The traditional central axis of Guangzhou features the city's complete ancient appearance, characterized by attractions such as Yuexiu Park and Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall. Spend one day in this area, and you can get a glimpse of the city's history of more than 2000 years.

Yuexiu Park (Photo: Zhang Guanjun)

Yuexiu Park

Yuexiu Park is the largest comprehensive park in Guangzhou, known for its various monuments and beautiful landscapes. Home to the Guangzhou Museum and the Five Rams Sculpture, Yuexiu Mountain is one of the most popular attractions in the city. If you can speak some Cantonese, go chat with the seniors on the mountain, they are the regulars here, and you may learn some fun stories from the city's past.

Five Rams Statue (Photo: Liang Wenxiang)

Five Rams Statue

Within Yuexiu Park lies the famous Five Rams statue, a symbol of the city.

Guangzhou is widely called the "City of Five Rams (yang cheng) because of its legendary association with the horned animal.

Guangzhou Museum (Photo: Zhang Guanjun)

Zhenhai Tower

Atop the Yuexiu Mountain, Zhenhai Tower is a five-storied tower. Built in 1380, it serves as the city landmark of Guangzhou in the Ming (1368-1644AD) and Qing (1636-1912AD) dynasties. Now it houses the Guangzhou Museum since it was opened to the public in 1928, displaying the cultural relics of Guangzhou of different dynasties

Opening time: 09:00-17:00

Ticket Price: 10 RMB per person (free admission for senior citizens over 70 years, half price for children under 1.2 meters)

Art gallery of Guangzhou Museum

Located on the east side of Zhenhai Tower, the art gallery of Guangzhou Museum is a cultural building in traditional Chinese architectural style, imitating the Hall of Literary Glory (Wenhua Dian) in the Palace Museum. Completed in 1930, it is one of the earliest established museums of art in China.

Opening time: 09:00-17:00 (closed on Monday)

Ticket price: free

Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall (Photo: Zhang Guanjun)

Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall

Designed by the reputable Chinese architect Lu Yanzhi, the memorial hall is located at the former location of the Presidential Palace and completed in 1931. It is a monumental building constructed by both the people of Guangzhou and overseas Chinese to commemorate the great revolutionary pioneer Sun Yat-sen.

Opening time: 08:00-18:00

Ticket price: free for visiting the outer area only, 10 RMB for visiting the lobby and exhibition hall.

Nearest metro station: Take Metro Line 2 and get off at the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall Station, then use Exit C or D2

Beijing Road Pedestrian Street (Photo: Liang Wenxiang)

Beijing Road Pedestrian Street

Beijing Road has been one of the busiest commercial districts in Guangzhou since ancient times, featuring various long-established brands in the city and modern shopping malls. It is a good place for tourists to enjoy shopping and local snacks such as wonton noodles and steamed vermicelli roll. If you come to Guangzhou, Beijing Road Pedestrian Street is a must-visit for you.

Dafo Temple (Photo: Liang Wenxiang)

Dafo Temple

Built in the Southern Han Dynasty (917-971AD), Dafo Temple, or literally Grand Buddha Temple, is a grand Buddhist temple in Guangzhou with more than a thousand years. Over the past, it has been reconstructed many times, bearing a high cultural and artistic value. In the middle of its Mahavira Hall, three copper statues of Grand Buddha are enshrined, with each one being 6 meters high and weighing 10 tonnes. A stream of visitors, either Buddhist devotees or otherwise, make pilgrimages to this sacred place each year.

Opening time: 06:00-19:00

Ticket price: free

Nearest metro station: Take Guangzhou Metro Line 1 or 2, and get off at Gongyuanqian Station, then use Exit D

Author | Nancy (intern)

Editor | Monica & Jerry