Modern Guangzhou

While Kyoto is known for its cultural heritage with numerous palaces, shrines and temples spread all over the city, Guangzhou has gone through modernization in the early nineties, and turning into an ultra-modern city showcasing futuristic architectures and fabulous Metro system.

The subway cars in NYC are usually crowded during rush hours; Guangzhou’s metro is packed with people no matter what time and day it is. While the stations are impressive with escalators and elevators for the convenience of the riders, it is the system that is so easy to use for any new travelers to the city. Like Kyoto, directions and locations are clearly mark so that passengers know where they want to go.The way in is always patrol by police with explosive detectors, use on all passengers (with bags) heading into the stations.

Satellite city within the city is amazing, for instance Baiyun Park has modern high-rises, museum, library, shops and recreational parks built to accommodate the ever demanding young affluent Chinese. As I was absorbing the wonderful experience walking along a walk lane, my flip flop snapped. With one flip flop on one foot, I felt silly but I didn’t care as I was enjoying the walk at this fabulous township.

I saw some amazing architecture in Guangzhou, notably Guangzhou Opera House, Canton Tower and the Public Library. Designed by Zaha Hadid, a well-known British Iraqi architect, the Opera House is also known as “Double Pebble”, a unique twin-boulder design set within an exposed granite and glass-clad steel frame. With contrasting color of one white and one dark grey boulder-shaped next to another, they do look amazing from afar.  

Next is the Canton Tower, with both indoor and outdoor observatory at its top two floors. The outdoor observatory has bubbled passenger cars, travel on a track round the edge of the tower’s roof. Night scene is amazing as it gives me a perspective of how big the city really is as the city lights stretch as far as the eyes can see. 

Guangzhou Public Library is a work of art. It’s the world’s largest open-stack public library with a large atrium as inviting a a window display at Bergdorf during Christmas. The 10-story building has gleaming passageways that connect one side to the other which reminds me of a shopping mall rather than a library. It probably wants people to feel welcome, and encourage them to browse and borrow books to read. 

Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street is an interesting place to go shopping for fake designer brands from shoes to clothes. The quality of these products are so good that it just feels wrong not to buy any. There are restaurants and street snacks alongside with shops that sell waxed ducks and Chinese sausages. Towards the end of the pedestrian street, there are 2 buildings selling nothing but jades and other gem stones and crystals. Prices range from dirt cheap to thousands of dollars. I never knew the varieties and colors available for these stones until I visited this place.

Guangzhou is the third largest city in China. It certainly gives a glimpse of China to any visitors coming to county for the first time. With its modern skyscrapers, it is an example of alpha city of the world. Yet the cultures and arts are well preserved in places like the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall and The Temple of the Five Immortals. Roast sucking pig and Taiye chicken are among the specialities the city is being known for, they are not just delicious but delicacies in this part of China. 

Only one word of cautious, do not order any pork wonton from any street vendor or coffee shop as there is a chance you might get a very strong pork smell from the wonton!