area:
- Shenzhen Bao'an International AirportSZX≈ 99 km from Guangzhou
- Kunming Changshui International AirportKMG≈ 1,068 km from Guangzhou
- Chengdu Tianfu International AirportTFU≈ 1,167 km from Guangzhou
- Shanghai Pudong International AirportPVG≈ 1,203 km from Guangzhou
- Xi'an Xianyang International AirportXIY≈ 1,306 km from Guangzhou
Cities in China
Other cities we cover in China:
Frequently asked questions
Is Guangzhou the capital of China?
No — the capital of China is Beijing.
What currency do I need in Guangzhou?
The local currency is the Chinese Yuan (CNY). Languages spoken in China include Chinese.
What is the dialling code for China?
The international dialling code for China is +86.
Which airport should I fly into for Guangzhou?
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN) is the airport we list for Guangzhou.
How far is Guangzhou from the nearest airport?
Guangzhou is about 99 km from Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport.
Do I need a visa to visit China?
It depends on your passport. For the origins we track, the current tourism visa status is Morocco (visa required) and United States (visa required). Check the entry requirements tool for your own nationality.
Flying out of Guangzhou? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.