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The Canton Tower and the Guangzhou skyline

No. 41 Top 100 City Destinations 2025

Guangzhou

China

The home of Cantonese food: dim sum, the Pearl River, the Canton Tower and historic temples.

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Photo: Tim Wu, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

Guangzhou is No. 41 in Euromonitor International's Top 100 City Destinations Index 2025. The capital of Guangdong province, long known in the West as Canton, lies on the Pearl River and has been a major trading port for more than 2,000 years.

It is the heartland of Cantonese cuisine, best tasted over dim sum at a morning yum cha, and hosts the twice-yearly Canton Fair, one of the world's largest trade fairs.

The Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, Guangzhou
The Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, Guangzhou. Photo: Shujianyang, CC BY-SA 4.0, source

Best time to go

October to December brings the most comfortable weather: warm, dry and sunny.

Summer is hot, humid and rainy, with occasional typhoons. Hotels are expensive during the Canton Fair in spring and autumn.

Top sights

  • 1

    Canton Tower

    The 600-metre tower on the Pearl River has observation decks and is lit up at night.

  • 2

    Chen Clan Ancestral Hall

    A richly decorated 1890s clan academy with wood, stone and brick carvings, now a folk art museum.

  • 3

    Shamian Island

    A quiet island of tree-lined streets and 19th-century European-style buildings.

  • 4

    Yuexiu Park

    A large hilly park with the Five Rams statue, a symbol of the city, and the Zhenhai Tower.

  • 5

    Pearl River night cruise

    Evening boat trips pass the lit-up skyline and the Canton Tower.

  • 6

    Temple of the Six Banyan Trees

    An ancient Buddhist temple with a tall, decorated pagoda.

  • 7

    Beijing Road and Shangxiajiu

    Busy pedestrian shopping streets, good for street food.

Getting there

Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN) is about 30 km north of the centre and is on the metro.

Guangzhou South station has high-speed trains across China, and fast trains run from Hong Kong West Kowloon station.

Getting around

The metro is extensive and cheap; pay with a QR code in Alipay or WeChat Pay or with a transport card.

Taxis and ride-hailing apps such as DiDi are inexpensive; have your destination written in Chinese.

Practical tips

Currency
Chinese yuan (CNY). Most payments are made by phone with Alipay or WeChat Pay, both of which accept foreign cards; set one up before you travel and carry some cash as a back-up.
Language
Cantonese and Mandarin Chinese. English is limited outside hotels.
Apps & internet
Many international apps and websites, including Google services, do not work in mainland China. Download offline maps and a translation app before you travel.
Safety
Guangzhou is generally safe; watch your belongings in crowded areas. The police emergency number is 110.
Visa & entry
Citizens of many countries, including the UK, Canada, Australia and most EU countries, can currently visit China visa-free for up to 30 days under a policy that runs until 31 December 2026. US citizens need a visa, or can use the 240-hour visa-free transit scheme with an onward ticket to a third country. Rules change often, so check with a Chinese embassy before you travel.
Power
220 V, 50 Hz; plug types A, C and I.

Official information: Guangzhou International (official city website). Check opening hours, prices and entry rules there before you go.

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