Day 1 Arrive in Guangzhou

Arrive in Guangzhou in the morning, you will be met and transferred to hotel, then visit Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall. The Memorial Hall is a very famous historical scenic spot. It is in memory of Sun Yat-sen, the great revolutionary forerunner. After that proceed to visit the Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family. It is a unique site for offering up sacrifices to worship ancestors of 72 Chen families in Guangdong. This ancestral temple is also the largest, best preserved and best decorated ancient architecture existing in Guangdong province.

Day 2 Guanzhou Tour 

After breakfast, you will go to Yuexiu Park first, the largest and the most famous park in downtown Guangzhou. There are three artificial lakes and seven hills of Yuexiu Mountain. Then you will visit Temple of Six Banyan Trees, which is one of the four best Buddhist temples in Guangzhou and located on the Liurong Road (meaning the Six Banyan Trees Road). The Nanyue King Tomb Museum is a must-see Guangzhou attraction, which dates back to 2,000 years ago, is the earliest large scale painted stone chamber tomb ever found south of the Five Ridges. Buried with the tomb owner in a jade shroud are a gold seal and a lot of exquisite jade adornments. It has become a world famous museum. After the day tour you will be transferred to airport for your next destination.

Chinese new year, the most important festival for chinese. Many staff will have 7 days vacation, which can make good use of these day to travel and have relax. Most customers from Synotrip contact me whether to be their tour guide and interpreter during the new year .I was born in Guangzhou ,my hometown is Guangzhou, I know the culture of Guangzhou and Guangdong the best, that's why so many clients choose me to their interpreter.

One of clients contact me from Synotrip, now we become friends. He is obsess with chinese martial art and Bruce Lee, so he decide to come to China to follow the step of martial idol. 

He ask me to plan a “discovery of martial art” trip for him. No doubt that Foshan, which is renowned for its martial art form, is the best place to him. In fact, the city of Foshan can be called the birth place and home town of this particular martial art form. The notable celebrity are Ip Man, Bruce Lee, and Wang Fei Hong who is a legendary martial art master and doctor and seldom foreigner know him.

We plan to visit Ip Man memory hall in Ancestral Temple first, after that, go to Bruce Lee ancestor house. Actually, we can go Ancestral Temple by metro from Guangzhou. There is a Guangfo line connected Guangzhou and Foshan, which it is more convenience for the people of two city. But considering the distance from Guangzhou East to Foshan, tight schedule, and the place of Bruce Lee ancestor house is a remote village hard to get there by public transportation, we decided to rent a car for traveling.

My friend arrived at about 9:30 am at Guangzhou East station,and after picking him up we headed to Ancestral Temple. The Foshan Ancestral Temple is commonly called Zumiao. It is a Daoist temple, museum, and exhibition center. The architecture, decor and articles on view in Foshan Ancestral Temple are remarkably refined, and are part of the unique historical heritage of Foshan. 

Because my friend is a martial art fans, so we directly to the Ip Man memory hall.Ip man, a man dedicated to a Wing Chun, is a famous Chinese martial art master, had been a master of Bruce Lee. Bruce Lee learn Wing Chun and develop it in his Jeet Kune Do. In the museum, you can see a likeness of Ip Man, martial arts training equipment, and a plaque with information about him.

There is another memory hall for famous legendary martial artist and doctor named Wang Fei Hong. In this place,we also see a chinese traditional customs performance ---lion dance.

We are so deep addicted to enjoying the time in the Ip Man hall and lion dance without noticing that it comes to the afternoon. We need to head to next place - Bruce Lee Ancestor House, which it take one hour to arrive from temple.

Bruce Lee who is considered by many as the most influential martial artist of the 20th century, and an important cultural icon. He used Wing Chun, as his base, learned from the influences of other martial arts, and later created his own martial art philosophy — Jeet Kune Do.

The Bruce Lee Ancestral House located in Jun'an Town is another site for Bruce Lee fans to visit.Built by his grandfather, Lee came back to the house once and lived in the house for only a few days. Even though we only just saw the furniture and the introduction of him and his family, we still felt exciting stand a place which Bruce had been lived.

We spent a great day to feel the martial art culture and gorgeous historical building in Foshan. My friend is pretty good impressed and said that he must would share this experience to his martial art friend when he go back to UK.

