Is there a beach in Guangzhou? Holidays in China by the sea. By train to Guangzhou (Yuexiu Park, Guangzhou Museum) and further to Hainan. Entertainment and relaxation
If you have never been to China and are planning your first tourist trip, then most likely you are going to Beijing or Shanghai. These are undoubtedly the most famous Chinese cities. Considering the duration of the flight (Beijing - more than 7 hours, Shanghai - about 9 hours) and the time difference (5 hours from Moscow), it is not worth going for less than a week, since you will be recovering for the first day and are unlikely to want to leave the hotel .
If you have two weeks (or more) at your disposal, you want to see Hong Kong, or this is not your first time going to China, then I strongly recommend visiting the southern Chinese cities: Shenzhen and Guangzhou. I talked about Shenzhen here. Here I will tell you about Guangzhou: how to get there, where to stay and what to see.
Road to Guangzhou
A direct flight to Guangzhou takes 9 hours, the cost of a round-trip ticket is just over 49 thousand rubles. My colleagues and I flew directly, since the costs were paid by the company. This allowed us to spend a couple of days exploring the city after our work meetings ended.
For comparison, you can fly to Beijing for 30,700 rubles, and to Shanghai for 119 and a half thousand rubles, if we are talking about direct flights. At the same time, you can get from Beijing to Guangzhou by train: the minimum travel time is 8 hours, the minimum cost is $137. You can get there from Shanghai in at least 7 hours, and tickets start at $30. Typically, the sooner you want to arrive, the more expensive the tickets will be, but you can find very affordable prices if you book in advance and take seats on the 7-8 hour trains.
Accordingly, you can either fly to Guangzhou directly, if finances allow, or allow more time for the trip and see Beijing and southern China or Beijing, Shanghai (min 4 and a half hours by train, tickets from $25) and southern China.
If I were going to China now, I would definitely plan to visit several provinces and try to save money on the flight.
Where to stay
As with Shenzhen, the cost of hotels and apartments in Guangzhou often depends on the "newness" of the area in which they are located. In contrast to the European tradition of “the older, the more expensive,” in China, newly commissioned facilities are considered premium. Let's take it - 7 nights for two adults can cost from 156 euros to 2,817 euros (and this is within one block).
If, for example, in Paris such a price difference can be found between a bed in a hostel and a five-star hotel in the historical part of the city, then in Guangzhou for 156 euros you will get into a two-star hotel in the center, which is highly praised by tourists, including Russians. According to them, the staff speaks excellent English, the rooms are clean, there are shops, a bus station, restaurants, and a picturesque embankment nearby. They will check in at any time, give a discount for early checkout, call a taxi, and so on. Here are some photos:
As for luxury for almost 3,000 euros, these are apartments of 100 square meters, located further from the embankment, but opposite a Buddhist temple. You will have to cook yourself, but you can enjoy the luxury: there is a green veranda, luxurious furniture and household appliances, as well as a stunning view from the window.
If we are talking about, an apartment for a week for two (a bedroom with 1 bed plus a bathroom) costs from 1227 rubles per night, a separate room with a shared bathroom - from 1 thousand rubles per night.
We stayed in the center at the Oakwood Premier Hotel on East Tiyu Road, where you can now rent a studio or apartment for two for 81 euros per night. The hotel was recommended to us by our Chinese partners, and the expenses were paid by the company. If I were traveling on my own money, I would not consider this accommodation option, since I always budget most of my budget for sightseeing, shopping and food. In addition, every time going down and up to the 20th floor to smoke is very tiring :).
What to see
Within the city limits, in the district of the same name, there is Mount Baiyun, where you can walk, ride a cable car (south entrance, 25 yuan per person), bungee jump and bird watch. Entrance to the territory costs 5 yuan, and you will have to pay the same amount to visit the temples located on the mountain. Be sure to check the location of the various entrances in advance and choose the route that suits you: it is very easy to get lost in the vast area.
