Guangzhou is a modern, beautiful🌈 and high-tech🛠️ city with many tourist attractions📸 and high-tech applications. My HKUST university also has its Guangzhou campus.
In addition to my study journey at university and in high school, I would like to introduce and share my home city🏘️, Guangzhou, exploring a range of places, food🌯 and high-tech.
Personally, I enjoy modern✨ design and environment supporting the latest and future technology development🛠️. I also explain in as many details📄 as possible.
Canton Tower View from a Tall Building
The photos and list of my favourite places about Guangzhou were separated↔️, whether in "My Trips" and "About" webpages or social media. By merging🔗 them into this article, you can learn them in one place.
Ken's Study Journey is based in Guangzhou, the city where I live🏘️ and where the main web servers🌎 (i.e., "CN-CAN" server node) are.
It's my great opportunity and pleasure to share the modern and high-tech city🏙️ I live in to the audiences.
Transportation in Guangzhou
Before moving into my favourite things in Guangzhou, whether places of food, let's introduce the transportation system🚃 in Guangzhou first.
The public transportation includes Bus🚌, BRT (Bus Rapid Transit), Metro🚇, Water Taxi🚢, Tram🚃 (in Haizhu and Huangpu districts; see below⬇️), etc.
Guangzhou BRT & Metro
New Concession Scheme
Since 1 September 2023, Guangzhou introduced a new concession🤑 scheme for public transportation🚌🚇🚢 with different threshold levels, depending on how much you have spent in a month:
- 20% off if you have spent 80 CNY within a month; or
- 50% off if you have spent 200 CNY within a month.
The discounts will automatically apply✅ when and after reaching the thresholds. You don't need to collect the subsidy manually.
Make sure you use the SAME Yangchengtong (羊城通) Transportation Card or QR Code Ticket to accumulate the spending value.
Apart from the new scheme, the QR Code Tickets🎫 for bus, metro and water taxi were interconnected together at the same time.
More importantly, you can check your real-time concession status with a progress bar (for example, in the Guangzhou Metro app).
Guangzhou Public Transport Concession Status Progress Bar
About QR Code Ticket
In addition to Single Journey Ticket and Yangchengtong card💳, we can use QR code tickets linking to mobile payment sources💴 (e.g., WeChat Pay, Alipay, e-CNY).
WeChat Pay and Alipay are the 2 commonly used payment sources in the Mainland.
Like tapping cards/tickets, we show the QR code🤳 to machines/gates, where the fare will be deducted from payment sources instead of cards themselves.
In Guangzhou city, we can use Guangzhou Metro or Yangchengtong apps📲 or mini-apps.
Guangzhou Metro
Guangzhou Metro🚇 is my first choice of transportation travelling around Guangzhou city.
It has an increasing number of lines and modern technologies (e.g. Express Train), along with some connections🔗 to other adjacent cities.
You may download the latest system map🗺️ from the Guangzhou Metro website. (subject to change as there will be more lines later)
In addition to QR Code Tickets, you can buy 1 Day Pass or 3 Day Pass🎫 to save money if you take the metro many times in a day or 3 consecutive days (72 hours).
Guangzhou Metro 1 Day Pass (Physical Card)
The number of lines is continuously increasing over the years. Two new sections (Line 5 and Line 7 to the East) were opened on December 2023.
New Lines Opened in Guangzhou Metro on December 2023
2 Branches in Line 3
As I mentioned in my HKUST University Life article, many students messed up⚠️ with the 2 directions in MTR Tseung Kwan O Line, whether to Po Lam or LOHAS Park.
They ended up in LOHAS Park instead of Hang Hau, causing extra travel time.
Similarly, Guangzhou Metro Line 3 has 2 branches: to Tianhe Coach Terminal or Airport North.
Branches of MTR Tseung Kwan O Line and Guangzhou Metro Line 3
Previously, the 2 branches in Line 3 were not logically connected together. This means people (especially those from the Airport🛬) needed to change trains at Tiyu Xilu (3|11) station.
- Panyu Square - Tianhe Coach Terminal (via Tiyu Xilu)
- Tiyu Xilu - Airport North
Since 2019, however, they are connected together✅. This means:
- the trains to both directions (Tianhe Coach Terminal / Airport North) will stop on the same platform
- people from the Airport can go to stations between Zhujiang New Town and Panyu Square without changing trains
For more information, you can refer to the article from Guangzhou Metro (in Chinese) introducing the new connection.
