Free things to do in Guangzhou

45 places in Guangzhou with free entry or no charge, based on guide listings and map data.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first. Showing the top 40 of 45.

Photo: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence)

SeeHistoric siteYuexiu
Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall
中山纪念堂 Zhōngshān Jìniàntáng
Dedicated to the founder of the Republic of China and local hero Dr. Sun Yat-Sen. It was constructed in 1931 and built on the original site of Sun Yat-sen's presidential office on Yuexiu Hill.
Closed · opens 8 amAdmission is free for the park and ¥10 to go inside the hall · Limited wheelchair access · Built 1931
SeeYuexiu
Yuexiu Park
越秀公园 Yuèxiù Gōngyuán
The largest urban park in China and is a lush green area that flows over acres of hills and includes several lakes. It includes the Ming Dynasty Zhenhai Tower (镇海楼) zhènhǎilóu, now home to the Guangzhou Museum with relics on five floors dating back 5,000 years ago and an up-to-date miniature of modern Guangzhou. ¥10. 09:00 - 11:30, 13:00 - 17:00. Also check out the Stone Statue of the Five Rams (五羊石像), the symbol of Guangzhou (See Understand).
Closed · opens 6 amFree · 72 m high
SeeHistory museumYuexiu
Guangdong Revolutions History Museum
广东革命历史博物馆
Sun Yat-Sen was sworn in here in 1921 as the president of Republic of China. The museum tells stories from the Opium War to the founding of the new China.
Closed · opens 9 amFree · Free entry
SeeYuexiu
Shishi Sacred Heart Catholic Cathedral
石室圣心大教堂 Shíshì Shèngxīn Jiàotáng
Built in the 1860s, it is one of the oldest church structures in the city, and the largest of its kind of Southern China. It is used for worship.
Mon-Fri 08:30-11:30 and 14:30-17:30; Sat Sun 08:30-17:00Free
SeeYuexiu
Ersha Island
二沙岛 Èrshādǎo
Ersha Island is an attractive upscale area with lots of green open space. Towards its east end are the Museum of Art and the Concert Hall, see listings.
Open all dayFree
SeeArt museumLiwan
Cantonese Opera Art Museum
粤剧艺术博物馆
Cantonese Opera Art Museum is a museum dedicated to Cantonese opera. It features exhibition halls, a theatre and traditional Lingnan-style gardens, showcasing the history, culture and artistic traditions of Cantonese opera. The museum is located beside Lizhiwan Creek in the historic Liwan District.
Closed · opens 9 amFree · Free entry · Limited wheelchair access
SeeHistory museumYuexiu
Peasant Movement Institute
农民运动讲习所 Nóngjiǎngsuǒ
This is the site of Communist training center founded by Mao Tse-tung in the 1920s. Now it is a museum covering China revolutionary history.
Tue-Sun 09:00-16:30Free
SeeModern art museumYuexiu
Guangdong Museum of Art
广东美术馆 Guǎngdōng Měishùguǎn
It focuses on contemporary Chinese art with particular emphasis on Guangdong artists. Personal ID is required to obtain free tickets at ticket office. Visitors are limited to 3000 a day. Admission fee for special exhibits.
Tue-Sun 09:00-17:00Free · Wheelchair accessible
SeeNorth and East
Former Site of Huangpu Military Academy
黄埔军校旧址 Huángpǔ Jūnxiào Jiùzhǐ, Huangpu is also spelled Whampoa
The original Military Academy was founded in 1924 by Sun Yat-sen, with support from the Chinese Communist Party and the Soviet Union. The mission of the Academy was to create an officer corps for the new Chinese Republic. Many famous Chinese war heroes were trained here. The original site was destroyed by the Japanese in 1938. Two exhibition halls on the Campus of the Academy cover the History of the Academy with English translations. Unfortunately the other exhibition halls, such as Heroes of the Academy, do not have English translations. The site is far from the city center.
09:00-18:00, no entry after 18:00, closed on MondaysFree
SeeHistory museumYuexiu
Canton-Hong Kong Strike Memorial Museum
省港大罢工纪念馆
Museum dedicated to the Canton (Guangzhou)-Hong Kong Strike of 1925-1926, the largest and longest general strike in modern Chinese history. The museum is housed in the building where the strike committee was based.
