A total of four metro lines including the southern extension of Line 4, first phase projects of Line 9, 13, annd 15 (the Knowledge City Branch) started trial operations on Dec. 28, 2017. With the opening of these four lines, the total track length of Guangzhou Metro has reached 390.6 kilometers, ranking third in China.
Are you wondering what interesting places and delicious food these new routes open up? Let’s take a look!
South extension section of Line 4
Nansha Passenger Port Station (南沙客运港站)
Nansha Tianhou Temple (南沙天后宫)
Facing the Lingding Ocean, on the mouth of the Pearl River, Nansha Tianhou Temple sits on the southeastern slope of Dajiao Mountain. It was orinially built between 960-987 to worship the goddess of sea, called Mazu by the people, but whose real name was Linmo.
The current architecture on site combines both the styles of the Ming Forbidden City in Beijing and the Republican era Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s Mausoleum in Nanjing. It is the largest compound of its type in the world. It gained the reputation of being the ‘First Tianhou Temple under Heaven’ and the biggest Mazu Temple in southeastern Asia.
Admission: RMB 20 per ticket
Opening Hours: 8: 30 - 17: 00
Add.: No. 88 Tianhou Road, Nansha District, Guangzhou (广州市南沙区天后路88号)
Huangshanlu Forest Park (黄山鲁森林公园)
As a National AAAA Level Scenic Spot, Huangshanlu Forest Park is Guangzhou’s largest free forest park. It is named Huangshanlu after its two peaks, Huangshan and Lushan. Covering an area of 1,200 square meters, its highest peak is 295 meters, the highest in southern Guangzhou.
In sunny days, you can see a magnificent panorama of Nansha District and the seaport. You can also have a clear picture of Humen Bridge, Jiaomen River City Center, and the lakes in the mountains. The forest park also is a paradise for birds. During Winter months, you might see huge flocks of birds migrating south to the park, as it is one of their Wintering habitats.
Admission: Free
Opening Hours: 7:00-17:30
Add.: Dengshan Road, Nansha District, Guangzhou (广州市南沙区登山路)
First phase project of Line 9
Feieling Station (飞鹅岭站)
Dongfeng Gymnasium (东风体育馆)
Dongfeng Gymnasium is designed to be energy-efficient and environmentally friendly, adopting natural lighting, thermal insulation, energy saving materials, and other eco conscious measures in its construction. With comprehensive facilities, there are both main training stadiums. You can hire a court to play indoor sports with your friends, or watch a match, concert or exhibition from time to time.
Opening hours: 8:30-21:00
Add.: South side of Fengshen Avenue, Huadu Auto City, Guangzhou (广州市花都汽车城风神大道南侧)
Huaguoshan Park Station (花果山公园站)
Huaguoshan Park (花果山公园)
Covering about 36 acres, Huaguoshan Park is a beautiful garden for you to relax or exercise in. Its ingenuity lies in the wonderful combination of flowers, fruit trees, rockeries and water features, you are surrounded by green on all sides and there are many benches and pavilions where you can sit and soak it all in.
Admission: Free
Opening hours: 24 hours
Add.: No. 61-3 Yunshan Avenue Middle, Huadu District, Guangzhou (广州市花都区云山大道中)
TV Tower Park (电视塔公园)
The park is small, but it is scenic and tranquil. The TV Tower is especially bright and attractive at night. After visiting the park, you could also visit the nearby Huadu Library where you can borrow books for free and enjoy some quiet reading.
Admission: Free
Opening hours: 24 hours
Add.: No. 30 Tiyu Road, Huadu District, Guangzhou (广州市花都区体育路30号)
First phase project of Line 13
Yuzhu Station (鱼珠站)
Whampoa Military Academy (黄埔军校)
The former site of Guangdong Army and Navy College, the first military school in modern times of China. It bore witness to the great efforts that Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the pioneer of the China’s democratic revolution, made to revitalize the country.
In1988 the site was listed as a key cultural relic under state-level protection. You can wander the site, see where soldiers took their classes, where the officers lived and slept and learn more about the significance of the academy to China’s democratic revolution.
Admission: Free
Opening hours: 9:00-17:00, Tuesday - Sunday, closed on Monday
Add.: No. 170 Junxiao Road, Changzhou Island, Huangpu District, Guangzhou (广州市黄埔区长洲岛军校路170号)
Huangpu Scrambled Egg (黄埔炒蛋)
Huangpu Scrambled Egg is one of the most famous and popular dishes throughout Guangdong. It was invented by fishermen in Huangpu, the home port of the ancient Maritime Silk Road.