The Line 3 has 2 airport🛫 stations, where Airport South (3|29) is for Terminal 1 (T1) and Airport North (3|30) is for Terminal 2 (T2).
Guangzhou Metro Line 3 History
You should check the directions, whether to Tianhe Coach Terminal or Airport North in the platform TV screens before boarding.
You may refer to the green font colour for trains to Airport North.
Adding the green colour for special trains is to enhance the experience for passengers with short-sight. Learn More
The following announcements (for different trains) may be played when the trains arrive at Tiyu Xilu station.
To Tianhe Coach Terminal: "The interchange with Line 1. Passenger can get off at this station to take Line 3 for Airport North."
To Airport North: "Attention Please! This train is bound for Airport North."
Guangzhou Metro Line 3 Direction TV Sign
Guangzhou Metro Line 3 Directions (Simplified Diagram)
Short Trains
It's commonly seen that the metro🚇 can have short trains to accommodate the need✅ for a very large number of passengers within certain shorter intervals↔️. It's called "小交路" in Chinese.
Check the destination in the platform TV screens📺 carefully before boarding the train.
If you accidentally took the short train, you can simply change to the next train🚉 at its destination.
For Example (subject to change):
- Line 2: Jiahewanggang - Jiangtai Lu
(Standard Train: Jiahewanggang - Guangzhou South Railway Station) - Line 4: Huangcun - Xinzao (can't reach HKUST Guangzhou Campus)
(Standard Train: Huangcun - Nansha Passenger Port) - Line 5: Jiaokou - Sanxi, Jiaokou - Wenchong
(Standard Train: Jiaokou - Huangpu New Port) - Line 6: Xunfenggang - Huangbei
(Standard Train: Xunfenggang - Xiangxue) - Line 7: Jinlong - Shenjing, Meidi Dadao - Jitang
(Standard Train: Meidi Dadao - Yanshan) - Line 8: Wanshengwei - Julong
(Standard Train: Wanshengwei - Jiaoxin) - Line 21: Yuancun - Shuixi
(Standard Train: Yuancun - Zengcheng Square)
TV Display for Short Trains (Line 4 & Line 8)
As well as TV screens, you can also refer to announcements.
On Platform:
- "The train bound for <destination> is approaching at platform <number>."
- For Example: "The train bound for Airport North is approaching at platform 4."
On Trains:
- "The destination of this train is <destination>."
- or "This train is bound for <destination>." (for Line 18 and Line 22)
- For Example: "The destination of this train is Airport North."
Guangzhou Metro Line 4 Short Train (to Xinzao)
Express Trains (New Technology)
In recent years, Guangzhou Metro used a technology, Express Train, where trains can only stop at some stations while skipping💨 others using the hidden track🛤️.
This is very similar to Tung Chung Line (like the Standard Train) and the Airport Express (like the Express Train) in Hong Kong MTR, where the tracks can be merged together along some parts.
Tracks of Express Trains; Tung Chung Line & Airport Express
The Express Trains are available in Line 14, Line 18 and Line 21.
Express Trains in Guangzhou Metro Line 21
You should be extra careful of the TV screen display whether it has "Express (快车)" in green font colour and the Express Station (快车停靠站) signs on platform gates.
Guangzhou Metro Line 18 Express Station Signs
You may hear this announcement📣 in express trains: "This train is express. It only stops at ... ... . Its terminal is ... ... ."
Note: There may be a translation error in some screens, where "普通车" should be translated to "Standard (Train)" instead of "Local (Train)".
For example, Express Trains in Line 18 skip the middle 3 stations between Panyu Square and Modiesha.
Guangzhou Metro Line 18 Express Train Stations
Following the latest technology development, Guangzhou Metro Line 18 and Line 22 can reach the peak speed of 160 km/h
Guangzhou Metro Line 18 Reaching 160 km/h
As well as TV and announcements, we can also refer to the top⬆️ lights above platform screen doors for Line 18 and Line 22 (yellow for standard trains, blue for express trains) when trains arrive.
Yellow & Blue Lights above Platform Screen Doors
APM Line
APM is shorted by Automated People Mover🚟.
In Guangzhou, the APM Line lies along the central axis📏 of Zhujiang New Town, from Canton Tower to Linhexi (from South to North), opened in 2010 (same year as Canton Tower).
