What to prepare, expect, and know about Guangzhou if you are traveling there on your own.
As we know Guangzhou is part of China, the Southern region in the province of Guangdong. Guangzhou is well known for its Cantonese food, shopping, wholesale market, and some scenery places. Before we go further, have a look at the 60 Second Teaser video of Guangzhou that I have created for you to have a glimpse of how Guangzhou is like. This article I will be covering; facts about Guangzhou (expect), what to prepare, and know more about Guangzhou.
Facts about Guangzhou
Without wasting your time, let me go straight to the point.
Guangzhou is an ever-developing city, fast pace and densely populated with 14 million people as reported in 2016. You might be there in 2014 and return today to find the roads become bigger, buildings become taller.
Visa
Visa is required to visit China and the application differs for countries. There use to be Visa on arrival in Guangzhou but now is no longer available in Guangzhou. However, if you are there for 3 days (72 hours) or 6 days (144 hours) you are eligible for a Visa-Free Transit.
Food Heaven 吃在广州
It is well known for their food, a Chinese saying 食在广州 (chi zai guang zhou) which means dine at Guangzhou, utterly agreed by all the Chinese people throughout the world. I have always enjoyed eating at Guangzhou and I know you probably afraid of eating there as you have seen or heard many rumors but these are the food and restaurant that I have tried. Local Chinese whom I know who brought me there and I very much believe these are safe and clean. Just bear in mind to avoid eating those tricycle food seller that usually appears at night.
- My preferred restaurant list
- Local food authentic Guangzhou delicacy part 1 and part 2
Main Wholesale Hub for Entire China
If you are a trader looking to source for your own business but unsure where to starts, I suggest starting at Guangzhou. As it is the main wholesale hub for China, utterly they have most of the biggest wholesale market in China. It is said that lots of factories’ goods are firstly sent to Guangzhou before the wholesale market distributes to other smaller cities in China, forming other smaller wholesale markets in other parts of China. Check the wholesale list here from Alamby.com.
Transportation
Traveling around Guangzhou is quite simple with their infrastructure developing so well, going to your destination is no longer an issue. 3 methods of transportation available – Guangzhou Metro, bus, and taxi.
Guangzhou Metro
Their metro system is pretty convenient and relatively cheap. A trip from the Baiyun International Airport to the city center cost you only about RMB7 (US$ 1.02). Do make sure to have a good look on the Metro map to know your station of exit and also which station for Line interchange. If you are there for a period of time, you could purchase a Yang Cheng Tong card (羊城通) for 80RMB (US$ 11.64) with usable credit of RMB30. Simply top up at any 7-Eleven store and the RMB50 deposit are retrievable at the selected station. Guangzhou Metro map here.
Taxi
Haggling is quite rare in Guangzhou as their law is quite strict there. However, if you know you are a foreigner that is unfamiliar with their roads, they will probably take some extra round for a few extra bucks. So I suggest downloading Baidu Maps to check the route on your own.
Buses
Buses are the cheapest means of transportation. Each trip will cost you only RMB2 (US$ 0.29). However, the downside of this is, you will need to recognize Chinese characters to use take their bus. Another note is if you are tired of walking and you don’t know where is the Metro station, simply find a nearby bus stand and check out the bus route map. Check out the Metro signage and you could save yourself some energy to reach the Metro station.
Simcard
You will definitely come across a sim card booth at Baiyun International Airport at the luggage collection area. My advice, DO NOT BUY that sim card, why? It is not a fake sim card, it is legit but over price. I once brought a sim card there at RMB150 (US$21.82) with a 4GB data plan. Great plan right? No! Within a couple of days, my data ran out and I checked with their service operator only to find out that the sim card package only costs RMB75 (US$ 10.91) or RMB80 and the data pool is divided into day time 2gb and after 7 pm for another 2gb. So, if you must buy a sim card, have a little patient and purchase them in the city at any Telco provider shops or booths.
What to Prepare!
WiFi Connectivity
Connectivity is very important today. There is plenty of free WiFi in the city but most of them will require a local number for registration. Try to ask the customer service crew for their assistant. Some of the customer service crew are kind enough to let you use their personal local number for the WiFi registration. However, there is free WiFi in their Metro system and the speed is pretty good too but you will need their APP in order to use the Metro free WiFi. Download their APP first hand, Android user, and iPhone user. For iPhone users, since this APP is only available in China region, here is what you need to do。 Go to Setting, Apple ID, iTunes & App Store, then click on View Apple ID and change your region to China to download the Apps. Simply change your region back to your preferred region after download completed.
