Places around Guangzhou, Guangzhou

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Big market selling dried herbs ,dried sea cucumbers dried sea horses...etc.Interesting to browse around.The Cantonese like to boil soup over slow flame for at least 2 hour; suppose to be a good tonic to keep the doctors away.This market offers all kind of herbal ingredients for the soup pot.

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This is a very nice walk on the island .It is not very large with an area of 44 acres.This used to be the enclave of the foreigners during the Ching Dynasty with consulates, trade offices and banks .The main buildings have plaques stating the year it was constructed and it's origin.I notice most Buildings were French,British and Americans origins with Russians ,Thailand,India ,japan forming the minority.There are two churches,a Catholic Church(Our lady of Lourdes) and a protestant Church.The broad avenues are lined with old trees,some more than 180 years old making strolling a pleasure.The majestic 5 star hotel ,White Swan Hotel is located on the island.
There are street cafes,small hotels,youth hostel,restaurants and gift shops operating from the preserved buildings.

Mingchun Bird Valley is an aviary near the entrance of Baiyun Shan that has birds of all kinds of shapes, sizes, and colors. There are parrots and parakeets to look at. It is not really anything overly exciting, but I would peer at the birds from the gate. That is probably the best that it gets. The bird show can be skipped!!

ADMISSION: 10 CNY

Since I traveled to China, I noticed how much Buddism is really a large part of the culture. They take their temples very seriously. There is even a temple on Baiyun Shan!! It of course only makes sense. You can enter the temple, offer incense, and say your prayers!!

ADMISSION: 5 CNY

The Guangzhou Steeles is another themed respite within the Baiyun Shan Mountain Park. This part of Baiyun Shan is decorated with large granite slabs with carvings of Chinese sayings. I couldn't understand the writing, however, my uncle said that it contains some history, philosophy, and poetry. It was cool.

ADMISSION: 5 CNY

Once you reach the top of Baiyun Shan, you have the option of strolling around or visiting the many themed parks within the mountain. They really are like small garden havens or temples on the expanse of the mountain.

One such place is the Nine Dragon Springs. It is probably named as such because of the nine dragons that are carved thematically around the area. When you first enter the garden, you see two large poles with nine dragons carved into each!! It is amazing!! Then as you walk farther in, you will find a fountain with nine dragons carved into it and water coming from the mouth of each. It is a typical garden park designed for respite. There is some climbing involved, but it is invigorating rather than taxing!!

ADMISSION: 10 CNY

This is the mountain that is part of the Kun Shan Mountain range located a close 15km to Guangzhou. You can get a really good view of the city from the many pavilions that face the city (if you can see through the whiteness that I conclude was either smog or clouds). The mountain is very much cultivated into elements of traditional Chinese styles. There are pagodas, monasteries, and tea houses that lie all over the mountain. The only drawback is that each different part of the mountain usually requires you to pay a separate admission fee. However, it isn't really all that expensive.

You also have the option of hiking all the way to the mountain top or having a bus take you to the top. You can purchase a one way ticket to the top or a round trip ticket. On particularly hot days, I find that it is much easier to take the bus up and then take the scenic route down the mountain.

You will find that you aren't ever alone on the mountain. It is often frequented by the local Chinese people. You will see groups of all ages enjoying the invorigorating walks and taking tea in the teahouses. There is a particularly busy teahouse at the base of the mountain that makes fresh delicious rice noodles (cheung fun or sa hua fun - phonetically spelled...I am not certain if it is the correct spelling). It is what the this teahouse is well know for...and with good reason because it truly is the best rice noodle that I have EVER had!!! Try their stir-fryed version...it is scrumptous.

ADMISSION: 15 CNY

HOURS: 6:00am to 5:00pm

FEE: Bus up to top of mountain costs 3 CNY.
(Can also purchase round trip ticket for a little more)

Want to feed baby tigers, take a photo with a 300 kg White Tiger. Here's the place to do just that. Make sure you take the Safari if you want to see Cheetahs just 5 metres away.

Don't bother going to the night zoo. What can you see at night of the animals, anyway? This Zoo in Panyu is expensive but worth the money, not just for the tigers, the Golden Monkeys are cute too.