2Guangzhou

Your visit to Guangzhou, China will not be complete unless you take a tour of the Guangzhou Zoo. This is one of the best places to see a huge variety of animal species under one roof. Be it carnivores or herbivores or birds, you will find them all here - that too amidst natural surroundings. The total area of the zoo is about 430,000 square meters, which is why it can easily provide enough space to more than 5000 animals who can roam freely and comfortably. Along with two other zoos, this one features in the list of the three largest zoos in China - the other two being the Beijing Zoo and Shanghai Zoo.

The Guangzhou Zoo is located in the eastern side of the Xian Lie Zhong Road. The zoo has undergone various developmental works in the past 50 years, which have helped it to expand its area and become more suitable for the animals. The authorities here have tried to create conducive environment according to the needs and behavioral habits of each species.

Inside the zoo, you will find three separate districts namely the Bird Paradise, Garden of Reptiles and Amphibians, and the Central Exhibition District. This division will help you concentrate on all kinds of animals. You can also choose any particular division and explore the same. The Bird Paradise has over hundred different kinds of birds and fowls. The most notable among them are the black-necked crane and the black swan. As the name suggests, the Garden of Reptiles and Amphibians has a good number of fish and reptile species.

The Central Exhibition District basically has all the mammal populations, including both carnivores and herbivores. The animals that you will find here are giant panda, golden haired monkey, lions, giraffes, dogs, tigers, rhinos, hippopotamus, elephants, deer, and zebras. Recently, there have been some new additions to this list. The new attractions that have got the tourists' fancy are the Goldfish Garden, Dinosaur World, Animal Performance, Butterfly World, and Lake Scenery.

The Goldfish Garden boasts of a collection of about 10,000 goldfishes that include both famed and unknown species. In fact, there are almost 100 species of the fish available here. The Animal Performance includes some excellent shows that involve lions, dogs, monkeys, horses, and tigers.

If you move even further into the Zoo arena, you will come across a lake where various birds come to swim. The lake also consists of a pavilion that will help you sit and enjoy the serene scenery. The springs and smalls islands increase the visual appeal of the place. The Dinosaur World is the right place to get more information about those animals and their time. If you want to see the beauty of butterflies, then the Butterfly World is the ideal place for you.

The opening timings of the zoo are from 8 am to 4:30 pm. You can access it from any part of the city. In case you haven't had the time to arrange a transport in advance, you can hire a cab as there are plenty of them around.

The Guangzhou Zoo is one of the most scenic places in China. So, don't miss a visit to this place.

The landmark of a city tells a lot about its culture and lifestyle. With the moving tide of time, landmarks also undergo transformation. The Canton Tower, alternatively known as Guangzhou TV and Sightseeing Tower, is one of the most prominent landmarks of the city. Apart from representing the modernized life of the city, this 610 meters tall structure is the tallest tower in the world. Of this total height, the antenna itself is 156 meters tall. The tower is strategically placed in the business area of Guangzhou, China.

Towering over the other buildings in the vicinity, the TV tower is also known by its local nickname - Xiao Man's waist. The allusion here refers to a famous Geisha who used to entertain people during the reign of the tang Dynasty. She was appreciated for her slim waist. Justifying the comparison, the tower has a twisted and tight appearance in the middle part.

Located in the southern part of the Pearl River, the tower was created based on an award winning design prepared by Mark Hemel and his wife Barbara Kuit. The husband-wife duo worked for Information Based Architecture, a company in Amsterdam. The structure is divided into 5 zones, which are A, B, C, D, and E.

Zone A houses the Food Street, Integrated Services Hall, Multi-functional Exhibition Hall, Retail Stores, and Conference Rooms. Zone B, on the other hand, has a 4D cinema hall. If you go to Zone C, you will find the observation and adventure area. The most popular attraction of this area is the spider walk. If you have had enough of roaming, and you are already feeling tired, you can go to Zone D to relax in the cocktail lounge. It is in this zone that you will find the broadcasting chamber of the TV.

Reach Zone E and you would have reached the right place to take a glimpse of the city of Guangzhou. It is in this zone that you will find the two observation decks. It is the top level just below the antenna, and is about 450 meters from the ground. Apart from the observation points, you will also find a VIP Chinese Restaurant and a French and Mediterranean Buffet Revolving Restaurant.

Zone E also has a post office, which has the distinction of being the highest post office in the world. You can enjoy various rides in the Entertainment Adventure facilities section. The rides here include Hair Raiser and Bubble Cars. An outdoor observation deck and two science education halls are present in this zone.

In addition to all its facilities, the tower is famous as an environment friendly and energy saving construction. There is something extra for adventure lovers as well. You can climb to the top, and enjoy a ride on the Ferris Wheel. It is actually the roof of the tower. You can jump into any one of the 16 transparent cars and enjoy a half-an hour ride. The Gravity Machine is another attraction of the place. It will drop you from the highest mast so that you can have an experience of the gravitational pull. Sounds interesting? Well, it's worth a try.

So, visit the tower to have a great time, and enjoy the experience of watching the city of Guangzhou from an entirely different perspective.

A serene environment, aptly suited for the Buddhist way of life, surrounds the Bright Filial Piety Temple. It is one of the major Guangzhou attractions that you will come across during your stay in the city. This ancient Buddhist temple has a history that is about 1,700 years old. If the rumors are to be believed, this temple was founded even before the establishment of this city. As per an order issued by the State Council, this temple is known as a Key National Cultural Preservation Site.