Similar to Disneyland Resort Line and South Island Line in the MTR, the APM line uses autonomous driving🤖.
Being transparent🪟 on both sides of the train, children are usually more than excited to see the tracks🛤️ for fun.
The ticket price is around 2 CNY and Guangzhou Metro 1 Day and 3 Day Passes can be used.
Unlike other metro lines, we insert📥 the Single Journey Tickets at the entry gates. The fare is deducted💸 directly at the entry gate for Yangchengtong cards and QR Code Tickets.
Therefore, there is no need to insert or show tickets at exit gates.
You can refer to the last part of my Guangzhou Library study vlog to learn more.
Gates of Guangzhou Metro APM Line
Connecting to Foshan City
Last but not least, Guangzhou and Foshan Metro are connected together🔗 in recent years, with not only Guangfo Line.
Foshan is a city adjacent to Guangzhou. It's also the city where my high school🏫 (studying IGCSE and A Level curriculum🎓) is in.
Both cities are part of the Great Bay Area🌊. By connecting the 2 cities together, it facilitates the rapid development.
Currently, in addition to some high-speed intercity trains🚄, the following 3 lines interconnect between 2 cities, Guangzhou and Foshan:
- Guangfo Line
- Guangzhou Metro Line 7
- Foshan Metro Line 2
Metro Lines that Connect between Guangzhou and Foshan Cities
Guangzhou BRT
Apart from the Metro and regular buses, Guangzhou also has its BRT (Bus Rapid Transit)🚌 established in 2010.
Buses with route numbers beginning with letter "B" are BRT routes using the designated lane🛣️ (for BRTs) on the left side.
Apart from the B1 route with longer car bodies travelling along all BRT stations (between Tianhe Sports Centre and Xiayuan, from West to East; but now extended to Lumingshan Terminal), other routes (e.g., B2 to B31) may travel to regular bus stations outside.
Guangzhou BRT (Near Tianhe Sports Centre Station)
My Favourite Places
There is a range of places I enjoy in Guangzhou with not only tourist attractions.
- Canton Tower
- Huacheng Square (Zhujiang New Town)
- Guangzhou Library
- Party Pier
- Pazhou Internet Innovation Area
- Canton Fair Complex
- Haizhu Square
- Shamian Island
- Baiyun Mountain
- HKUST (Guangzhou Campus)
1. Canton Tower
Among many places in Guangzhou, Canton Tower🗼 is my first choice.
As an iconic skyscraper built in 2010 with 600m high and colourful lights in the heart of Guangzhou city (Haizhu district), it attracts tourists globally.
Due to its slim body in the middle (wide at the top and bottom), people usually call it "小蛮腰" in Chinese.
It lights up at around 19:00 (7:00 pm) at night with colourful lights🌈 on its body, along with some rotating ads at the top.
It not only serves as a tower emitting TV signals but, more importantly, is functional to tourists, including:
- Restaurants
- Observation Deck (exploring the panorama of Guangzhou city at the top)
- Cinema (Movie Theatre)
- Bubble Tram (Ferris Wheel)
Personally, our family have been there several times enjoying the complimentary (free) Observation Deck🪟 after dinner.
You can learn more (and book tickets online🎫) on the Canton Tower official website (English version available).
Canton Tower (View from Huacheng Square)
Discover Knowledge in Real Life - My “Tradition” from 2019
Discovering🔍, applying🔬 and sharing📤 knowledge in real life can help me remember knowledge firmly, teach others and explain real-life phenomena.
This is my invented🌟 study tip in 2019 in middle school. It used to be available in WeChat Moments (among friends) only.
Since 2021, I started inserting knowledge, whether learned in middle school, high school or university, in Green Boxes in my articles📄.
Now, I discovered relevant A Level Physics (9702) Knowledge: Electromagnetic Waves and Visible Light
The wavelength of visible lights (like a rainbow🌈) vary between 7 × 10-7 m (red; longer wavelength) and 4 × 10-7 m (violet; shorter).
A Level Physics (9702) Knowledge: Visible Light Wavelength
Areas around Canton Tower
Some of my favourites are also around the Canton Tower.
In the next few places (see below⬇️), I will move to and explore🔍 the places near the Canton Tower.
There are Haixinsha Square and Huacheng Square (in Tianhe District) to the North⬆️ along the APM Line (crossing the Pearl River).