In clear weather, you can enjoy the view of the city from Canton Tower, and for a sense of peace and tranquility and a break from the hustle and bustle of the metropolis, check out the Buddhist Temple on Liurong Road. You can also ride the Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Bus, a day ticket costs $5.63, the price includes an audio guide (unfortunately, only in English) and a map of the main attractions of Guangzhou.
If you want to combine sightseeing with shopping, take a stroll along Beijing Road. There is an ancient temple and many shops of local and foreign brands, where you will find products and prices that suit you. In the process, you can also have a snack by going to a cafe or buying fresh fruit from street vendors.
Be sure to attend Cantonese opera even if you don't like this genre, since Chinese opera traditions have nothing to do with European ones. It is impossible to describe the state of trance into which the incredibly high voices of the singers and their costumes introduce you; you need to see and hear it once, and believe me, you will not remain indifferent.
Since we only had two days, we were only able to visit Canton Tower, the Buddhist Temple on Liurong Road and walk along Beijing Road. A year before this business trip, my relatives went to Guangzhou, and from them I know about Cantonese opera and Baiyun Mountain. I still really regret that I didn’t get to hear the first one and see the last one.
Where to eat
If you're willing to drop $40 per person for steak and French cuisine in a restaurant inspired by an Agatha Christie mystery, head to Orient Express (No.1 North Shamian Street).
If you want to try traditional Chinese cuisine, check out Tao Tao Ju Cafe (DiShi Fu Road 22), located on the shopping street. It’s not cheap here (about 1,900 rubles per person, if you don’t deny yourself anything), but it’s very tasty and atmospheric. Here is an example of a traditional Cantonese dinner, which is usually divided among all those gathered using a rotating table in the center.
You can eat inexpensively (main courses from 150 rubles) and very exotic at HeXiang Ju (FangCun Avenue ZhongDong QiShi Road), which is located near the railway next to the central park and the city administration building.
I know from experience that the cheaper a Chinese establishment, the less likely it is that they speak English, but most menus have pictures. I highly recommend translating the dishes you are interested in into Mandarin and Cantonese (the dialect of the south of China) in advance and simply showing the text to the waiter. Otherwise, you risk ordering raw chicken legs, for example, as my colleagues did when we went to the restaurant located opposite the hotel :).
Once a decrepit village
Now it's a blooming city.
Quite a bit of time has passed
And the garden of skyscrapers grew
Perhaps this quatrain will most fully characterize the entire history of this city. It’s difficult to say how, but the Chinese really amaze with the speed of the emergence and development of their cities. So, in front of you Guangzhou is one of the most important trading cities in the world , where once a year all the traders from all over the world come to attend the Canton Exhibition.
Real China in Guangzhou and holidays in China at sea with children.
We arrived in Guangzhou by train in the morning (about 7:00 am), and we had a train to Hainan in the evening (I don’t remember exactly, but something around 16:00) and with this in mind we decided to explore a little Guangzhou, as well as buy souvenirs (mainly magnets and plates, we somehow had no luck with that here).
By train to the train station in Guangzhou
After leaving the station, we handed over our things to the storage room, from where they were safely taken away in the evening (the price is 40 yuan) :) After we handed over our things, we went to explore the central park of the city and the place where the city symbol in the form of 5 goats is located, the park is called Park Yuexiu (越秀公园) :) When I first arrived in the city, I felt like I was in a sauna. I think the locals have already gotten used to it, but for me it was difficult - being in such a humid environment and even when it’s +30 outside (or maybe more) :) But these are the little things in life, as they say, and things like that didn’t happen :))) And now about the city, or rather about the park, because... Of course, it was not possible to fully explore the city in such a short period of time :) It’s worth visiting: take a walk, enjoy the tropical nature, see the sights and just relax :) Well, in general, I would spend 1.5 days for the whole city and the route was I would have one like this:Sights of Guangzhou with addresses, descriptions and photographs:
- Yuexiu Park (Yuexiu, 越秀公园) (a detailed description of this park is in the report below: addresses, directions, opening hours, etc.)- zhenghai tower
- five goats statue in Guangzhou
How to get there:
by Yuexiu Park Subway (Line 2, Exit B1);
buses No. 5, 7, 8, 21, 22, 24, 40, 58, 87, 101, 127, 133, 182, 185, 187, 211, 244, 273.