09:00-17:30, no entry after 17:00, closed on MondaysFree
SeeLibraryTianhe
Guangzhou Library
广州图书馆
Opened in 2013, this building is known for its architecture.
09:00-21:00, some sections close at 17:30; not open on WedFree · Wi-Fi · Wheelchair accessible
SeeRailway museumLiwan
Guangzhou Railway Museum
广州铁路博物馆
The museum occupies what used to be the Guangzhou South Railway Station, a station on the old Guangdong-Hankou Railway, which used to be known as Huangsha Railway Station. It is the largest railway museum in South China.
09:00-17:00, no entry after 16:00, closed on MondaysFree
SeeMonumentYuexiu
Guangzhou Martyrs' Memorial Garden
广州起义烈士陵园 Guǎngzhōu Qǐyìlièshì Língyuán
This park is dedicated to those who fought and died in the Communist Uprising in 1927.
Closed · opens 6 amFree
SeeHistory museumYuexiu
Guangzhou Uprising Museum
广州起义旧址纪念馆
The Museum is at the site of the first Communist government building.
Tue-Fri 09:00-12:00 and 13:30–16:30; Sat Sun 10:00-16:30Free
SeeMuseumLiwan
JinLun Guild Hall
锦纶会馆
A historic guild hall built in 1723 for Guangzhou's silk-weaving industry. It is located near Hualin Temple in Liwan District and preserves traditional Lingnan architecture and historical inscriptions.
Closed · opens 9:30 amFree
SeeLiwan
Liwan Lake Park
荔湾湖公园
Liwan Lake Park is a large urban park in the historic Lizhiwan area of western Guangzhou. The park features several lakes, traditional Lingnan-style gardens, bridges and pavilions, offering a good place to experience the landscape and cultural atmosphere of old Guangzhou.
Open all dayFree
SeeMuseumHaizhu
Memorial Museum Of Generalissimo Sun Yat-Sen's Mansion
孙中山大元帅府纪念馆
18 Dongsha St, Fangzhi Road (纺织路东沙街18号)
Tue-Sun 09:00-16:30Free
SeeHaizhu
Chen Liji Museum of Traditional Chinese Medicine
陈李济中药博物馆
Visitors are required to make a booking before visiting the museum. On most days, the museum only accepts group bookings. Weekends are reserved for visits by groups of 10 or more persons. Individuals may visit the museum on Wednesdays and special open days.
Mon to Fri, 09ː00-12ː00, 14ː00-16ː30Free
SeePanyu and Nansha
Guangzhou Oriental Museum
广州东方博物馆
Visitors are required to make an appointment at least one day before visiting the museum.
09ː30-12ː00, 13ː30-16ː30Free
SeeNorth and East
Memorial Museum of the 1911 Revolution
辛亥革命纪念馆
A museum about the Xinhai Revolution of 1911, which led to the overthrow of the Qing Dynasty and the birth of China's first republic.
09:00-18:30, no entry after 17:45, closed on MondaysFree
SeeNorth and East
Memorial to the Sanyuanli People's Struggle Against the British
三元里人民抗英斗争纪念馆
Built in the early Qing Dynasty, this was originally a Taoist temple. Today it is a memorial museum dedicated to the Sanyuanli Incident, a military engagement that took place in 1841 during the First Opium War. Although from the British point of view, this was nothing more than a minor skirmish, the incident is seen in China as deeply significant because rather than being a clash between regular forces, it involved what appeared to be a spontaneous uprising of the local people who decided to take on the British army on their own using swords, pikes and whatever weapons they could get their hands on. The museum is administered as a branch of the Guangzhou Museum.
09:00-17:30, closed on MondaysFree
DoTianhe
Tianhe Sports Center
天河体育中心 Tiānhé Tǐyù Zhōngxīn
A large sports complex in the centre of Tianhe District, with a stadium, gymnasium, swimming facilities and other sports venues. It has hosted major sporting events including the Asian Games and National Games, and is also used by local residents for exercise and recreation.