This Buddhist temple has a very interesting history. It was built during the reign of the Western Han Dynasty, and served as a lecture hall and private house. The residential facility was used by Zhao Jiande of the dynasty, who was the son of Zhao Tuo. But once the Southern Song Dynasty came into power, the temple became a place of worship for the Zen Buddhist monk. This was during the time period of 1127-1279 AD. Since then, this temple has been a residing place for many Buddhist scholars and monks, who have dedicated their life for translating sutras and spreading the message of Buddha all over the world as well as China. The most famous monk who has ever stayed in the temple was Hui Neng. He was the sixth master of the Zen Buddhist sect. It was in this temple that the monk was initiated to the religion.

This Chinese temple has four halls, namely Mahavira Hall, Heavenly King Hall, Sixth Ancestor Hall, and Samgharama Hall. The Mahavira Hall or the Great Hall is the oldest of these and was built in the year 401 AD during the reign of the Eastern Jin Dynasty. However, successive rulers and royal families made significant changes, thus helping the expansion of the hall. This hall is considered to be the best architectural creation in the southern part of China, and has influenced other such temple designs in the rest of China. Inside the temple, travelers will find three Buddha statues.

The Heavenly King Hall too has its own historical importance to boast of. It is believed that the Spring of Washing Bowl is the place where Bodhidhamma, the first guru of the Zen Buddhism, washed his bowl. It was built in the year 527. But the hall's most prized possession is the Helen Stele, which is about 380 years old. You should also take a look at the Dharani pillars that has the etchings of Mahakaruna Dharani Sutras.

The Sixth Ancestor Hall has a giant statue of Master Hui Neng. You will also find a Bodhi tree just behind the hall, and Yifa Pagoda, an octagonal structure, built in the memory of the Master. The Buddhist temple also had the East Iron Tower and the West Iron Tower. However, only the East Tower survives today and has about 1000 shrines. This Chinese temple is also home to what it calls the Grief Bell that is rung during the prayer meetings.

This Buddhist temple remains open from 6 am in the morning till 5:30 pm in the evening. In order to grasp the beauty and the historical significance of the Bright Filial Piety Temple, you should have sufficient time in hand. Buses are available from various parts of the city and you will have to get down at Renmin Beillu stop to visit it.

The commercial pedestrian street of Shangxia Jiu Lu is truly a shopper's paradise. Located within the old town portion of Xiguan, it has more than 300 shops for you to indulge in. Shopping in Guangzhou is truly a delight with such infrastructure in place. This portion of the city is one of the older parts and boasts of an interesting fusion of early European influence on the Chinese culture. A few of the older buildings, which have been renovated, not only house retail stores, but are also interesting architectural sights.

Among the recommended Guangzhou shopping guides, the Shangxia Jiu Lu Pedestrian Street holds a lot of merit. Goldsmiths, cotton traders, shoemakers and silk and satin stores compete with each other to attract your attention. The colorful display of wares is bound to catch your eye as the shimmer and glitter of the products act as lures for potential customers. The mix of stores from big brand names, local retail stores, chic accessory shops, old established wholesale dealers to department stores selling almost everything, there is a lot on offer to draw the crowds.

Of all the shops in Guangzhou, long standing stores such as the Guangzhou Clothing store, Hats Store, Heming Shoes, the Yong'an Department store and the famous Dalu watch shop see brisk business everyday from local people and foreigners alike. Open shops selling fresh farm produce from the nearby Guangzhou areas are always crowded with eager customers who prefer buying the best and fresh raw ingredients for cooking.

A walk down the Pedestrian Street shopping area of Guangzhou lets you experience the traditional charm of Guangzhou through interaction with the charming shop owners of the district. This small pedestrian mall is also fascinating as one can see the magnificent architectural wonders of the Lingan culture. Tourists travel to the Shangxia Jiu Lu Pedestrian Street to absorb the sights and sounds of the various shops which line the street.

There are also several well known restaurants and eateries located along this shopping haven. They provide authentic and mouthwatering delicacies to recharge your batteries during your shopping sprees. The Pedestrian Street enjoys international reputation as both business men as well as tourists crowd the streets. While shopping in Guangzhou, be sure to search for rare finds such as jade knick knacks, traditional silk garments, Guangzhou color porcelain, traditional Guangzhou sculptures made of jade, wood and zengcheng olive, embroidered cloth and especially, cured meats.

The Shangxiajiu Lu Pedestrian Street in Guangzhou, China, is the ideal place for tourists to spend their weekend. One can come and spend hours here shopping for some unique items that boast of the fine and rich cultural heritage of native Guangzhou.

The wide variety of items sold here means that there is enough to satisfy every member of the family. What's more, you can even sift through the wide range of items on display to buy some souvenirs for friends, business associates and other family members. Whatever be your preference and taste, the Shangxia Jiu Lu Pedestrian Street would never disappoint you.

Gangding Business Zone of Tianhe District is very famous in computer and IT (Information Technology) industries. Actually, Gangding is the extension of the Tianhe Business Center. With the Pacific Computer City, Galaxy Computer Plaza and other commercial units won great success business in this area, Gangding became a unique business center dealing with computer and IT products.

In addition, many stores, spa, restaurant and entertainment venues gained ground in Gangding including Shi Pai Dong Lu Shopping Street, Galaxy Cinema, California Red Karaoke Box, etc. More and more visitors from the city as well as from all over the country shop around in Gangding business zone. Gangding became one of the busiest shopping areas in Guangzhou city.