On the East side➡️ along the Haizhu Tram (Line 1), there are Party Pier, Pazhou Internet Innovation Area, Canton Fair Complex, and so on.
Areas around Canton Tower (Rough Map)
Crossing Harbour (Haizhu & Tianhe)
There is a Pearl River🌊 in front of the Canton Tower, connecting between Haizhu and Tianhe districts, with many bridges🌉 for vehicles, including Liede, Pazhou and Guangzhou bridges.
So, how can we cross the harbour?
Generally speaking, we usually cross the harbour in 3 ways:
- Metro (Line 3 and APM Line)
- Haixin Bridge (for pedestrians only; limited quota)
- Ferry Pier (when travelling to the opposite side)
Being close to Canton Tower, Guangzhou Metro Line 3 and APM line is one of the ways to cross the harbour.
Another way is to cross the Haixin Bridge, a pedestrian bridge on the Pearl River, near the Canton Tower where online reservation☑️ may be necessary (limited quota) at weekends and public holidays🗓️.
Similar to Haixin Bridge, HKU has implemented the Tourist Flow Control with reservation and limited quota since 1 May 2024.
APM Line & Haixin Bridge
Haizhu Tram
Another thing next to the Canton Tower is the Haizhu Tram🚃 Line 1 (THZ1) opened at the end of 2014, travelling along the Haizhu side of the Pearl River, between Canton Tower and Wanshengwei (from West to East).
This allows people to enjoy the riverside view🌊 right on trains without walking along the promenade.
It passes through a number of attractions, including:
- Canton Tower 🗼
- Liede Bridge
- Party Pier 🍻
- Pazhou Internet Innovation Area (Nanfeng station)
- Canton Fair Complex 🏢
- Pazhou Bridge
- Pazhou Pagoda
Haizhu Tram and Liede Bridge
2. Huacheng Square (Zhujiang New Town)
At the opposite side of the Pearl River and Canton Tower, Huacheng Square🌺, in Tianhe District, is my second option.
Along the Zhujiang New Town Central Axis and the APM Line, it comprises many attractions, including:
- Mall of the World (花城汇) underground shopping street
- Haixinsha Square
- Guangzhou Library
- Guangzhou Opera House
- Guangdong Museum
Walking along the Huacheng Square above the APM Line and car park tunnels🚇, you can see lots of colourful flowers💐 and modern screens📺 at lamp posts.
Huacheng Square
In Zhujiang New Town (around Huacheng Square), there are hundreds skyscrapers (tall buildings🏢) providing spaces for company offices right in the city centre.
The Mall of the World (花城汇) underground shopping street contains hundreds of restaurants🥙 and shops🛍️.
Mall of the World at Huacheng Square
3. Guangzhou Library
My third favourite is the modern and knowledgeable Guangzhou Library📚 in Zhujiang New Town, offering a range of materials (e.g., books, audios, digital items).
It;s close to the Guangdong Museum, Guangzhou Opera House and the Guangzhou Opera House station of the APM Line.
Guangzhou Library Outside
4. Party Pier
Moving to the East side🧭 of the Canton Tower, you can see a lot of restaurants just beside the Pearl River and the Haizhu Tram.
It's Party Pier giving people the place to enjoy the food🧆, party🎉, riverside view and fresh air💨 at the same time.
Western Food and Night View at Party Pier
5. Pazhou Internet Innovation Area
By moving East further, there are many high-tech companies🏢, some of which originate from Guangzhou.
Yes. It is the Pazhou Internet Innovation Area, a modern and high-tech🛠️ area in Guangzhou.
In Early 2023 being inspired by the latest high-tech developments and applications (e.g., online shopping🛒, pay by face and hand, autonomous cars🚙 and buses🚌 under trial stage), I enjoyed the tech companies.
Tech Company Headquarters & Autonomous Buses
Later on, I am then fascinated by the on-campus high-tech applications👆 at HKUST, including Path Advisor, and some other modern and high-tech areas in Guangzhou (with autonomous cars🚙), some of which may be under construction🏗️, including:
- Bio Island (Guanzhou station in Metro Line 4)
- Tianhe Smart City (Line 21)
- Sino-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City (Wangcun station in Line 14)
Designated Lanes (Green) for Autonomous Testing Cars
6. Canton Fair Complex
On the Eastern side of the innovation area (by moving East further), it's the Canton Fair Complex.
