3 Days Guangzhou History & Culture Experience Tour
An In-depth Encounter with over 2200 Years’ History
An In-depth Encounter with over 2200 Years’ History
To catch the spirit of a city, the best way is getting off the beaten path and breaking the normal rules to immerse in historical and cultural discovery! With a history over 2200 years, Guangzhou has much to see and explore.
Upon the fall of the Qin Dynasty (221-206BC), General Zhao Tuo established his own kingdom of Nanyue and made Panyu its capital in 204BC. You’ll find original site and historical relics in Museum of the Mausoleum of the Nanyue King, tracking back to vivid life at that time! Head to the oldest landmark of Guangzhou - Flower Pagoda in the Temple of the Six Banyan Trees to catch history in Tang Dynasty and Song Dynasty! When on the island of Shamian, you’ll read the trade history from the Song to the Qing Dynasty and later Shamian turned into the colony forming the Museum of European Architecture! With huge contrast of Shamian, Xiguan Ancient Houses tells the story of traditional Lingnan folk houses built by wealthy businessmen in late Qing Dynasty. Have a look at Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall to learn the contemporary history of China. Of course, you won’t miss to witness the modern side of Guangzhou in Zhujiang New Town to feel the power of development of Guangzhou! Stories will never end and how about opening the thick book and reading it by your steps?
Day 1 Guangzhou Arrival
Flight / Train to Guangzhou
Ni Hao! Welcome to Guangzhou, the third largest city in China. Upon arrival, you will be met by your local guide at the arrival hall of the airport or train station. Then, be escorted to check in your hotel in downtown by a private comfortable car. The rest of today is on your own to explore this modern metropolis. If you want to explore nearby, feel free to get some practical suggestions from your tour guide.
Arrival Ideas: Guangzhou is a large international city with great transportation connections including many international and domestic flights to and from. Furthermore, high speed trains are quite convenient from most domestic cities including Hong Kong (about 1 hour), Shenzhen (0.5-1.5 hours), Guilin (2.5-3.5 hours), Guiyang (4-6.5 hours), Beijing (8-10 hours), Shanghai (7-8.5 hours), Chengdu (9-10 hours), Xian (8-9 hours), Hangzhou (6-7.5 hours), and so on.
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport
Day 2 Guangzhou (B, L)
Chen Clan Ancestral Hall - Temple of the Six Banyan Trees - Yuexiu Park - Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall - Huacheng Square
After breakfast, your local guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel. First, visit the must-see Chen Clan Ancestral Hall which is regarded as the largest, most beautifully decorated and best preserved traditional ancestral temple in Guangdong Province. Roam among the tranquil houses and courtyards built during 1888-1894 to discover its architectural origin and find out whether it was an ancestral hall or an academy for the Chen Family in Guangdong initially. Since it is famous as the “Pearl of Lingnan Architectural Art”, you will taste the super exquisite colorful decorations of vivid patterns of various flora and fauna, figures and immortals to feel the highly skillful construction and decoration of Lingnan people and know their typical folk culture and best wishes of harvest and prosperity in ancient China.
Later, pay a short visit to the Temple of the Six Banyan Trees. With a history about 1500 years, this temple is one of the birthplace of Chinese Zen Buddhism where you can have a simple understanding about Chinese Buddhism. Walk leisurely and admire the 57.6-meter octangular brick-wood Flower Pagoda and see some exquisite Buddha statues.
Afterwards, be transferred to Yuexiu Park - the largest city park in Guangzhou. Stroll leisurely in the verdant park to see the Five Rams Statue from which you will savor the interesting legendary story of the five rams and know why Guangzhou is called the “City of Rams”. Then, continue to appreciate a five-storey ancient structure in red - Zhenhai Tower which was changed as Guangzhou Museum. Have a brief learning about Guangzhou’s over 2000 years’ history and if you like, climb up the tower to get a bird’s-eye view of Guangzhou city. Then, move your steps to the nearby Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall which was built in memory of the great revolutionist Sun Yat-sen. Enjoy the Chinese and Western combining styled octagon-shaped main building in bright red and blue from outside. Enter the hall to know Dr. Sun deeper with excellent exhibitions of his biography and contribution to the country and people, and get a simple learning about the contemporary history of China in the 18th - 19th centuries. Before leaving, admire the 5.5-meter tall bronze statue of Dr. Sun outside in the yard and show your respect to this world famous great Father of the Nation in China.
