Compared with Beijing or Shanghai, it's a relatively small city, and it's far less well known than its neighbor Hong Kong. So what makes Guangzhou so interesting?
Lying at the mouth of the Pearl River in southern China, Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province, is the most prosperous city in mainland China and one of the first places in China to taste the benefits of the reform policies in 1978, making it a magnet for newcomers from all corners of the country.
Ten years ago, Guangzhou still looked flat; now there are skyscrapers everywhere. The skyline along the Pearl River has changed the most dramatically. The city is now dominated by apartment blocks, TV towers, and office buildings, and a sturdy steel bridge has been built across the broad Pearl River.
Apart from business, tourism is a mainstay of Guangzhou's economy. This city, more than 2000 years old, is also the center of Yue or Guangdong cuisine, and offers very well-organized tourist venues.
Shamian Nanjie, or Shamian Island, is an oasis in the city center that maintains a colonial heritage of old buildings in European style, boulevards comfortable to walk along, and lush yet tidy parks. Most of the old buildings have been converted to shops and restaurants with pleasant terraces. Unfortunately, some empty buildings seem abandoned, with their walls starting to crack and peel and their pillars being eaten by termites.
The mood here is romantic; perhaps because it's so quiet and green, or because of the very relaxed atmosphere, or maybe all of this. Many couples choose this area as the setting for their pre-wedding pictures.
Because it's quite spread out (60 square kilometers) and has tourist attractions nearly everywhere, Guangzhou forces us to manage our time wisely; simply walking is not such a good idea. Luckily, the public transport in Guangzhou is excellent. The subway is very comfortable, quick, and on time. It also has information in English and stops at the main tourist centers.
Taxis are another safe way to get around, as long as you're equipped with the name of your destination written in Chinese; English won't be much help. City buses? Forget it, unless you can read Chinese.
Be ready for a bit of excitement if you take a taxi here. The four-lane main roads seem to be a venue for drivers to race and pass one another, and the traffic lights seem to be just for décor.
"No, thank you," a taxi driver said when I tried to tip him. And the same applies in restaurants. Apparently in Chinese culture, it's an insult to tip someone. Will modernization eventually change this?
No sooner do you set foot in the Qing Ping traditional market, not far from Shamian Island, than you start to smell the spices. Qing Ping is a trading center for spices, dried animals, and traditional Chinese medicines. The variety of things on sale is astonishing – everything from lingzhi mushrooms in all sizes to enormous scorpions. I even watched a turtle seller skinning a snake on a sidewalk.
The market comprises several stories and is surrounded by streets full of small shops selling the same types of products. Everything sold here is at rock-bottom prices, because Guangzhou, along with nearby Shenzhen, is one of China's centers of industry; factories are crammed into all corners of the city.
Xiang Shia Ju Lu, in the Liwan area, is a 1.2-kilometer-long pedestrian-only street lined with shops, mostly selling clothes, accessories, footwear, and typical Cantonese snacks. This street was built during the Ming Dynasty era, and the architecture here is a mixture of Lingnan and colonial styles.
Xiaju Lu, Xiaju Street, is a center for jade, artworks and antiques. Be prudent and patient when you shop here, because the prices offered to tourists are typically many times higher than they should be. Compare prices before you buy, and don't forget to bargain hard. I ended up buying a pair of vases for 50 yuan; the original asking price was 370 yuan!
Guangzhou is perhaps best known as the home of Cantonese cuisine (Yue Cai), one of the eight famous cooking styles of China. Cantonese food includes dishes from Guangzhou, Chaozhou, and Dongjiang. They say that in China, any creature that moves can and will be eaten, so you can imagine the huge variety of foods on offer. Those with adventurous tastes might like to try the exotic Dragon Fights Tiger (Long Hu Dou) – snake and wildcat meat cooked in spices.
There are many interesting cultural sites to visit in Guangzhou, such as the Chen Clan Academy. Near the end of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), a man named Chen held the third highest position in the government. Someone suggested that the entire Chen family build a temple as an offering to their ancestors and a place for future generations of Chens to study.
The temple comprises nine prayer halls, six indoor courtyards, and 19 corridors, and is surrounded by a wall that separates the temple from its environs.
Near the Chen Clan Academy, just ten minutes away by taxi, is the Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall, an octagonal structure built between 1929 and 1932 to commemorate the initiator of the Chinese revolution, Dr. Sun Yat Sen, who made China a republic after vanquishing the Qing Dynasty in 1911. Inside is a hall with a beautiful, 50-meter-high ceiling. The hall is usually used for conventions and concerts. Outside the building is a bronze statue of Sun Yat Sen and a large, tidy park.
Not far from here is Yuexiu Park, the biggest city park in Guangzhou. As you walk a few meters into the park, the noise and bustle of the city gradually fades away and is replaced by a calm, cool atmosphere. Tall, leafy trees shelter the paths that wind through the park, and the lakes are full of lotuses. Chirping birds accompany you as you roam the hills. The park has several important places to visit, such as the Five Rams Sculpture, a symbol of the city of Guangzhou. The story is that five eternal personages wearing cloaks of five colors came to Guangzhou riding on goats and bearing rice to be distributed to the populace, as a sign that Guangzhou would be free from hunger.
The Guangzhou Museum offers information on the city's history, and from the top floor you get a splendid view of Guangzhou.
If you want a 360 degree view of the city of Guangzhou from above, Baiyun Hill is the place. For 25 Yuan, you can get there by skylift. Baiyun means "white clouds," and at 382 meters, this hill is the highest point in Guangzhou. It has been a source of inspiration for poets since ancient times. Sushi, Yang Wanli, Wang Shizhen and many others came here just to gaze at the scenery and write poetry.
No trip to Guangzhou would be complete without a visit to the Pearl River, which flows 2,200 kilometers and ends not far from Guangzhou. There are several stories about the origin of the name Pearl River. The first version is that in the middle of the river was a coral island that was constantly eroded by the river water until its surface became smooth and eventually as shiny as a pearl. In the second version, a merchant from Persia stole a valuable pearl from his country and then auctioned it in Guangzhou. Which is true? In any case, the Pearl River is formed by the convergence of four of southern China's major rivers, and passes through Guangzhou before flowing into the South China Sea.
Sunset on the Pearl River is lovely and romantic. From the Haiyin Bridge, you can see the golden orb slowly sinking and shining its glittering rays on the water; the city of Guangzhou becomes a refined and elegant silhouette.
The beauty of the Pearl River in Guangzhou is often compared with Victoria Harbor in Hong Kong. But I've read another opinion about this city:
"Guangzhou is like Los Angeles, laid back, while Beijing is like Washington D.C., a center of the political world, and Shanghai is like New York, where time is money and it's all about money." But Guangzhou is still Guangzhou, a city where the people smile easily, which is racing against time toward modernization in all sectors while still respecting the importance of its history and cultural heritage.
Comments :
0 komentar to “Guangzhou A City Full of Attractions and Smiling People”
Posting Komentar