The area closest to the Pear River Delta in China doesn’t have the best reputation. It’s polluted, to say the least, and is full of industrial plants and projects. Despite its pitfalls, the area known as Guangzhou (or Canton) has quite a bit to offer the world.

Image credit: jon crel

In ancient times, Guangzhou was the capital of the Guandong province. The city played a huge role in the development of Cantonese culture as well as in the overthrow of the last dynasty. Millions of people visit Guangzhou and nearby Shenzhen to sample some of the finest restaurants and visit the area’s myriad of shrines, museums, temples, and shops. Here are some of our favorite sites.

Chen Family Temple

Image credit: cathyse97

The Chen family is commonly referred to as one of the largest clans in the Pearl River Delta. Towards the end of the 19^th century a group of clan members solicited contributions from not only the Chens but several other Chans, both in China and overseas, in order to build this memorial temple.

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No expense was spared when constructing the 90 foot long main building, gates, side houses, and lavish gardens. Inside the temple you’ll find a small museum and gift shop.

Orchid Garden

Image credit: DavetheGrey

A trip to the Orchid Garden will quickly swish you away from the hustle and bustle of the busy city. There are over 20 acres of land to explore here, all filled with tropical trees, bamboo, and orchids. There are, specifically, 10,000 potted orchids within the garden spanning over 2,000 species. Enjoy the views while strolling or simply take in the scenery while sipping tea at one of the classical teahouses nestled within the grounds.

The Quingping Market

[Youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFOqk69Yn4Q]

The Quingping Market used to be popular because of the public animal slaughters at the stalls, but times have changed. After scares caused by SARS and other diseases, the government forced most of these stalls to shut down and now only the most hygienic and professional wet market stalls remain in existence. Otherwise, you’ll find stalls dedicated to the sale of knickknacks, traditional herbal medicines, and other plants and food items.

Mausoleum of the 72 Martyrs

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Back in 1911 there was a group of revolutionaries that staged an uprising in Guangzhou. Sadly, they were defeated and subsequently executed and 72 out of the 88 bodies were buried in this mausoleum, which was built in 1918. The mausoleum is a memorial dedicated to their lives and representing the freedom they strove for.

Vitamin Creative Space

Image credit: Philippa Tinsley

The Vitamin Creative Space is a small museum located at the back of a partially enclose vegetable market. It’s not easy to find, which we assume isn’t really great for business, but the artwork inside is some of the most eclectic you’ll ever see. If you like weird and wacky works of art this museum is worth the trip. Make sure you call in advance to make sure they’re open and to ensure someone will be able to meet you at the gates of the market to help you find the entrance.

Guangxiao Temple

[Youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkaxrWOTGkw]

The city of Guangzhou was once surrounded by a large gate and the Guangxiao Temple sits at what was once the front gate. The shrine sits in Yuexiu Park and, along with one piece of wall, represents all that is left of the original structure. Inside you’ll find a model of the city showing how it looked before it was taken over by pollution and industry.

Shamian Island

[Youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyTV1bRaE2Y&feature=related]

In ancient times, foreigners visiting Guangzhou were confined to a series of houses referred to as the Thirteen Factories. After the Opium Wars it became necessary to find a place outside of the city where foreign visitors would be protected from the murderous rampages of locals full of resentment.

Image credit: yunmeng

The solution was to confine them to Shamian Island, which was connected to the city by two bridges that closed after 10pm each evening. The area soon became its own township and trading companies from all over the world built offices and warehouses on the island. After the Revolution in 1949 all of the buildings on the island were turned into factories but many have recently been restored to their original states.

It’s safe to say that those visiting Guangzhou don’t mind dealing with a bit of pollution if it means having access to such diversity and culture. There’s something in this region for everyone, regardless of status or beliefs. Spend at least a little time in Guangzhou during your next trip to China. You won’t be sorry you made the trip!

Posted in Asia

This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 18th, 2009 at 9:13 am and is filed under Asia. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.