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Historic places in Guangzhou

135 historic buildings, sites and memorials in Guangzhou.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first. Showing the top 40 of 135.

Canton Tower, Guangzhou
Photo: jiang-wen-jie, CC BY-SA 3.0 (licence)

Historic places in Guangzhou

  1. SeeHistoric siteHaizhu

    Canton Tower

    广州塔

    It was the tallest structure in China prior to the topping out of Shanghai Tower. It is 595.7 m high, and it's now the third tallest tower and the fifth-tallest freestanding structure in the world. It has indoor public observatory at 433 m and outdoor observation deck at 450 m. In additions to the observation decks, the tower features various restaurants, a 4-D theater and other entertainment venues. At the top, the Bubble Tram consists of sixteen transparent passenger cars travelling on a track round the edge of the tower's roof, taking between 20 and 40 min to circumnavigate the rooftop.

    Closed · opens 9:30 am¥150 - ¥566

  2. 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

  3. SeeArchaeological museumYuexiu

    Museum of the Western Han Dynasty Mausoleum of the Nanyue King

    西汉南越王博物馆

    This is a tomb for the king of ancient South China during the Western Han era.

    Closed · opens 9 am¥12 · Limited wheelchair access · Entry 10 CNY

  4. SeeMuseumTianhe

    Guangdong Museum

    广东省博物馆新馆

    The new museum is located in Zhujiang New Town, not to be confused with the old Guangdong Museum (in Yuexiu District near Metro 1 Peasant Movement Institute Station). This is the biggest museum in the city. It has exhibits Guangzhou's history, culture, science and nature.

    Tue-Sun 09:00-17:00Arrive early as admission is limited to 5,000 per day. Personal ID is required to obtain free tickets at ticket office · Wi-Fi · Wheelchair accessible

  5. SeeMuseumLiwan

    Chen Clan Ancestral Hall

    陈家祠 Chén jiā cí

    This is very well preserved architecture from the 19th century, and one of the finest surviving examples of traditional Cantonese architecture. It used to belong to a wealthy family with the surname Chen and now is a museum that houses many articles including ivory sculptures and artistic statues. Watch for the beautiful rocks in the backyard and the incredibly intricate roof carvings.

    Daily 08:30–17:30¥10 for adults; ¥5 for seniors 60-65 and students; free for children under 18 and seniors over 65. Foreigners need to present their passport to buy tickets · Entry 10 CNY

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. SeeYuexiu

    Dafo Temple (大佛寺)

    Big Buddha Temple Dàfó Sì

    An impressive and large Chan temple with a history of over one thousand years (though it has been destroyed and rebuilt a number of times). It is one of the five largest temples in Guangzhou.

  9. 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

  10. 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

  11. SeeYuexiu

    Temple of the Five Immortals

    五仙观 Wǔxiānguān

    A historic temple built to commemorate the folk legend of the “Five Immortals,” preserving Guangzhou’s rich history and cultural heritage.

    Tue-Sun 09:00-17:00¥5

  12. 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

  13. 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

  14. SeeMuseumLiwan

    Liwan Museum

    荔湾博物馆

    Liwan Museum is a local museum documenting the history, culture and traditional lifestyle of Liwan and Xiguan, one of Guangzhou's historic areas. The museum is housed in a traditional Xiguan-style historic building and is a useful stop for learning about Guangzhou's local heritage.

    Closed · opens 9 am¥5

  15. 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

  16. 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

  17. 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

  18. 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

  19. 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

  20. SeeYuexiu

    Ancient City Wall

    Built in 1380, the city wall used to surround the entire city. But in the early 20th century it was torn down for redevelopment, except for a 1-km long section in Yuexiu Park. The wall reaches up to 10-m high. In some parts, there are trees growing from the top of the wall with their roots spreading picturesquely down the wall.

