Guangzhou Travel Forum

Hi all:

I have a question regarding Guangzhou. I will be arranging an afternoon tour in Guangzhou for 25 North Americans ( they are here on a business conference ). We will have our own private bus for the day. Below are questions that I have. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

1. Approx. driving time between Humen & Yuexiu Park in Guangzhou.
2. The three things that I have on the list to see are i) Six Banyan Tree Temple ii) Chen Family Temple ( Chen Jia Ci ) iii) Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall

Is it possible to see all three or two of the three in 3 or 4 hours. Can you walk from one to another or are they too far. Of the two temples which is more significant to see ( in case we run out of time )

3. Is Beijing Lu close to these sights ( again, can we walk or is it too far )

4. Finally, are there any recommendations for restaurants close by Beijing Lu?

Thanks in advance for your input.

I have travelled between Humen and Guangzhou - usually an hour ride. Of course, once in Guangzhou, depending what time and where, you have to deal the traffic jam. Yuexiu Park is great with a lot of walking and interesting to see how the locals relax but it is no Suzhou or Hangzhou.

Guangzhou, as you know, is not very touristy. Eating is probably the best thing to do there. Depending on your budget, there are many great eating places in beautiful settings.

Beijing Lu is a fun pedestrian street but crowded. Going to one of the largest malls may be an alternative. I particularly like the White Swan Hotel especially at night along the Pearl River.

One eye opening place of course is the wildlife market. Can be kind of disgusting but to understand that Cantonese can eat almost anything. Get a local tour guide to keep things interesting.

1) Probably 2 hours, depending on traffic conditions.
2) Don't plan on walking. It's easy to travel between Chen Jia Ci and Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall, they're only 3 stops apart on the metro. Look on http://www.frommers.com/images/destinations/maps/jpg/3390_guanzhou.jpg for a Guangzhou map that shows you all 3 destinations plus the metro system. Probably figure on about 45 mins each for Chen Jia Ci and Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall, and 30 mins for Six Banyan Tree Temple. And don't forget to factor in the dilly-dallying time for 25 people!
3) Use the metro and then walk.

Sun Yat-sen memorial hall is at the south end of Yuexiu park. Its metro station is Jinian tang (line 2). Beijing lu starts from Gongyuanqian metro (lines 1 & 2)and runs down to haizhuguangchang (line 2)(beijing lu metro under construction). Beijing lu is full of big name stores, much like any other city anywhere.

Better shopping in the area around tiyu xilu (line 1).

Chenjiaci is at the metro station of that name, two stops west of gongyuanqian on line 1. I don't know where/what is the 6-banyan tree temple.

You can take an evening boat trip on the Pearl River. Dinner is available, but I don't know how good (or how bad!) I haven't been taken to enough restaurants to recommend any!

First, you can go through all this position by metro.i)Six Banyan Tree Temple is near the XiMenKou station on metro line 1. ii) Chen Familiy temple is above the ChenJiaCi station on metron line 1 too.Just 1 station from XiMenKou. iii) Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall is near the ZhongShangJiLianTan station on metro line 2. iv)Beijing Lu is near the BeiJinLu station on metro line 2.
All this position is just 1 or 2 station from another.
Secondly, if you didn't have enough time ,you can just vist Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall better than Chen Familiy temple.Because Sun Yat-Sen is the Father of China.
Finally, I just can tell you it's no good restrurants near Beijing Lu .So you can go to the BaiTianE hotel, the greatest restrurant beside the Pearl River.

The top priority for me among the 3 sites would be Chen Jia Ci, marvellous architecture.

Thank you all for your input.

I think I will do a dry run the week prior so I can determine time/distance for these sights. I appreciate all your help. The main factor was driving time and it seems that 2 hours door to door is reasonably conservative which will allow us enough time to enjoy the trip.

Thanks again.

Beijing Lu metro station will open in 2010 and will be on line 6. Right now it's just a big hole.

Six-banyan tree temple, Liurong, is a short walk from Sun yat-sen memorial, on the way to Chen Clan Academy. Not even as far as Ximenkou metro station.