Guangzhou · 广州
Guangzhou (Canton) is the commercial capital of southern China and home to the Canton Fair. It combines futuristic skyscrapers with historic neighborhoods and the country's best dim sum.
City map
Wholesale markets in Guangzhou
📍 Metro L2, Sanyuanli station / Guangzhou Railway Station
Several facing buildings with thousands of shops. Beware: replicas abound — for EU imports insist on your own or original designs; counterfeits are destroyed at customs.
📍 Metro L6/L8, Cultural Park station, Exit D
It runs from dawn: go before 10:00, many stalls close by early afternoon.
📍 Metro L8, Zhongda station (Haizhu)
Southern China's great textile market: fabric rolls, buttons, zippers and lace for garment making.
📍 Metro L2, Haizhu Square station, Exit B2
Whole blocks of toys, stationery and giftware — the in-city complement if you can't make it to Yiwu.
📍 Metro L2/L5, Guangzhou Railway Station
Right by the train station: wholesale footwear plazas and China's largest watch market.
What to see
Canton Tower
600m tower with an observation deck and panoramic ferris wheel
Shamian Island
Former European concession with colonial architecture
Chen Clan Ancestral Hall
Spectacular example of traditional Cantonese architecture
Shangxiajiu Market
Pedestrian shopping street for shopping and street food
Yuexiu Park
The city's largest park, home to the Five Rams statue
Getting around
Guangzhou's metro is extensive and goes straight to the Pazhou fair venue (Line 8, Pazhou station). Taxis are cheap but few drivers speak English: use DiDi with the address in Chinese.
In mainland China, Google, Gmail, WhatsApp and Instagram aren't accessible without a VPN arranged before you travel (it can't be installed once you've arrived). Hong Kong doesn't have this restriction.
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Frequently asked questions about Guangzhou
When is the best time to visit Guangzhou?
October and April, coinciding with the Canton Fair's two editions, are the busiest months with the best weather. Avoid late January/February due to Chinese New Year: factories and offices close for one or two weeks.
Do I need a visa to visit Guangzhou?
Always check the current visa policy for your nationality before traveling: China has expanded short-stay visa exemptions to several European nationalities in recent years, but the conditions change frequently. For longer stays or multiple entries, consider arranging a business (M) visa in advance.
Keep exploring
Guangzhou is part of the Guangdong cluster
Electronics, toys, textiles and hardware. The country's largest concentration of exporting factories.
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