  21. BuyYuexiu

    Beijing Lu Pedestrian Street

    北京路步行街 Běijīng lù

    This is the main shopping thoroughfare, a pedestrian street where most stores are open from 09:00-22:00. Avoid individuals who solicit pirated DVDs and imitation goods. Don't follow anyone into the small dark alleys in between buildings to see their goods. There's been a road here for many centuries, and enclosed in glass you can see the ruins of gates and brick roads from dynasties past, below the current street level.

  22. BuyLiwan

    Qingping Market

    清平市场

    It is a great place to go for exotic goods. The modern front of the market has quite a few stalls selling dried herbs used in Chinese Medicine. The real charm here lies just behind the modern exterior. The modern exterior is built onto a series of old historical narrow alleyways with shops selling herbs. You may see exotic animals for sale.

  23. 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

  24. DrinkYuexiu Not mapped

    Elephant and Castle

    British style pub serving Kilkenny, Guinness and a variety of bottled and draft beers. Prices are reasonable for the area, especially during Happy Hour.

    22

  25. SeeYuexiu Not mapped

    Taoist temple

    Five Fairy Taoist temple is in Hui Fu Xi Lu of the center of Guangzhou. It is the historical markers of that Guangzhou has been founded 2000 years.

  26. SeeHistoric siteYuexiu

    Sanyuan Temple

    三元宫 Sānyuángōng

    This is the largest and oldest Taoist temple in the city.

  27. SeePanyu and Nansha

    Baomo Garden

    宝墨园

    Rebuilt in the 1990s from a destroyed ancient garden.

    Closed · opens 8:30 am¥45

  28. SeeHistory museum

    Site of The 1st National Congress of Kuomintang of China

    The Site of the First National Congress of the Kuomintang is the Clock Building on Wenming Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou. The First National Congress of the Chinese Kuomintang was held in the auditorium of the building from January 20 to 30, 1924. The Luxun Memorial Hall is also located here.

    Closed · opens 9 am

  29. SeeHistoric building

    广东省财政厅

    北京路376号

    Built 1919

  30. SeeHistory museum

    Canton Custom House

    Closed · opens 9 amFree entry · Wheelchair accessible

  31. SeeHistory museum

    Archaeological Site Museum of Nanyue Palace

    316 中山四路

    Closed · opens 9 amFree entry · Wheelchair accessible

  32. SeeMuseum

    周恩来同志主持的中共两广区委军委旧址

    中共两广区委军委旧址位于广州市越秀区万福路190号，是一座始建于1922年的骑楼建筑。1926年5月至1927年4月，这里曾是中国共产党广东区委军委办公和周恩来、邓颖超居住的地方。

    Heritage listed

  33. SeeHistory museum

    Site of the "Quell the British" Corps at Sanyuanli

    Heritage listed

  34. SeeMemorial

    Cemetery of 72 Martyrs of Yellow Flower Mound

    Closed · opens 6 amHeritage listed

  35. SeeMemorial

    邓氏宗祠

    《广州市地名保护目录（第一批）》 -- 40. 龙涎里邓氏宗祠[Lóngxiánlǐ Dèngshì Zōngcí] 位于海珠区龙凤街道辖内。始建于清道光十四年（1834），原规模较小，邓世昌牺牲后受政府优抚，其后人于光绪二十年（1894）将抚恤金一部分改建而成。因地处龙涎里，为纪念邓世昌而设立的祠堂，故名。坐北朝南，中路三间两进，青云巷两侧为厢房，四角建角楼，前院有照壁和门楼，占地面积约3500 平方米。1994 年在邓氏宗祠建立邓世昌纪念馆。广东省文物保护单位。

  36. SeeArchaeological site

    Archaeological Site of the Wooden Watergate of Nanyue Kingdom

  37. SeeHistory museum

    Lingnan Finance Museum

    29 流水井

    Closed · opens 9 amFree entry · Limited wheelchair access

  38. SeeRuins

    西门瓮城遗址

  39. SeeHistory museum

    10,000 Tree Cottage

    3号 长兴里

    Closed · opens 9 am

  40. SeeHistoric building

    广州市消防局旧址

    Built 1927

Browse all 1,526 places in Guangzhou

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