- Chen Family Temple
(Temple of Chen Family or Chen Clan Academy / 陈家祠 / 陳家祠) (must visit, second most important attraction after Yuexi Park)
How to get there: Zhongshan 7th Road (中山七路) (Metro 1 Chan Clan Academy - Exit D)
- Guangzhou TV Tower
(Canton Tower/ 广州塔)
How to get there:
by metro, line 3, APM - Canton tower station,
by bus: number 508, 11, 291B, 291A, 231, 231, 663, 370 Canton tower west metro station,
Tourist tram from Canton Fair: to Canton Tower Station.
.
How to get there:
by metro line 1.2, station - Gongyuanqian, exit B);
by bus No. 12, 215 to the Liurong Road stop or by bus No. 74, 85, 88, 102, 104, 107, 193, 233, 250, 286 to the Zhongshan Liulu stop.
- Guangxiao Temple
(Guangxiao Temple/Temple of Bright Branch Piety or Kwong Hau Temple/
光孝寺 (if you have seen Chinese temples, you don’t have to look)
How to get there: 109 Guangxiao Road (光孝路) (Ximenkou Subway 1 - Exit C)
If you are vacationing in Guangzhou with children, then it is worth visiting:
- Chimelong Paradise
(amusement park for all ages + water park)
- Chimelong International Circus (Guangzhou circus - worth a visit, it will change the way you think about circus)
How to get there: Subway Line 3, Hanxi Changlong Station
- Chimelong Safari Park
(I would recommend visiting the safari park in Guangzhou, not the zoo)
How to get there: there is a special bus from Chimelong Paradise
And finally, be sure to go to evening walk along the Pearl River . To imagine this walk, watch the following video.
Instead of photographs (you can find them on the map at the bottom of the report), I decided to post a video review of the sights of Guangzhou.
For greater convenience, at the end of the report you can find a map with all the attractions, addresses, descriptions and photographs.
Well, let's go back to our park...
Scheme of Yuexiu Park in Guangzhou (Yuexiu park, 越秀公园)
This is one of the largest and most beautiful parks in Guangzhou, with an area of 860 thousand square meters. It is located on seven hills and has three artificial lakes. Opened in 1952, it shows the history of Guangzhou's development from a small village to a giant metropolis.
How to get to Yuexiu Park:
- Guangzhou Metro Line 2. You need to get off at Yuexiu Park Station and go outside through Exit B1;
- Guangzhou buses No. 109, 110, 111, 201, 234, 269, 271, 278, 301, 543, 550 to Yuexiu Park Station.
Ulya, as always, is bawling. “Oh, these little predatory dogs are scary,” Ulka probably thought:)))
And here you can fully immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the film “Jurassic Park” (I hope everyone has watched this film about dinosaurs)
We also took a boat ride in the park, of course it was a bit expensive and there wasn’t much to go to, but we still enjoyed it. But not quite for Lukyan - he was bitten by sea flies so that all his legs were bitten, and all because of the negligence of a worker who had to fumigate water transport from these insects. Our catamaran was in the form of a military jeep, so despite everything everyone was happy :)
The symbol of Guangzhou is the statue of five goats
And this is a symbol of the city, a rather peculiar choice, but what is it :)
The old fortress wall, although I personally have doubts about its old age, but maybe I’m wrong. As an example: remember the bridge in Chengdu, not a single guidebook will mention that it is a remake, but in the meantime it is so. Remember Jinli Street in the same city, all the buildings there are antique, maybe it’s the same here, I think so.
Guangzhou Museum in Zhenhai Tower
It’s worth visiting this museum in Guangzhou for several reasons: firstly, there’s a good view of the skyscrapers from the top floor, and secondly, it’s interesting in itself, I threw in some photos to make it clearer :)
View of skyscrapers...
The history of the development of the city of Guangzhou in pictures (this is all in the same Guangzhou museums) :)
And here's what it looks like inside...
