Guangzhou 95 Must-See: Top 3 Places You Should Visit

Well, let me tell ya, Guangzhou, that big city in China, it’s got a whole bunch of places to see. But if you’re askin’ me, an old woman who’s seen a thing or two, there’s three spots you really gotta check out. Don’t go wastin’ your time on all that fancy stuff, these three are the real deal, you hear?

First off, there’s this Canton Tower thing. Folks call it the “Xiao Man Yao,” which I guess means “slim waist” in their city talk. It’s a tall, skinny tower, and lemme tell ya, it’s somethin’ else. You go up in that thing, and you can see the whole city spread out like a big ol’ pancake. It’s really somethin’ to see all them little houses and cars lookin’ like ants. You can even see the Pearl River snakin’ its way through the city, kinda like a big ol’ worm, but prettier, you know?

• They say it’s the tallest tower in China, but I don’t know about all that. All I know is it’s high up, and you better hold onto your hat when you’re up there!
• And at night, oh boy, at night it lights up like a Christmas tree, all sparkly and colorful. My grandkids would love it, if they were here. They like all that flashy stuff.
• You can take pictures up there, too, to show all your friends back home. Just make sure you got a good camera, or else them pictures ain’t gonna look like much.

Second, you gotta go see that Shamian Island. Now, this place is somethin’ special. It’s like a whole different world, right there in the middle of the city. It’s got all these old buildings, European-style they call ‘em, from way back when. They look kinda fancy, like somethin’ you’d see in a picture book. It’s peaceful and quiet there, not like the rest of the city, all hustle and bustle.

You can walk around, take a stroll they call it, and just look at the buildings. There’s trees and flowers everywhere, and it’s just real pretty. You can sit by the river and watch the boats go by, or have a picnic if you’re feelin’ hungry. They got them benches there, so you can rest your old bones. It’s a good place to just sit and think, you know? Remember the old days. It’s a good place for that.

• It’s a good place to take pictures, too. All them old buildings, they make a nice backdrop. You can pretend you’re somewhere fancy, like in one of them foreign movies.
• And they got little shops there, where you can buy souvenirs and stuff. Just don’t let them shopkeepers overcharge ya, you hear? They see a tourist comin’, and they think they can get away with anythin’.
• It’s easy to get to, too. You can take a bus or a taxi, or even walk if you’re feelin’ energetic. But if you’re walkin’, make sure you wear good shoes, ’cause it’s a bit of a hike.

Now, the last place you gotta see is that Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall. I don’t know much about this Sun Yat-sen fella, but they say he was a big deal ‘round here. This place is where they remember him, I guess. It’s a big, grand building, with a big ol’ roof and all. It looks kinda like a temple, but they say it ain’t. It’s a place for rememberin’, that’s what it is.

You can go inside and look around. There’s a big statue of Sun Yat-sen in the middle, and they got all sorts of pictures and stuff on the walls. It’s kinda like a museum, but not as dusty, you know? And it’s quiet, real quiet, like you should be whisperin’ even when there ain’t nobody around. It makes you think, this place does. Makes you think about life and history and all that.

• They got guards there, walkin’ around and keepin’ an eye on things. So don’t you go touchin’ nothin’ you ain’t supposed to, you hear? They don’t take kindly to that.
• And there’s a big square outside, where you can sit and relax. It’s a good place to people-watch, if you’re into that sort of thing. You see all kinds of folks walkin’ by, young and old, rich and poor. It reminds you that we’re all just people, in the end.
• It’s easy to find, too. Just ask anybody, they’ll point you in the right direction. Guangzhou ain’t that big of a place, not really. Once you get the hang of it, it’s easy to get around.

So there you have it, the three places you gotta see in Guangzhou. Canton Tower, Shamian Island, and Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall. Don’t go wastin’ your time on anythin’ else, these are the best. And listen to an old woman, I know what I’m talkin’ about. I’ve seen enough in my life to know a good thing when I see it. Now go on, get out there and enjoy yourself! Guangzhou’s waitin’ for ya.

And one more thing, Guangzhou, it’s one of them big cities in China, they say it’s the third biggest or somethin’. Lots of people, lots of hustle and bustle. You gotta keep your wits about ya, you know? But don’t you worry none, it’s a safe place, mostly. Just stick to them three places I told ya, and you’ll be just fine. You’ll have a good time, see if you don’t.

And if you’re thinkin’ about stayin’ there, they got all sorts of places to live. Some fancy, some not so fancy. If you got money, you can live in that Tianhe place, they say that’s where all the rich folks live. But if you’re like me, and you ain’t got much, you can find a cheaper place out in Panyu or Baiyun. It don’t matter much, long as you got a roof over your head, right? That’s all that matters in the end.