After the historical exploration, be transferred to the urban central axis in Zhujiang New Town to see the modern cityscape of Guangzhou at Huacheng Square. Have a leisure stroll between the glittery skyscrapers and peculiar shaped modern buildings to feel the fast development of this metropolis. Most importantly, appreciate the slim outline of the iconic Canton Tower on the opposite bank of Pearl River.
Evening Optional Experience: Enjoy the 70-minute fascinating Pearl River night cruise and soak in the wonderful sightseeing of lights and neon of historical architectures and new modern towering buildings to feel the pulse of this developed city. You won’t miss the Canton Tower during the cruise.
Day 3 Guangzhou & Guangzhou Departure (B, L)
Museum of the Mausoleum of the Nanyue King - Xiguan Ancient Houses - Shamian Island - Qingping Market - Guangzhou Departure
After breakfast, your guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel. The first stop today is to visit Museum of the Mausoleum of the Nanyue King which was built at the real tomb site of Zhao Mo, the second King of Western Han Dynasty 2000 years ago. The tomb is the largest and the best preserved color-painted stone chamber found to date in the Lingnan region in South China. Discover the burial chamber and appreciate the precious historical relics found there in the exhibition halls to learn the culture, history, economy, etc. of Lingnan area. Among all the 1,000 pieces of cultural artifacts, you won’t miss the spotlight “Jade Burial Garment” which is made up of 2291 pieces of jade, and also a collection of over 400 delicate ceramic pillows.
Later, be driven to Xiguan Ancient Houses in Liwan District to see the representative traditional Lingnan architecture of ancient Guangzhou which had been built by the wealthy businessmen during the Qing Dynasty. Get into the old houses and know the local architectural characteristics and style from its plane layout, arcade formation and section to trivial decoration. Furthermore, move your steps to Cantonese Opera Art Museum well designed in the style of Lingnan garden to learn history and development of Cantonese Opera.
After that, have a break and enjoy the specially arranged Cantonese lunch and dim sum in one of the best reputed local restaurants along Shangxiujiu Pedestrian Street area to know why Cantonese food is so famous and popular around the world. (Note of Today’s Lunch: Cantonese food is arranged as lunch of Day 3, and it can be adjusted on Day 2 of this tour according your needs. If you are interested in other kinds of food, please tell your needs to your guide directly.)
Later, be transferred to see the quite different Shamian Island where over 150 European styled old buildings from the colonial period from 19th century are well preserved for a nice savory. Take a relaxing walk in the strongly exotic street block in emerald and imagine the past life and changes of Guangzhou told by those historical remains.
The last stop today is to visit Qingping Market to find out how Cantonese people do for daily regimen. Have an interesting exploration through the 2000 stalls, browse different kinds of Chinese herbal medicines and other exotic ingredients and be overwhelmed by the sights and products.
After the tour, your guide and driver will escort you to the airport / train station to catch the flight / train to your next destination or home. Service ends!
1. This price is for one person, based on a group of 2 adults sharing one standard double-bed room in a 4-star hotel and traveling with our private tour in low seasons. It will drop greatly if your group has 4 or more members.
2. This price is subject to change according to your traveling season, month and date. There may be huge price increasing during public Chinese holidays, school summer vacations, tourism peak seasons or some special dates. (China Public Holiday 2025 Schedule Released)
3. Other factors that may change the final tour price include group size, hotel class, tour activities, fluctuation of currency exchange rate, etc.
4. This price is based on exchange rate USD 1=RMB 7.00. The final price will be based on the exchange rate in effect at the time of agreement with our quotation.
5. This price is only valid to March 31, 2026.
6. This price is not the final price until the Confirmation Letter is sent.
7. The items included and excluded in this price are for reference only. The final services included, please refer to the confirmation letter sent to you by the travel consultant.
Hi Phoebe,
MUST TO VISITS are Panda Base and Jinli Street!
文君WenJun Hotel is very good. Its meals are delicous with good variety. Service is attentive with personal touch.
Tour guide speaks clear and fluent English, able to explain very well.
Driver's attitude is good and friendly, with steady driving, up to expectation.
Your service is very good and standard already.
Eugene
Hello Reya,
Yes we are at the airport awaiting our flight. We have had a wonderful trip, both Xian and Beijing were so interesting and amazing. Our guide Eric has recommended some other cities so we may return to China next year. If we need a tour I will book with your company again.
