Guangzhou

Guangzhou in southern China is also known as Canton or Kwangchow during the time of the tea clippers. It is the largest city in Guangdong province, as well as its capital. It has over 10 million inhabitants, which makes it the 3rd largest metropolis in China in terms of population.   The city is well-known for its foreign trade and business activities. In fact, it holds the Canton Fair every April and October, which is the country's largest trade fair. Guangzhou is located next to Hong Kong and Macau forming China's urban triangle.   As one of the first cities to benefit from China's economic reform program in 1978, Guangzhou is a pioneer in the country's development. The city is particularly successful in the fields of finance, commerce, real estate, and tourism. And in between the myriad shopping malls and skyscrapers, Guangzhou offers a lot of history and culture, which for many travellers, is well and good.   One of the very first things to see in the city is its numerous attractions. Guangzhou, being one of the 24 cultural and historical cities in China, certainly has a number of popular tourist destinations.   Temples are especially famous in the city. One of them is the Guangxiao Temple. It is the largest and oldest Buddhist temple in the city. It was built during the Han Dynasty as a house until the Southern Song Dynasty, which started using the place as a Zen Buddhist temple. Another popular temple is the Liurong Temple, or The Temple of Six Banyan Trees, which has a collection of cultural artefacts renowned the world over. Other notable landmarks that should not be missed at the Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall, Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel, Huangpu Military Academy, Pearl River, and Wu Xian Guan Temple.   For travellers who want to experience and learn more of the city, then it is recommended that you try some of the other Guangzhou activities, such as visiting museums, parks, and galleries. At the top of the list are the Guangzhou City Art Museum, Nanyue Royal Tomb Museum, Yuxie Park, Yuntai Garden, and Huadu Square.   Guangzhou restaurants are the perfect place to sample authentic Cant