Route:
White Cloud Mountain——Ersha island——Hoi Sham Sand, Guangzhou Tower——Chen Clan Temple (have lunch)——Yuexiu Park——Beijing Road——Pearl River Night Cruise (have dinner)——Bar Hopping——Lodging

First station: White Cloud Mountain

Tour the White Cloud Mountain, which is known as Yang Cheng First Show since ancient times. White Cloud Mountain, which is the top of new “Yang Cheng Eight Sights”, is located in the northeast of Guangzhou city. It is one of the South Guangdong famous mountains, and is known as "Yang Cheng First Show” since ancient times. The main peak Mount Davis is 382 meters, of which the ridges and peaks overlapping rise and fall, and the mountain streams are intersected. You can view the whole city and the Pearl River when you climbing the mountain. It is recommended to take electric car or cable car when going downhill.  It is splendid that white clouds hung over the mountains when it clears up after the rain or in late spring. There are three top scenic spots in China, which are respectively: the biggest park garden in China——Yuntai Garden; the largest natural bird cage in China——Sound Spring Valley; the biggest thematic sculpture theme park——Sculpture Park.
You had better go to the White Cloud Mountain in early morning because morning has most ion. The food on the halfway and the peak are different. The beancurd on halfway is one the most special foods of White Cloud Mountain. It is said that the water of White Cloud Mountain spring is used to make bean curd, which tastes fresh and smooth for a lone time.
Ticket: 5 yuan
Opening time: 24 hours
Traffic: Take a bus and get off at Baiyun Cableway Station, White Cloud Mountain West Gate, and Institute of Foreign Languages.

Second station: Ersha Island

We will go to Ersha Island, which is also called Two Sand Head. Ersha Island is a shoal of the Pearl River with the water around the island. It is the most typical fields of fortune. Surrounded by vast green land, Xinghai Music Hall has a statue of People's artist Xian Xinghai at the gate with various statues of artists scattered around. The appearance of the music hall is unique, and it looks like a swan trying to fly on the river bank, blending with the blue sky and green water. The Guangdong Library on Yanyu Road of Ersha Island is adjacent to Xinghai Music Hall on the west, connects with grassland on the north and links with the Pearl River on the south. IIt is a home spiritually.
Traffic: Take a bus and get off at Xinghai Music Hall (Traditional Chinese Medical Ersha Branch Hospital).

Third station: Hoi Sham Sand, Guangzhou Tower

We will go to Hoi Sham Sand and Guangzhou Tower, which are opening ceremony venue and closing ceremony venue of Guangzhou Asian Games. Someone says that there is no doubt to tour Guangzhou from Hoi Sham Sand leading to IN and enjoy the scenery along the axis. Hoi Sham Sand, which is called "New Name Card of Guangzhou Tourism", is located on shoal in the center of the Pearl River and on the main north shipping lane of the Pearl River. It is surrounded by water, and there are no fences around. It is also a crossing point of Guangzhou city: east-west direction is the axis that sees the history of more than 2000 years of the old city Guangzhou, while the south-north direction is the axis that Guangzhou greets the development of the future.
Guangzhou New TV Tower, known as “Highest Tower in the World”, is 610 high and has the functions of touring, broadcast television tower and cultural entertainment, etc. People in Guangzhou prefer to call it “thin waist”. Overlooking from a high level, you can clearly see the “New Axis of Guangzhou City”, Guangdong Provincial Museum, Guangzhou Grand Theatre, and Guangzhou West Tower Building, with a full view of a vigorous and prosperous modernized metropolis. The 450 meter tower top, which is a sightseeing square in the air, has already been installed with 16 viewing cabins in the sky. Each Cabin could only hold 6 passengers at most. It costs about 20 minutes for one circle around the tower top, and is more convenient for you to overlook the Guangzhou city. By the end of 2011, passengers who have the duplicate invoice of China southern airlines boarding card to Guangzhou can enjoy 80% discount of the adult price in all areas of Guangzhou Tower.
Hoi Sham Sand ticket: fees vary according to different time periods, that is, 20 yuan before 18:00 and 30 yuan after 18:00. The children below 1.2 meters get a free pass, and the elderly priorities of over 65 years, active soldiers, demobilized soldiers and the handicapped can get a free pass with relative certificates; children of 1.2 to 1.5 meters should buy half-price tickets, and 60 to 64 years old elderly priorities could buy half-price tickets with relative certificates; primary school students and middle school students can enjoy 80% discount with their certificates.
Opening time: 9:00--22:00
Traffic: Take a bus and get off at Hoi Sham Sand; take the subway to get off at Sports Center Station D2 and transfer from Ti Yu Xi Lu C to get off at Zhujiang New Town Station B, or get out from Chigang Pagoda Station and transfer for APM line to get off at Hoi Sham Sand Station.
Guangzhou Tower ticket: ticket for 32 storey (162.8 meters) is 50 yuan each at a time, ticket for 66 storey (339.6 meters) is 100 yuan each at a time, and ticket for sightseeing hall on the highest part 84 storey (433.2 meters) of the main body is 150 yuan each at a time.
Opening time: 8:00--23:00
Traffic: Take the subway to get off at Zhujiang New Town Station or Chigang Pagoda Station A.