Translator Apps
Google Translate does not work in China. So do have your preferred language downloaded before you travel there. As a backup, do download some other Camera Translator that would greatly help you by just using your phone camera to scan the Chinese character.
Virtual Private Network (VPN for China)
I constantly check my social media, hence the VPN is a necessity. Just recently China blocked numerous VPN providers but there is still plenty of VPN that is usable in China. Here is the VPN I used when I am in China.
What to Prepare!
WiFi Connectivity
Connectivity is very important today. There is plenty of free WiFi in the city but most of them will require a local number for registration. Try to ask the customer service crew for their assistant. Some of the customer service crew are kind enough to let you use their personal local number for the WiFi registration. However, there is free WiFi in their Metro system and the speed is pretty good too but you will need their APP in order to use the Metro free WiFi. Download their APP first hand, Android user, and iPhone user. For iPhone users, since this APP is only available in China region, here is what you need to do。 Go to Setting, Apple ID, iTunes & App Store, then click on View Apple ID and change your region to China to download the Apps. Simply change your region back to your preferred region after download completed.
Translator Apps
Google Translate does not work in China. So do have your preferred language downloaded before you travel there. As a backup, do download some other Camera Translator that would greatly help you by just using your phone camera to scan the Chinese character.
Virtual Private Network (VPN for China)
I constantly check my social media, hence the VPN is a necessity. Just recently China blocked numerous VPN providers but there is still plenty of VPN that is usable in China. Here is the VPN I used when I am in China.
Find out more about Guangzhou
Watch my first full Travelogue video below to learn more about Guangzhou, the video speaks louder than words!
If you have any questions regarding Guangzhou, do ask me in the comment section below!
Unexpected Adventure!
I heard about one local authentic restaurant and decided to visit the place. Only to find that they are not really a true authentic Guangzhou restaurant. However, my journey here took me through an unexpected visit of some of the hidden alleys and had a glimpse of how it is like. Check out the video below to see yourself in the hidden parts of Guangzhou!
Any hotel you recommend?
Hi PS, this would depends on your budget.
If you just want a clean room to sleep with basic necessities but there might be a little noise. Then their budget hotel would be 7 Day Inn, Super 8 Hotel and All Season Hotel (some are quite new). These hotel are usually walking distance to the metro stations and there are everywhere (franchise hotel). As I know their regular deluxe room would range from RMB160 – RMB200 (also depends on season).
If you’re looking at somewhere touristy, search around Beijing Road, which I would very much recommend this area for a tourist experience. Happening from morning to night time. Lots of food around, the night cruise ferry is around, shopping streets, metro, etc. Lido Hotel used to be my favorite but this hotel is old now.
Hope this helps.
thank you very much
Oh, thanks so much for the useful information! One thing I’m wondering is about the public transport in Guangzhou, especially metro. Is it convenient to move in the city by metro? Keep up with your good work!
Hi!
Yes it is very convenient and most of the major areas are covered. I think now their metro now are running with 14 lines. I heard it will span out to around 20+ lines. Whereas now you could travel to Foshan City and Panyu City by metro from Guangzhou. So yeah, very convenient.
Hi ..tq for the informative blog… Can the taxi driver be trusted? Can you suggest what is the best way to go to town from airport? Should i use taxi or airport transfer from the hotel?
Erm, I suggest taking the metro into city center, to the area you’re going to. Most of the touristy area can be reach via metro.
HELLO,, GOING THERE THIS OCTOBER, ANY HOTEL near canto fair and near to all popular tourist spot and convinient to good transpo??.. tnx ej
Canto fair is in Pazhou, that area doesn’t really have any tourist spot.
I suggest staying around Beijing Road, you can try Lido Hotel which is located right in the center of many interesting spot. Walking distance is the infamous Beijing Road for shopping, eating streets, night cruitse, I think that location is pretty awesome for tourist.
The Metro station is just 5 minutes walk from Lido Hotel. You can take metro to Canto fair or via Taxi. Metro probably takes you 45 minutes to reach Exhibition Complex.
check the hotel..so many bad comments on trip advisor,,, any second recommendation near canton fair and all nice spots.. tnx again..
Erm, you can check somewhere around that area. I haven’t stay in a hotel there for a very long time.
hi
It was very useful blog thank a lot for that
i am planning to buy mac laptop
u r advice on this