Closed · opens 9 amFree
SeeMuseumYuexiu
Guangdong Overseas Chinese Museum
广东华侨博物馆, Guangdong Museum of Chinese Nationals Living Abroad, Chinese Emigrant Museum
Documents China's diaspora principally in the Americas.
09:30-17:00, no admission after 16:30, closed on Mondays (public holidays excepted)Free · Free entry · Wheelchair accessible
SeeTianhe
19th Route Army Martyrs Cemetery
十九路军淞沪抗日阵亡将士陵园
Dedicated to the many members of the Kuomintang-led 19th Route Army who died fighting the Japanese during the January 28 Incident in Shanghai in 1932. Since most of the deceased soldiers and officers were originally from Guangdong Province, their bodies were taken here for burial. The cemetery includes a memorial hall and a museum.
Closed · opens 6:30 amFree
SeeNorth and East
Former Residence of Hong Xiuquan
洪秀全故居 Hóngxiùquán gùjū
The former home of the quasi-Christian leader of the Taiping Rebellion that resulted in the death of about 20 million people during the late Qing dynasty. Shortly after failing the imperial examinations on multiple occasions, Hong Xiuquan became delusional and claimed to have received visions in his dreams that he was the younger brother of Jesus Christ destined to overthrow the Qing Dynasty and establish the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom in Nanjing as its capital.
09:00-17:00, closed on MondaysFree
SeeYuexiu
Huanghua Gang Commemoration Park
黄花岗公园 Huánghuāgǎng Gōngyuán
This is a park that will set you in a poignant mood. The main attraction is the monument built to commemorate the 72 martyrs who died during the 1911 uprising.
Closed · opens 6 amFree
SeeLiwan
Temple of 500 Genii
华林寺 Huá Lín Sì
This Is the temple where the Indian monk Bodhidharma, who brought Chan (Zen) Buddhism to China, first settled when he arrived by ship from India.
Free
SeeYuexiu
Liurong Temple
六榕寺 Liùróngsì
The Temple of Six Banyan Trees, which includes the 17-story, eight-sided Hua Ta, or Flowering Pagoda, is one of the most popular attractions in Guangzhou. The temple dates back to the 6th century, while the pagoda predates it by about 300 years.
Free
SeeLiwan
Renwei Taoist Temple
仁威祖庙 Rén wēi zǔ miào
Historic Taoist temple built in the traditional Cantonese architectural style, with many intricate carvings and mosaics on the roof of the temple buildings. Unlike the Chen Clan Academy, this is still an active temple.
Free
SeeNorth and East
Guangzhou Maritime Museum
广州海事博物馆
Gangqian Road, Huangpu District (黄埔区港前路)
09:00-17:00, no entry after 16:30, closed on MondaysFree
BuyLiwan
Link Plaza Guangzhou
领展购物广场·广州
No. 8, Huangsha Avenue
Closed · opens 10 amFree entry
SeePanyu and Nansha
Panyu Museum
番禺博物馆
121 Yinping Road (银平路121号)
09ː00-17ː00, closed on MondaysFree
BuyLiwan
Yong Qing Fang
永庆坊
No. 99, Enning Road
Closed · opens 9 amFree entry
SeeYuexiu
Guangzhou Sculpture Park
广州雕塑公园 Guǎngzhōu Diāosù Gōngyuán
Tongxin Road at the foot of Baiyun Mountain
Free
SeeHistory museum
Canton Custom House
Closed · opens 9 amFree entry · Wheelchair accessible
SeeHistory museum
Archaeological Site Museum of Nanyue Palace
316 中山四路
Closed · opens 9 amFree entry · Wheelchair accessible
SeeArt gallery
Guangzhou Museum of Art
Closed · opens 9 amFree entry
SeeHistory museum
Lingnan Finance Museum
29 流水井
Closed · opens 9 amFree entry · Limited wheelchair access
SeeHistory museum
Guangzhou Overseas Chinese Museum
183 沿江西路
Closed · opens 9 amFree entry
SeeTechnology museum
Guangzhou Youth Science and Technology Museum
42 西胜街
Closed · opens 9:30 amFree entry

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Guangzhou (CC BY-SA 4.0). Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Place data from Overture Maps.