Fourth station: Chen Clan Temple

After feeing the modernization of Guangzhou, we will go to Chen Clan Temple called Guangdong folk art museum, which gathers the Lingnan culture. Chen Clan Temple is the clan hall of Qing dynasty. It was called Chen academy, located in Seven Road in Zhongshan. The temple is large and well decorated, and it is a representative civil building in late Qing which is fully reserved in Guangdong. It was selected into the new century Yang Cheng Eight Sights, named as “Ancient Temple Leaves Fragrance”.
Chen Clan Temple was built from fourteen years of Guangxu emperor in Qing dynasty (1888) and was finished at twenty years of Guangxu emperor in Qing dynasty (1894), and covers an area of 15,000 square meters. The main body of the building consists of five parts, three sets, nine halls and six yards with a coverage of 6400 square meters. Its axis is a line of the gate, Juxian hall and rear base through Qingyun lane, porch, corridor, courtyard, and it is a group of 19 structures. The doors, windows, shields, walls, fences, beam frames and ridges of the whole construction are matched with various delicate artworks, such as wood carvings, stone carvings, brick carvings, grey sculpture, clay sculpture, ceramic sculpture and copper iron castings. It is an integral whole with the magnificent hall. There are more than ten kinds of precious relics, such as ceramics, embroidery and graves, and the folk crafts representing the Lingnan folk customs, which has great value of research and appreciation. If you like classical or historical things, you will feel the classical artworks you buy are really valuable.
After wandering for a whole morning, we will have something to eat. There are many flavor restaurants near Chen Clan Temple. If you want have a taste of the native food of Guangzhou, you can go to the old and famous Panxi Restaurant to have a taste of “Guangzhou ten famous dishes”, or Panxi Restaurant’s most famous snack feast which is delicately designed. The salty and sweet snacks are well sorted and moderately served, and the feast is really fascinating for its fresh and graceful style.
Ticket: 20 yuan, the elderly priorities over 70 years can get a free pass, and students and retirees can buy half-tickets with certificates.
Opening time: 8:30－17:30
Traffic: take a bus and get off at Liwan Road station and Zhongshan Eight Road station; take the subway and get out from Chen Clan Temple station.

Fifth station: Yuexiu Park

We will visit Yuexiu Mountain called Top Ten of Guangzhou and the five-goat statue. Yuexiu Park, which is the central park of Guangzhou city and one of the Yang Cheng Eight Sights, is famous of its beautiful sceneries and numerous cultural relics and historic sites. There are three artificial lakes and seven hills, which are the final hills of five ridges. Yuexiu Mountain is named after the Chao Han Platform which was built by Nanyue King Zhaotuo in western han dynasty. There are many places of interest, such as Seafarers' Pavilion, Recovery Memorial, tomb of Emperor Shao in south Ming dynasty, joint tomb of general Wang Xing and his wivies in south Ming dynasty, Zhenhai Tower, the Ming dynasty ruins of the wall, four party fort, stone arch, Sun Zhongshan memorial, Yuexiu building site and five-goat statue, etc. Among these places of interest, Zhenhai Tower, also called five-storey tower, has five stories, and is 28 meters high. Overlooking from the tower, you can have a full view of Yangcheng. Sun Zhongshan memorial and five-goat statue are the landmarks because of it long history and culture, and passengers from home and abroad come here to take photos.
There are mountains and waters in the park. Three artificial lakes are quite beautiful, and there are many people painting, boating and fishing along the lake. Besides, there are many cultural entertainment places, such as Yuexiu Mountain stadium, Yuexiu swimming pool, flower hall, Guangzhou art gallery, etc. Many Guangzhou families visit here on the weekend.
Ticket:  free
Opening time: 6:00-21:00
Traffic: Take a bus and get off at Yuexiu Park station or Liberation North Road station; take the subway and get off at Yuexiu Park station E exit.

