Guangzhou has a number of tourist hotspots and historical sites to visit. There are about 125 historical sites and roughly 40 tourist attractions in the city. The Tomb Museum of the King of Southern Yue, Chen Clan Temple, Six Banyan Temple, Zhenhai Tower, Guangxiao Temple, Sanyuan Temple, Memorial Mosque, Sacred Heart Church, The Taoist Temple of Five Immortals, the Divine Temple of South Sea, Baiyun Mountain, Conghua hot springs, Furongzhang and Lotus Hill are just some of the many tourist destinations in Guangzhou, China’s industrial hub.

There are also many beautiful gardens and parks to visit in Guangzhou such as the Liuxi River National Forest Park, Yuexiu Park, Liuhua Lake Park, Tianhe Park, Dongshan Lake Park, the Orchid Garden, Guangzhou Zoo and Yuntai Garden. Each of these destinations has its own unique and special significance to the people of this fantastic city.

Besides the various tourist attractions, Guangzhou has some other interesting places to go to such as Dongfang Amusement Park, Grand World Scenic Park, the Flying Dragon World, the Feitu Fantasy Studio, Xiangjiang Safari World, Ocean World, Space Flight Spectacle and the Water World at Jiulongtan. All these places offer great fun for the family and are excellent places for Guangzhou day trips.

Places to visit in Guangzhou, China

Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall
Sun Yat-sen was one of the founders of the Chinese Revolution of 1911. This memorial hall dedicated to his memory is situated at the original site of his presidential office on Yuexiu Hill. Built in 1931, the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall is an octagonal building that occupies an area of 12,000 square meters. It is a magnificent building with a superb exterior, and elegant interior designs. Right in front of the hall is a 5 meter (3 foot) high bronze statue of Dr. Sun. This Hall is a symbolic building in Guangzhou, where many of the city's meetings and performances held.

Chen Family Ancestral Temple
The Chen Family Ancestral Temple is also known as the Chen Clan Academy. This temple was built in 1894 during the reign of Emperor Guangxu of the Qing dynasty. It is the largest and best preserved temple in the city. The temple was built with donations from the Chen family and used to provide lodging for the family members who came to Guangdong to prepare for imperial exams. Covering an area of 15,000 square meters (49,500 sq. ft.), the temple is made up of six courtyards, nine main halls, and nineteen buildings. You can have a peak in the age old arts and crafts of China while enjoying the modern delights this city has to offer as the Chen Family Ancestral Temple is now a museum of Guangdong Folk Arts and Crafts.

Western Han Nanyue King Tomb Museum
Western Han Nanyue King Tomb Museum is located on Jiefang Road. The tomb of Emperor Wen, the second ruler of the Southern Yue Kingdom, is located in this museum. Lying under Elephant Hill, Western Han Nanyue King Tomb was excavated in 1983 and contains more than 1,000 burial objects including a chariot, gold and silver vessels, musical instruments and the remains of human sacrifices.

Temple of Six Banyan Trees
Situated on Liu Rong Road, this ancient Buddhist temple was built in 537 AD (?) during the Liang dynasty. The original temple was burned and the current temple was rebuilt from it during the Northern Song dynasty. The Flowery Pagoda, a 57-meter-high pagoda in the center of the temple with a bronze pillar with 1,000 Buddhist sculptures on top, is housed in this temple. In the Grand Hall of the Temple of Six Banyan Trees are three huge Buddha statues of Sakyamuni, Amitabha and Maitreya. Made from brass in 1633, each of these sculptures is 6 meters (20 feet) high and weighs 10 tons. The Hall of Liuzu, where the copper image of Liuzu, a sixth generation Buddhist master is preserved is located in the Banyan Garden.

Yuexiu Park
Yuexiu Park covers an area of 93 hectares and is the biggest park in the city of Guangzhou. Besides the three artificial lakes and the huge swimming pool located here, the park is most famous for Zhenhai Tower, a memorial monument to Dr. Sun Yat-sen and the Sculpture of the Five Rams. The Zhenhai Tower is a 28 meter (92.4 foot) high tower, also known as Five-Storey Pagoda on Yuexiu Hill. Yuexiu Park was built during the Ming dynasty and provides a fantastic view of the entire city of Guangzhou. The tower houses the City Museum which exhibits historical artifacts of Guangzhou from the Neolithic era to the early part of this century. The Sculpture of the Five Rams is the symbol of Guangzhou city. It was erected in 1959 and inspired by the legend of the five celestial riders on rams who were supposed to have given the land its first rice grains.

White Cloud Mountain
White Cloud Mountain range is located in the northeast of Guangzhou, China. The range is made up of over 30 peaks, and covers an area of 28 square meters (92.4 sq. ft.), the highest peak of the mountain range is Moxing Ridge which stands at 382 meters (1,261 feet) high. As white clouds always surround the mountaintops, this mountain range is aptly known as White Cloud Mountain. Aside from its amazing scenic beauty, this mountain range also has many historical relics from ancient times. You can find the White Cloud Mountain Park, a picturesque summer resort with sports, water slides, a golf course, botanical gardens and a sculpture park which will make any Guangzhou trip fun and informative.

Bright Filial Piety Temple
Originally the Imperial Palace of Prince Zhao Jiande of the Nanyue Kingdom during the Western Han dynasty, the Bright Filial Piety Temple is located on Guangxiao Road. It was first temple built by an Indian monk during the Eastern Jin Dynasty and is one of the oldest temples in the Guangzhou. It was rebuilt during the Qing dynasty. The Sixth Ancestor Hall in the temple was built in memory of Huineng, one of the most influential monks in the history of Buddhism, which has a pagoda here where Huineng's hair is buried. Also located in the temple is Sakyamuni Hall, Samgharama Hall, the King of Heaven Hall, Great Mercy House, Sleeping Buddha Building and a colossal bronze Buddha. This temple is also known as Guangxiao Temple.

Shamian Island
A visit to Shamian Island is a must when in Guangzhou. A small islet in the Pearl River, this island was an original outpost for the city. It is actually not an island, but a sandbank reclaimed from the Pearl River in 1859 and turned into the concession area. This island is home to some of the oldest churches, trade buildings, and consulates in the city. The White Swan, a five-star hotel, is also located on the Shamian Island. Connected to the rest of the city by a series of bridges, this island was the only place where foreign merchants in Guangzhou, China were allowed to live. With its old fashioned charm and quaint atmosphere, life on this little island is lived at a leisurely pace.

Qingping Market
Qingping Market is the largest street market in Guangzhou. It is not considered a tourist attraction but it provides a fascinating insight into local life. With over 2,000 stalls, it is estimated that over 60,000 people shop in this market every day. The most infamous section of Qingping Market is the meat market where live chickens, rabbits, cats, dogs, anteaters, turtles and all sorts of animals are sold for their meat.