Sights and landmarks in Guangzhou

358 sights worth seeing in Guangzhou: landmarks, galleries, monuments and viewpoints.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first. Showing the top 40 of 358.

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

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
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
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
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
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
SeeTianhe
Guangzhou Opera House
广州大剧院
Opened in 2010, this venue was designed by Zaha Hadid and is known for its architecture.
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
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
SeeNorth and East
Yuntai Garden
云台花园 Yún-tái-huā-yuán
Situated at the foot of Baiyun (White Cloud) Mountain and is famous for its wide variety of rare flowers and trees. There are also seasonal exhibits (additional admission).
Closed · opens 8 am¥10 · Entry 10 CNY
SeeNorth and East
Baiyun Mountain (White Cloud Mountain)
白云山 Bái-yún-shān
Is a great place to relax and enjoy a day among lush, rolling hills. It also offers great views over the city. The road to the top in most of the daytime is restricted to park trams and pedestrians. To get to the top lookout point, you can use the main roads or trails. There are many places to rest and refreshments are available along the way. It is a great place to see people enjoying nature and playing games, such as shuttlecock, badminton, football and even bungee jumping. There are many bus routes to and from different parts of the city, as well as taxis usually available near the park gate.
Open 24 hoursPark entrance ¥5; Cable car round trip ¥40; tram from ¥20; other attractions ¥5–10; packages available from ¥25
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.
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
SeeTianhe
South China National Botanical Garden
华南国家植物园, previously known as the South China Botanical Garden 华南植物园
Large botanical garden affiliated with the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
07ː30-17ː00¥20 (general admission); ¥50 (greenhouse)
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
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
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
SeeTianhe
Shipai Village
The largest urban village in Guangzhou. An "urban village" in China is a village that has been swallowed up by the expanding city, while still retaining its village population and culture.
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
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
SeeYuexiu
Haixin Bridge
Guangzhou’s first pedestrian-only bridge over the Pearl River, linking Ersha Island with Tianhe. Opened in 2022, its sleek white curves and sweeping river views make it as much a photo spot as a shortcut.
SeeYuexiu
Guangzhou Zoo
Extensive zoo, seems well-run. It incorporates Guangzhou Ocean World 广州海洋馆, with over 200 kinds of fish and other rare ocean creatures.
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
SeeArt museumYuexiu
Guangzhou City Art Museum
广州美术馆 Guǎngzhōu Měishùguǎn
This impressive gallery has more than 10,000 pieces of art work, including calligraphy, traditional Chinese paintings, sculptures and Tibetan Buddhist art (Thangka).
¥10 with visit to Guangzhou Museum (See Yuexiu Park)
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
SeeTianhe
Grandview Museum of Natural Science
正佳自然科学博物馆
A privately owned museum dedicated to the natural sciences. It displays a variety of rock and fossil specimens, including dinosaur fossils.
Mon-Fri 10:00-20:00, Sat Sun 10:00-22:00, no entry in last 30 minutesStandard tickets are ¥88; children under 1.5 meters and seniors aged 65 and over pay ¥48
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
SeePanyu and Nansha
Nansha Tianhou Temple
南沙天后宫
Dedicated to the sea goddess Mazu, whose formal title is Tianhou, meaning Queen of Heaven. The temple was founded during the Ming Dynasty and destroyed during the Second World War. It was rebuilt in 1995 with funding from a Hong Kong businessman.
Closed · opens 8:30 am¥20
SeeNorth and East
South Sea God Temple
南海神庙
Said to be the largest temple in China dedicated to the South Sea God.
09:00-17:00, no entry after 16:30, closed on Mondays¥10
SeeNorth and East
Yuanxuan Taoist Temple
圆玄道观
It includes three Taoist buildings in one complex: Sanqing Hall, Taihe Hall and Yuanchen Hall. Sanqing Hall is the most architecturally important of the three structures, while Yuanxuan Taoist Temple has carvings of divine beings. The central hall is covered by yellow glazed tiles and decorated with the bright images of Yuqing, Shangqing and Taiqing, the three authoritative deities in Taoism.
Closed · opens 8 am¥20

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