Sixth station: Beijing Road

The area around Beijing Road has always been the most prosperous commercial distributing area in Guangzhou since ancient times. According to the historical materials and the research of the experts, at present, the existing or built and dug historic cultural ruins near Beijing Road, Education Road and West Lake Road include over ten sites of more than 10 dynasties that have high historic culture value: Qin Panyu City Ruins, Qin Han Shipbuilding Site Ruins, Nanyueguo in Western Han Dynasty Palace Ruins, Tangqing Navy Building Sites, South Han Emperor Garden, Ming Buddhist Temple, Ming Temple, Ming and Qing Dynasties Big South Gate Sites, Clear LuJiang Academy, Guangzhou Uprising Monument, etc.
Besides we come here to see the historic sites, Beijing Road is also the most prosperous, flourishing and busy shopping heaven in Guangzhou. Beijing Road, together with Fourth Road and Fifth Road in Zhongshan, is the most prosperous area and the center of culture and commerce. The streets are full of flashing lights and various commodities. You can find your favorite brand at any price. Xinda new company, Guangzhou department store building are the representative enterprises of this commercial area. Besides, nearly 1000 stores gather here, such as Guangzhou’s largest science and technology bookstore, Beijing clothing store, Sanduoxuan Calligraphy store, etc. There are also nationally renowned “Gaodi street” garment industrial market and west lake road light night market. There are many kinds of delicious food in the alleys around, and many people eat on their way.
We strongly recommend the desserts in two famous shops on the fifth road in Zhongshan: Hui Lau Shan, Yogurtworkshop. Hui Lau Shan is clearly, brightly and freshly decorated. The desserts are mainly made of fruits, and the specialties are kiss mango and mango coconut milk shake. Although the producing procedures are quite different, they both have mango flavor, and are acid but sweet, fresh and cool. Your sense of taste will be greatly satisfied. The Yogurtworkshop is the only ice cream shop that establishes its reputation by theming as yogurt ice cream in Guangzhou. In fact, yogurt ice cream is acidophilus milk ice cream with little fat and cholesterol. It is made everyday, so it is quite fresh. It tastes sweet, a little acid, cool and smooth, and feels like smoothie. The icy flavor is really hard to say. There are also the latest free HK magazines for consumers. If you want to have a taste of the native desserts in Guangzhou, please come to Baihua Desserts on Wenming road in Yuexiu district. The honored brand sugar water shop has many kinds of low-price drinks with sufficient quantities, and the returning customers are quite a lot. We specially recommend sweet green porridge with seaweed which is cool, sweet and nourishing. It also has a flavor of “smelly grass” which Cantonese uses to make sugar water. If you like Hong Kong style desserts, you can go to Tangtang Home-style Dessert on Huifu east road. Mango ice yan and tea almond bean curd flower are most excellent. One is cool, and another just melts in the mouths like the taste of bird’s nest. If you want to have a taste of what is just in season, have a try.
Traffic: take a bus and get off at Zhongshan Eight Road station, Beijing Road station; take the subway and get out from Gongyuanqian station D exit.

Seventh station: Pearl River Night Cruise

Pearl River Night Cruise, which is exclusively operated by Guangzhou Liner Company, is a tourism item that has the characteristics of southern countries. The scenery of both banks of Pearl River is charming, and crystal-like lakes and flashing lights form a splendid rainbow of Pearl River. You can enjoy beautiful sceneries, such as “Etan Moon Nigh”, “Shuangqiao Misty Rain”, “Zhuhai Loyal Heart”, “Pearl River Autumn Moon”, “Bead Water Fine Wave”, etc., and over 30 cultural historical sites on both banks of Pearl River. You can have a panoramic view of Yangcheng, and feel the culture of Guangzhou.
It is most important to have dinner on the ship when you visit here, and the cuisine features will comfort your empty stomach. It is really enjoyable.