As part of the 2026 "Discover China Cultural Tour" of Guangdong, diplomats from several countries took part in a one-day city walk across Guangzhou on May 13. The journey spanned from centuries-old Lingnan craftsmanship to the city's modern skyline piercing the clouds.
Rather than a traditional itinerary, the event offered participants a close look at how culture, heritage, and urban development harmoniously coexist in one of China's most dynamic cities.
A journey through Lingnan heritage
The first stop was the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, one of the finest examples of Lingnan architecture.
Inside the historic complex, visitors encountered an intricate world of craftsmanship, full of wood carvings, brick reliefs, stone sculptures, ceramic ornaments, and colorful Manchurian-style windows. Every corner carried layers of detail, reflecting both artistic skill and cultural continuity.
Ornissa Gordon, a diplomat from Guyana, described her impression of Guangdong as both exciting and unexpected. She noted that traditional Chinese cultural elements are carefully preserved within the craftsmanship, even while absorbing cultural influences from abroad.
Living heritage in everyday form
The journey continued to the Guangdong Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum, where tradition is presented not as distant history, but as a living practice.
Here, visitors can view up close, experience firsthand, and interact with intangible cultural heritage including traditional crafts and folk arts, forging a direct bond with cultural memory. The diplomats even made their woodblock paintings under the guidance of artists.
A city seen from above
At the final stop, the group visited the 450-meter outdoor observation deck of Canton Tower.
From this height, Guangzhou reveals a different identity: a sprawling network of skyscrapers, highways, and urban corridors pulsating with vitality and growth.
The city appears as a fast-evolving hub of innovation, trade, and energy, reflecting its role in China's contemporary urban landscape.
Dwayne Thompson, a diplomat from Trinidad and Tobago, described the experience as "amazing" and "very impressive," adding that it offered a new opportunity to understand the scale and diversity of Guangzhou.
Guangzhou, as showcased through this journey, is not only a cultural destination, but also a living, evolving urban center.
Reporter: Li Fangwang
Video & Poster: Guo Hongda
Photo: Guo Hongda
