Guangzhou event weekends: what to do between sessions

Southern China's trade capital and home of Cantonese food and the Canton Fair.

Events we cover in Guangzhou

Arriving

Baiyun airport (CAN) is on metro line 3, 45 minutes to Tianhe. Hong Kong is 1 hour by high-speed train.

Where to stay

Three hotels we would book

• Budget: Hanting Hotel Guangzhou Pazhou
• Mid-range: Langham Place Guangzhou
• Splurge: Four Seasons Hotel Guangzhou

Event weekends sell out early and prices rise as the date gets closer: book a cancellable room as soon as you know you are going.

Tours

Where to eat

• Panxi Restaurant Dim sum in a garden
• Shamian Island cafés Colonial island

With kids

• Chimelong Safari Park.

Rainy-day backups

• Guangdong Museum.

Free things to do

• Shamian Island.
• Yuexiu Park.

Getting around

• Metro line 8 serves the fair (Pazhou and Xingangdong stations).