Due to its appearance like a yellow cloth, it is also called Huang Bu (yellow cloth) egg. The pun being - Huangpu and Huang Bu have the same pronunciation in Cantonese. It is said that the former president of the Republic of China - Chang Kai-Shek really enjoyed this dish.
Cost: About RMB 10-20 per person
Where to eat: Most restaurants in Huangpu offer this dish.
Nanhai God Temple Station (南海神庙站)
Nanhai God Temple (南海神庙)
Nanhai God Temple was the place where the local people in ancient times made offerings to the Sea God. It is the only temple left of the four ancient Sea God Temples in China. Founded in the Sui Dynasty (594), it is of important value in the study of foreign trade in ancient China as Guangzhou is known as the starting point of the ancient Maritime Silk Road, and is a place where you can get a dose of real Cantonese culture.
Admission: RMB 10 per ticket
Opening Hours: 9:00 – 16:30
Add.: No.22 Xuri Jie (Street), Miaotou Village, Nangang Town, Huangpu District, Guangzhou (广州市黄埔区南岗镇庙头村旭日街22号)
Xintang Station (新塘站)
Xintang Fish Wonton (新塘鱼包)
Xintang Fish Wonton may seem like normal wonton at first glance, but it tastes totally different. The ‘parcel’ is made of flour and minced dace, and its fillings include fish gelatin, cured meat, dried duck, ground meat and mushroom, delicious when accompanied with soup. From now until Spring, is the perfect season to eat Xintang Fish Wonton, because dace tastes best after Autumn and this kind of cured meat and dried duck are often consumed in Winter as well.
Cost: About RMB 20-30 per person
Where to eat: Most of the restaurants in Xintang, both big and small, offer Xintang Fish Wonton.
Tang’s Fried Snacks (棠记油炸小吃老字号)
This is a traditional, ordinary looking food stall, and has been operating for about 20 years. Its specialties include fried chicken wing, fried Spring Festival cake, fried meat balls, and many other kinds of fried snacks.
Cost: About RMB 15 per person
Add.: Entrance of Nan’an Market, Nan’an Village, Xintang, Zengcheng District, Guangzhou (广州市增城区新塘镇南安村南安市场门口)
Ancient Sea Caves (古海遗迹)
A former marine cave which was formed by sea-land changes in ancient times. It is the deepest marine cave in Guangdong and the largest, most intact marine cave in the Pearl River Basin. It is one of the ‘Eight Sights of Zengcheng District’. Near the marine cave are the famous Xintang Shiyan Temple and Tianhou Temple which are also well worth a visit.
Admission: Free
Opening hours: 24 hours
Add.: Near Xintang Port Wharf, Zengcheng District, Guangzhou (广州市增城区新塘口岸码头附近)
Xinsha Station (新沙站)
Ningyuan Tower (宁远楼)
Located at the northeast corner of Guling Village, Ningyuan Tower is the tallest, most robust and peculiar watchtower in Guangzhou. There are two watchtowers in Guling Village, Ningyuan Tower and Tangyin Tower. Both of them were built in the 1920s-1930s and funded by overseas Chinese who were originally from the village.
As a typical Lingnan water village, Guling Village has the only floating residential buildings which can be dated back to the Qing Dynasty in Guangzhou. Together with the watchtowers, granite lanes, ancient wells, old trees, orchards and rice fields, the village presents a largely unspoiled view of rural life. It’s well worth visiting.
Admission: Free
Opening hours: 24 hours
Add.: Gualing Village, Xintang Town, Zengcheng District, Guangzhou (广州增城区新塘镇瓜岭村)
Line 14 Knowledge City Branch
Sino-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City Station (知识城站)
Fenghuang Lake (凤凰湖)
Covering an area of about 80 acres, Fenghuang Lake is an artificial lake located inside the Sino-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City. It is one of the many newly built wetland parks in Guangzhou; enabling better flood control and water storage, maintaining ecological balance, and providing sightseeing and relaxation opportunities.
Admission: Free
Opening hours: 24 hours
Add.: Near Jiulong Avenue, Sino-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City, Huangpu District, Guangzhou (广州市黄埔区中新知识城九龙大道附近)
(Author: Monica Liu; Editor: Simon Haywood)