Many thanks
Bellis
Hi April,
Just want to take a moment to say Thank you very much for your help with my Datong Tour.
The tour is very amazing, especially my tour guide Star.
Thanks again.
Nguyen
Hi Rita,
Marianne and I enjoyed the trip in Dec 2024 very much and we would like to visit China again in Nov 2025 from 2 to 8 Nov. This time, there will be 5 people and we would like to visit Zhang Jia Jie and the old town.
Thank you
Rgds
Catherine
Good Morning Mr. Wang,
Overall, I rate the tour as excellent.
1) Communication was clear, prompt and excellent.
2) Tour arrangement, driver and tour guide (Excellent), Mercure Hotel (excellent), Hotel in Snow Town (I do not know the name) is OK at best (a bit disappointing).
3) I will definitely recommend you and your company to friends.
Best of luck and Happy New Year (lunar).
Hanh
We are one of the few China travel agencies who have kept active and received lots of feedbacks and reviews during pandemic years!
"Highest Standards of Quality and Honesty" is the core value of each specialized team at China Discovery.
Eveyone in our company is working hard for only one goal, which is to ensure the highest level of service, luxury, and attention to detail from the minute you begin planning your trip, to the day you return home.
Our travel consultants are professional, experienced and responsible, helping you from the very beginning to the end of your China trip!
After sending us an inquiry, one of our travel consultants will get back to you within 0.5~23.5 hrs. In the next few days, he/she will be working closely with you to formulate a customized tour plan, as well as providing professional suggestions based on your travel interests, time, and budget.
Beside, he/she will keep in contact with you during your entire tour in China, continually checking if everything is going well as planned.
We're working at Chengdu Bamboo International Tours, local based in Chengdu.
Our local guide in every destination is not only very friendly, enthusiastic but also very informative and knowledgeable.
Once you arrive in the destination, the patient and punctual guides will pick you up and take you to get under skin of the city at your own pace. By in-depth discovery and explanation, they’ll show you more about the history, culture, customs and authentic local life. Throughout the journey, they're not only expert guides who take care of all the details but also fellow travelers who are dedicated to help you explore in comfort and style.
Our guides are passionate about what they do, and it shows all the way!
Using our private transfer service makes you comfortable, relaxed and worry free all the way!
Our private service includes licensed drivers with many years’ driving experience and air-conditioned, non-smoking, clean and well-maintained cars/vans. Drivers are local, polite, friendly and helpful, taking you to your tourist sites, hotels, airport/train stations in safety. All kinds of vehicle are offered, and yours depends on the size of your group. Usually, we offer sedan cars, SUVs, business vans (MPV) and different types of buses, all with extra space for your luggage.
Our private transfer service guarantees you the highest comfort!
In each destination, you’ll enjoy a comfortable stay in a great location!
The hotels we choose are based on star rating, great locations, well-equipped facilities, cozy bed, high quality service and guests’ feedbacks. Choices are a lot ranging from luxury 5 star, comfortable 4 star to budget 3 star. You could decide where to stay to best suit for your budget and likes. Generally, the hotels have both Western and Chinese breakfast with a wide choices.
If you have already got an ideal hotel, please feel free to tell our travel consultants and they'll book the hotel for you.
Have good sleep in our well-selected hotels in all the destinations of China.
We can satisfy all the dietary requirements no matter you want Chinese local food, western food, vegetarian food or muslin food.
The restaurants we will take you for lunch or dinner are all designated tourist restaurants approved by local tourist administration bureau. They have very good sanitary conditions and the food is prepared fresh and clean.
There will be some meals excluded in your itinerary as you like, and your private guide will be delighted to give you some suggestions and take you to the local restaurants to taste like Beijing Roast Duck, Xian Dumpling Dinner, Sichuan Hotpot, etc., if you are interested in local food tasting.
All the dining options will satisfy your stomach!
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport
Yuexiu Park Five Rams Statue
Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall Guangzhou
Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family
Temple of the Six Banyan Trees
Huacheng Square - To See Stunning Guangzhou Skyline and Canton Tower
Jade Burial Garment at Museum of the Mausoleum of Nanyue King
European Styled Historical Architecture at Shamian Island
Various Kinds of Cantonese Dim Sum
Xiguan Ancient Houses
Cantonese Opera Art Museum
Qingping Chinese Medicine Market
Guangdong Province including Guangzhou area applies to the 240-Hour Transit Visa Exemption. Citizens of 54 countries who hold an ordinary passport with at least 3 months of validity and an onward flight, train, or cruise ticket to a third country (or region) within 240 hours can transit in designated areas of 24 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities in China’s Mainland for up to 240 hours without a visa. With the new policy, you are allowed to travel across provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities within the permitted stay areas. For example, you could fly into Guangzhou and then visit cities like Shenzhen, Beijing, or Zhangjiajie, as long as your total stay does not exceed the 240-hour limit.