Canton Fair, formally called China Import and Export Fair, was established in 1957, strengthening the bonds and exchanging↔️ ideas, goods and services among over 200 countries/regions worldwide🌎.
The modern🌟 Canton Fair Complex (here) was established in 2008 with more spaces.
New Canton Fair Complex
Giving convenience to foreigners, there is an English announcement📣 in Guangzhou Metro Line 8 at Pazhou and Xingangdong stations specifically for the Canton Fair. For example:
"To Area B or Area C of the Canton Fair Complex, please get ready for your arrival."
According to some posters at metro stations, WeChat Pay and Alipay welcome foreigners to pay💸 and take metros🚇 like locals.
WeChat Pay / Alipay Welcome Posters
7. Haizhu Square
So, what about the old venue for Canton Fair?
Originally, it was near Haizhu Square (Metro Line 2 and Line 6) and the Guangzhou Hotel (established in 1968).
On the North side⬆️ of the Haizhu Square, it's the Beijing Road Pedestrian Street with many ancient buildings and shops.
Canton Fair Old Venue & Guangzhou Hotel
8. Shamian Island
Apart from the historical buildings near Haizhu Square, I also enjoy Shamian (a small island) with a range of useful ancient buildings.
Shamian Island, Guangzhou
9. Baiyun Mountain
Finding opportunities for mountaineering, Baiyun Mountain⛰️ is one of my choices enjoying the fresh air💨 and natural view (despite the very cheap ticket🎟️).
Guangzhou Baiyun Mountain
Similarly at university (HKUST), lying on a mountain⛰️ and being close to the sea🌊, I can climb from the bottom to the top along the car pathway.
My Daily Exercise Route on HKUST Campus
10. HKUST (Guangzhou Campus)
Last but not least, I enjoy the modern, green and sustainable Guangzhou Campus of my university (HKUST) opened in 2022 in Nansha District near Dongchong station of Metro Line 4.
Unlike the Clear Water Bay (Hong Kong) Campus I am studying at🧑🎓, its Guangzhou Campus may not be an open campus🚪 where visitor registration📝 may be necessary.
While the Clear Water Bay Campus may not be close to an MTR🚇 station, we still can take direct bus routes🚌 (10-minute ride) to the nearest one (Hang Hau station).
For more information, you may refer to the last part of this page.
Whether for Guangzhou or Clear Water Bay campuses, be careful⚠️ of directions/destinations for metro🚇 back to campus.
Guangzhou Campus: Guangzhou Metro Line 4 (Nansha Passenger Port (via Dongchong) / Xinzao)
Clear Water Bay Campus: MTR Tseung Kwan O Line (Po Lam (via Hang Hau) / LOHAS Park)
HKUST (GZ) Campus Environment
Food in Guangzhou
Apart from the places, I also enjoy the Guangzhou local cuisine🥙 like Guangzhou Morning Tea.
Guangzhou Morning Tea
Among different types of cuisines, the first thing coming to my taste is the Guangzhou Morning Tea🍵🫖.
It contains a range of food, including Tea☕️, Shaomai (烧卖), Noodles🍜, Egg Tart, and so on.
The restaurants are not only the place for eating and enjoying food. By the way, people usually chat💬 with each other (like hanging out with friends).
Personally, our family irregularly enjoys the Guangzhou Morning Tea among a range of restaurants🏢 and hotels🏨, such as Weekly (周记) and Tancha (叹茶靓点).
Guangzhou Morning Tea
Steamed Rice Roll
Apart from the Guangzhou Morning Tea, I also enjoy the Steamed Rice Roll.
It's made of rice milk cooked under steam♨️ with a range of content, including egg🍳, meat, mushroom🍄🟫, BBQ pork🥓, and so on.
It's usually cooked as a breakfast🧇 with some well-known restaurant brands around the city, like Yinji (银记; since 1958) and Liyin (荔银).
Steamed Rice Roll
In recent months (in 2024), the Steamed Rice Roll started to be available in one of the restaurants (LG1; Can.teen II) at our university (Hong Kong Clear Water Bay Campus).
Steamed Rice Roll at our University Restaurant
Thanks for Reading!
These are the details, including transportation🚇, places and local cuisine (food)🥙 I would like to share in my Guangzhou city.
In addition to my travelling routes, my useful study techniques🛠️ and habits📝 are available on my website. You can explore them if you want.
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