Many tourists love Guangzhou for its warm and sometimes very hot climate. Spring here already begins in March, and closer to May, the city heats up with 40 degree heat and it becomes difficult to endure such an unusual temperature in a huge metropolis.
In such weather you want only one thing - to the sea!
It is not necessary to buy a ticket to Hainan Island or neighboring Thailand. Guangzhou has everything, including the sea! Dameisha Beach Park (大梅沙, Dameisha) is located 160 km from Guangzhou, and includes another smaller beach - Xiaomeisha 小梅沙 (in Chinese, "da" means "big", "xiao" translates as "small").
These two beaches are located on the shores of Dapeng Bay and are nicknamed the “Hawaii of the East” for their beautiful scenery, luxury hotels and green mountains.
The sandy strip of Dameisha Beach stretches 2 km along the warm South China Sea. The second beach is almost half the size, but some tourists prefer it for the more cozy and secluded atmosphere of a closed beach.
In addition to the usual sea holidays, Xayomesha beach will delight surf lovers with good waves, especially after the typhoon season.
Therefore, if you were wondering where to go surfing in China, then Xiaomeisha Beach is perfect for those who want to catch a wave!
You can come here not only for the weekend, but it is also worth spending your vacation here in order to have time to explore the entire park complex - numerous museums (for example, the shell museum), mountain excursion trails, Turtle Island, tropical gardens and various water activities.
Children will love the Underwater World aquarium (海洋世界 / Sea World) - this is a huge park with 16 thematic zones. There is a daily dolphin, seal and sea lion show at the Xiaomeisha Aquarium, and more than 500 species of fish from all over the world swim in the aquariums. Fans of predatory fish will be delighted by the halls with thirty species of sharks, including the whale shark - and this is a huge fish, about 10 meters long and weighing 3 tons!
If you dreamed of making friends and swimming with dolphins, then the aquarium will gladly show you how to find a common language with these cute animals.
Dolphin therapy is very popular among Shenzhen residents and tourists - several sessions of swimming with dolphins helps people quickly cope with health problems and feel happy.
Xiaomeisha Aquarium "Underwater World" is not only a living museum with the inhabitants of the deep sea, it is also an artificially created tropical paradise with amazing landscapes reminiscent of travel postcards.
A ticket to the 海洋世界 aquarium costs 140 yuan, a child ticket will cost almost 2 times cheaper - 75 yuan.
During summer evenings on the beach you can see the performance of “Xiaomeisha Nights” - folk, acrobatic stunts, magic shows and music concerts.
Dameisha Park is home to Moon Square (月亮广场), which covers 4,000 square meters. On this territory there are shops and restaurants for every taste. Not far from Moon Square, the Wish Tower (愿望塔) rises. By purchasing a ticket to the observation deck of this skyscraper (83 meters), you can admire the views of the green hills of Shenzhen, take sunset photos and, most importantly, make a wish. It is believed that it is here that it will definitely come true.
Dameisha is a municipal beach and entry is free. To go to Xiaomeisha you will have to buy a ticket, but its cost is small - only 15 yuan.
The small and large beaches are located 1 km from each other, and if you get tired of relaxing on one, take a walk along the green paths to the second, yet unexplored beach.
If you decide to spend your weekend outside the city, sunbathing on the beach, then follow our instructions on how to get from Guangzhou to the seaside resort of Dameisha and Xiaomeisha.
Taxi
Of course, the fastest way to get to the beach is by taxi. A taxi in China is relatively inexpensive, and if you are going to sea with a group, then sharing the cost of travel, this option will also be profitable.
Perhaps your hotel offers shuttle services to popular tourist spots. If you have a large company or small children, then you should not skimp on buses and trains; it is better to order a car. When planning a one-day trip, arrange with the driver to wait for you until the evening and take you back to Guangzhou. This way you will save time on your trip and the cost of additional transport.
Transfer prices start from 1200 RMB, and for this amount you can rent a minivan that can accommodate up to 8 passengers.
In addition to hotels, various transport companies offer this service, for example Guangzhou Car Service.
Train
Most tourists and local residents prefer to get to the seaside resort by high-speed train - several dozen CRH (China Railway Highspeed) express trains run daily between Guangzhou and Shenzhen (Dameisha Beach Park is located on the outskirts of Shenzhen).
