Unique Places in Guangzhou

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'Hua nan zhi wu yuan' is situated about 8 kilometers north of Guangzhou city and is the oldest and largest tropical and botanical garden in South Asia. Within China it also contains the most species for a botanical garden.

Escape the hustle and bustle and marvel at the power of nature. This is a great way to spend a morning and was my favourite feature of a four day visit to Guangzhou. It is open from 7.30 - 17.30 and easy to get to and from the city centre by public (RMB2) bus.

A variety of themed gardens make for an intriguing walk around which may take anything from an hour to three. Local photographers gather to practice their skills and document the rare species. Yes, some of the photographic equipment on show was just as stunning.
[Magnolia Garden, Bamboo Garden, Orchid Garden, Medicinal Herb Garden, Palm Garden, Azalea Garden, Camelia Garden, Relic Plant Section, Bromeliad Garden, Ginger Garden, Australia Garden, Energy Plant Garden and more ...]

For an added and worthy RMB40 a ticket for the domineering glass structure in the centre lake of the gardens invites you to see the Tropical Rainforest Conservatory, Desert Plant Conservatory, Alpine and Polar Plant Conservatory and the Rare and Exotic Plant Conservatory.

I strongly recommend this destination as a place to spend some relaxing time walking and getting back to nature. Unspoilt and quiet, beauty in the city.

Tianyuan Road #1190, Tianhe District, Guangzhou

By Bus: B12, 28, 30, 39, 84, 534, 535, 564

By Metro: No. 3 Line to Tianhe Coach Terminal, then transfer to the bus routes above

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This is a temple dating back to more than one thousand years ago when Zen introduced to China. I am deeply touched here; people come here to pray, so did I. I seldom have an experience that I am in China after I come to work here, but this time I really know I am in a historical temple in China.
The main god enshrining in the temple is Guanyin, goddess of mercy and the sixth and the last successor of Zen, Master Huineng.
I did not take a lot of picture when I am in the temple, unlike those foreigner visitors. I think that people come here to pray for the future, like the Westerners go to church, and Muslim goes to Mosque. All prayers wish not to be bothered when communicating with their god.
Please simply take metro to Ximen Kou.

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As a Taiwanese, I came here to salute to founders of Republic of China, the famous Huanghuagan Battle. Somehow, I found this monument worships more than what I am looking for, they also commemorate founder of PRC.
The park itself is very big, consisting of three areas, including a huge monument holding stone, a tomb containing personal effects of the deceased; and a long way to the main monument. I can tell that the locals come here for daily exercise, I saw a few elders having walks.
Admission fee is RMB5.
Take metro to Martyr Monument station.

This huge building was being built when I visited the Chigang Pagoda back in March 2008. It will eventually become the Guangzhou TV Tower and is due to be completed at the end of 2009, in order to be fully operational for the 2010 Asian Games. It will be some 610 meters (2,001ft) high with 37 floors which will be subdivided into programmatic zones with various functions including: TV and radio transmission facilities, observatory decks, revolving restaurants, computer gaming, restaurants, exhibition spaces, conference rooms, shops and 4D cinemas. Amazing feet of engineering that took my breath away when I saw it.

Directions: Take the metro to Chigang station. Exit the station and you can't miss it!

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This lonely pagoda lies in the middle of new apartment blocks to the south of the city centre.

Directions: Take metro to Chigang and walk south down the track past the new TV Tower. Turn right at the main road at the end and the pagoda is one the other side of the road.

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Being a crazy panda fan, I would like to dedicate this travel page to the 5 pandas i met at the Xiangjiang Safari Park. They are, simply gorgeous, adorable and very lovable!

The total of 5 pandas, 2 live separately and the other 3 lives together as a family (Papa, Mamma and young panda).

They sleep 50% of their time, eat 30% of their time and only the remaining time doing all the rest! So, if you're going to the Xiangjiang Safari park to watch them, try to reach the panda zone around 10.30 am because according to the park's notice board, that's when they are most active, either playing or eating.

They eat bamboo and bamboo leaves. We noticed they have a pattern of living, based on our short observation when we're there, that the panda will: eat, then drink water, then urine and poo with utmost concentration :D, then rub their back with the stones or wooden poles around and then...SLEEP! Haha! See for yourselve when you're there!

Details of going to Xiangjiang Safari Park:

Located in Guangzhou, Panyu. Yingbin Rd, Dashi Town.

Travel: If by MRT, nearest would be Hanxi Chimelong station
If by buses, can take bus 202, 221, 247, 512, 530 or 562. You will not miss the Xiangjiang zoo bus station because the station is all the way into the zoo front entrance. (Unless you're sleeping.) :) Personally, I take bus 512 from Tienhe Bei Rd and it cost me only $3RMB! My bus trip took me around an hour.

Price: $120 RMB for adult, $60 RMB for kids between 1.1 to 1.4m, $60 RMB for senior citizens 65 years and above but must show ID. Think it's free for kids below 1.1m.

Opening hours: 9.30 am to 5.30 pm. I highly recommend that you go early in the morning, when it opens at 9.30 am. Reasons being it will not be too hot to walk around the zoo, it's feeding time around then and you will be able to catch glimpse of the animals when they are still quite active. When it gets to the afternoon, you'll see most of the animals sleeping, boring!

Route: I would recommend you take the free train ride into the safari first (before the queue gets long), then take your time to walk around their pedestrian area. Plan your travel route so that you're able to catch their free animal shows. The white tiger show is quite good.

You do not have to travel far to see Panda, China National treasure, they are right in Guangzhou, Panyu! Located in Panyu, Xiangjiang Safari Park Guangzhou is home for 5 pandas. Beside pandas being the highlight, you will also see many other animals hardly seen in other zoos. Some for examples: White tigers, Koala, Golden eagles and Golden monkeys.

They also have free animal shows at different time of the day, so plan well your travel route to get the most of everything!

As for the place, this zoo is BIG. The place is divided into 2 area, the Drive In area where you hop on into their little train and into their safari area where animals will be roaming near you. You can even drive in using your own car! The other area is the pedestrian area where you walk to different "zones" to see different species of animals, like the African Gallery, Australia zone etc. The place is well managed, clean and have easily understandable signboards. Finding a toilet is not a problem, getting a translator to bring you around the zoo is also not necessary, they have explanation boards in Chinese and English.

If you're interested to visit the zoo, read on my part (II) on how to go and the zoo details.