China also has many other visa-free policies, such as 30-day visa free, APEC holders visa free, etc. Check more information »
As one of the busiest transportation hub cities in China, Guangzhou is connected with the world with many international flights to and from countries including America, Australia, Canada, France, Netherlands, New Zealand, Russia, India, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, etc. Besides, high speed bullet trains are well served to and from most domestic cities like Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Shenzhen, Guilin, Guiyang, Chengdu, Chongqing, Xiamen, Wuhan, Changsha, etc.
Guangzhou situated in southern China is suitable to visit all around the year. The best time for tourists is from March to early May and from September to December when sunny days appear most and comfortable temperature around 24℃ can be easily enjoyed. Also, lots of flowers are blooming to beautify this city for a better traveling mood. However, It changes some cold with humid during January and February. And high temperature and reason period occur more during June and August. Umbrella and sunblock are advised anytime to Guangzhou.
Since Guangzhou is a super modern and prosperous city, countless hotels, hostels and homestays from extremely luxury, like Sheraton, Shanri-La, Crown Plaza, Ritz Carlton, Four Seasons, etc. to real budget can be easily found. Top international brands gather most in Tianhe District where you can also savor the very modern cityscape of Guangzhou. Yuexiu District and Liwan District have most tourist attractions, and various kinds of accommodations are offered with relatively better prices. If you visit Guangzhou for Canton Fair, Pazhou and Haizhu District is a wise choice with a lot of high standard 4-5 star hotels and comfort ones. Besides, a series of good and cozy hotels are arranged around Baiyun International Airport in Huadu District for your convenient early flight catching.
Eating in Guangzhou! There are quite diverse kinds of food, such as traditional Cantonese cuisines, morning tea with delicate dim sum, Cantonese old fire soups, sea food, snacks along the streets… All the meals of this tour can be arranged flexibly according to your likes and needs. Besides, if you want to enjoy other kinds of food like American food, French food, Italian food, Japanese Sushi, Southeast Asian food, Sichuan food, etc. Just tell your guide directly!
The itinerary of your Guangzhou trip can be tailor-made according to what you like and how much budget you are planning. For most visitors, Chen Clan Ancestral Hall is the top one to admire excellent architectural arts and culture of Guangzhou and whole Lingnan area, Yuexiu Park tells you how Guangzhou changes to a city and about her nickname, Shamian Island keeps the look of Guangzhou during the period of war, and Huacheng Square as well as Canton Tower show the nowadays brand-new prosperity of this trading city. If you like, you can choose to ascend Canton Tower to have a bird’s eye view of Guangzhou. No matter you are businesspersons, family with kids, culture lovers, foodies, you can be fully satisfied in Guangzhou.
Guangzhou is served the first gateway city in Guangdong Province that most travelers would arrive in Guangzhou first and then make a trip to its surrounding destinations. To extend you tour longer to explore stunning cultural highlights, it is a good idea to spend 1 day in Foshan (the center of Lingnan Culture, Lion Dancing, Kung Fu Martial Arts), 1 day in Shunde (the origin of Cantonese Cuisine), 1 day in Jiangmen (Kaiping Diaolous & Villages), or 1 day in Shenzhen (fast development with incredible Shenzhen speed), etc. Tell us which destinations you like and we can arrange the trip for you.
As there are quite a lot of popular tourist destinations in China and Guangzhou has really convenient transportation by air, railway and road with them, you can totally consider traveling beyond Guangzhou to catch more beauty, culture, history and other highlights of this vast country, such as the imperial constructions and great wall in Beijing, amazing and remote Terracotta Warriors in Xian, subtle Karst landform view in Guilin, world-class fascinating skyline and shopping paradise in Hong Kong, to name but a few. Please feel free to tell us any idea you are thinking about, and our professional travel expert from China Discovery will help you plan your Guangzhou China trip with sincerity and rich experience and knowledge!
Guangzhou / Foshan
Guangzhou / Kaiping
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