High-speed trains to Shenzhen depart from Guangzhou South Railway (广州南站) and arrive at Shenzhen North Railway (深圳北站). Travel time is only half an hour, the cost of a second class train ticket is 74 yuan. If you don't plan to spend the night in Dameisha, you can return to Guangzhou the same day - trains run from 7am to 11pm. For detailed train schedules and ticket prices to Shenzhen, see the Travel China Guide website. When leaving the station, change to a taxi or public transport. A taxi ride to Dameisha Park costs 130 yuan and takes about an hour. When choosing public transport, keep in mind that you will first have to go by metro, then by bus.
Take the subway without leaving the station building and buy a ticket to Luohu / 罗湖地铁站 station (subway green line). From Luohu Station there is route 387, with a final stop in Dameisha. Travel time is about 1 hour 40 minutes, the ticket costs 5 yuan.
From the previous station 国贸 / GuoMao there are other direct buses to the main entrance to the park - No. 1, 21, 362, 103.
Bus
From Guangzhou Passenger Transport Station (广州汽车客运站, Guangzhou Railway Station, Exit H) there are buses to the aforementioned Shenzhen 罗湖火车站 (Luohu) Station.
In China, an intercity bus ticket is always cheaper than a train in the same direction. Therefore, if you have a limited budget, then choose a bus. Ticket prices range from 30 to 40 yuan and the trip takes about 3 hours. Then you also look for stop 387 at the exit from the station, which will take you to the main entrance of the Dameisha resort.
Let’s make a reservation right away – you won’t be able to find sea beaches in Guangzhou. However, here, within the capital of the Chinese province of Guangdan, there is a well-equipped river beach. It was installed on the banks of the Pearl River, about which, however, they say that after rainfalls the water in it leaves much to be desired - a lot of garbage ends up there. But in this case, there are swimming pools where you can splash around without fear for your health. Getting to the beach is easy and simple - the metro runs here. The area is called Liwan, and the station is Zhong Shan Ba, you need to get out through exit D. You can also get there by bus - there are nine routes that go here. The beach is paid, or rather, you will have to pay for entry, and on site you can take umbrellas and sun loungers freely, borrow lockers for things and use showers and changing rooms.
But those who cannot imagine a beach holiday without the sea with its salty water and big waves will have to make a longer trip - to the beaches of Dameisha or Xiaomeisha, which are known to all residents of Guangdan. Residents of the province love to go to these beaches in Shenzhen on weekends in the summer. There are two ways to get from Guangzhou to the beaches:
- By train and bus.
- Two buses.
The voyage may take more than 3 hours, but as a result you will be greeted by the best sandy beaches of Guangzhou, or rather, not the city itself, but its surroundings.
Dameisha Beach
Dameisha Beach is located on the shores of Dapengwan Bay. The sand on this beach is fine and light golden in color. By the sea, the color changes from light blue to dark blue, depending on the time of year. The beach is successfully surrounded by a chain of picturesque green hills. Its beach length exceeds 1800, which made it possible to divide it into several special zones: a swimming area, an entertainment area, a sports area and a barbecue area. On the beach you can see sculptural groups expressing the thirst for a better life, manifested among the youth of the so-called “drifting generation” (1940–1980s, then it was impossible to find a stable job, and one could not even dream of good living conditions).
In addition to simple swimming, here you can practice parachuting behind a boat, water skiing or motor boats. The best period for swimming is from May to October inclusive.
Xiaomeisha Beach
A quieter beach is Xiaomeisha. This place is only a kilometer north of Dameisha. It is not so crowded and crowded, although the beach is only 1 km long. The beach is close to Shenzhen, which attracts water sports enthusiasts. In addition, you can rent motor boats or fishing rods here. Foreigners come here to surf, because after the typhoon you can catch very good waves here. In the evenings, sometimes “Xiaomeisha Nights” are held on the beach. This free spectacle includes ethnic dances, magic performances and acrobatic shows. There is a dolphinarium not far from the beach.