Guangzhou is the largest and most prosperous industrial and foreign trade center in south China, and its location near Hong Kong makes it an important stop for foreign visitors. The Canton Fair held twice yearly, has made the city as one of the most popular destinations for business travelers. Guangzhou is also a famous historical city, it claims a history of 2210 years and boasts many cultural and historical attractions. Sights in around Guangzhou include Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, Chen Family Ancestral Temple, and the Temple of Six Banyan Trees. The various amusement parks in the city provide a fantastic experience to the children. With the rapid development of tourism and an increase in the number of business travellers to the area, restaurants and hotels are amplifying in Guangzhou.

The hotels in the city offer due reception to its guests with all modern facilities at affordable prices. Hotel shuttles are available, usually going to the East Railway or to the airport. Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport can take tourists to most cities in China and to 19 countries around the world. Trains at the Central Railway Station, located near the China Hotel by Marriott, travel to and from Beijing, Shanghai and other outlying provinces. Those at the East Railway Station, near the Clarion Star Hotel, travel to and from Hong Kong. Most staff at high-end hotels speak English while basic English conversation is possible at other local hotels.

Shamian Dao, along the banks of the Pearl River, is probably the most charming spot in the city. The area is ideal for a leisurely walks as the old colonial villas in the cobbled, tree-lined streets conjure an image of Guangzhou as it must have been two centuries ago, very much different than the crowded, animated city of today. The park, with locals playing chess or mah-jong, is perfect for relaxing or people watching.

Tourists who go to Guangzhou expecting something similar to Hong Kongs shopping scene will be disappointed. For a place known for trade, Guangzhou is not much of a shopping city. Still, the markets are definitely interesting, and, as in most cities, good buys are to be found only by the patient shopper, who can also make wise use of their haggling skills. The biggest street market in Guangzhou is Qingping Market. For tourists however, this market is more of an attraction than a shopping destination. Those, who are here looking for the exotic will certainly find it aplenty.

Guangzhou might lack shopping and touring opportunities but its cuisine is truly exceptional. Canton is particularly known for dim sum, bite-sized snack food usually eaten for tea. There are more restaurants in Guangzhou than you can eat in for a year, and a number of them have been operating for over a century. Visitors can find these everywhere around the city. Southwest of Guangzhou, along Shangjiu, Renmin and Xujiu Roads are some famous old family restaurants that serve these and other Cantonese specialties.

At the top end of the scale, there are numerous hotels, providing good services and high quality accommodation. Holiday Inn City Center, Guangdong Victory Hotel, White Swan Hotel, which has some great restaurants too, the Chime Long Hotel, Holiday Inn Shifu Guangzhou, Nanyang King's Gate Hotel Guangzhou and Garden Hotel are among the best. The middle end of the market offers even wider choice and, although the service here may not be as efficient as the five-star ones, many of these places are very conveniently located with particularly good business facilities. Good hotels in this range include the China Hotel which is a gorgeous place with some very special rooms on offer. For budget travellers, the best option is the Victory Hotel which has one of the best locations in the city on picturesque Shamian Island.

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