Life of Guangzhou - One-day Lingnan Culture Tours in Guangzhou

Guangzhou has rapidly become an international metropolis yet much of its past has been preserved and protected. Numerous artifacts and buildings are a testimony to its 2000-year history.

Here Lifeofguangzhou.com recommends two voyages:

Line A: Lingnan Fine Art

Chen Clan Academy - Museum of the Nanyue King Mausoleum - Zhenhai Lou - Shixiang Yuan Garden - Memorial Hall of the Lingnan School of Painting

Chen Clan Academy (陈家祠) Recently redecorated, this ancestral hall has survived the 20th century and is a testimony to Lingnan architecture. Today it holds the Lingnan Arts and Crafts Museum.

Transportation:
-Take Metro Line 1 and stop at Chen Clan Academy station

(Chen Clan Academy)

Nanyue King Mausoleum (南越王博物馆) The oldest color-decorated stone chamber tombs in South China. Discovered in 1983, it is one of the five national archaeological discoveries.

Transportation:
-Take Metro Line 2 and stop at Yuexiu Park station
-Take bus 203/273/552/7/543/211/29//33 and stop at Jiefang Bei Lu station

(Nanyue King Mausoleum)

Zhenhai Lou Tower (镇海楼) Built in 1380, this magnificent red building was once the highest point of the ancient city of Canton. In 1929, it was turned into a museum which portrays the history and culture of Guangzhou and has become an important cultural relic and landmark for Guangzhou. Today, it is home to the Guangzhou Museum.

Transportation:
-Take Metro Line 2 and stop at Yuexiu Park station. Enter the park and walk about 15 minutes.
-Take bus 203/273/552/7/543/211/29//33 and stop at Jiefang Bei Lu station. Enter Yuexiu park and walk about 15 minutes.

(Zhenhai Lou Tower)

Shixiang Yuan (十香园) Two famous brother and painters, Ju Lian and Ju Chao lived, painted and taught here in the late Qing Dynasty. It was named Shixiang garden (meaning "garden with ten kinds of fragrance") for there were ten fragrant flowers in the garden.

Transportation:
-Take Metro Line 2 and stop at Changgang station

(Shixiang Yuan)

Memorial Hall of Lingnan School of Painting (岭南画派纪念馆) The hall exhibits well-known artists from Guangdong Province.

Transportation:
-Take Metro Line 8 and stop at Xiaogang station
-Take bus 82/813/812/70/69/565/548/546/53/299/273/272/270/25/178/19/197/203/206

(Memorial Hall of Lingnan School of Painting )

Line B: Lingnan Architecture

Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall - Clock Tower - Guangzhou Post Museum - Shamian Buildings - Xiguan Houses

Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall (中山纪念堂): A major national cultural relic in Guangdong; sponsored by Guangzhou and overseas Chinese to commemorate Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the founder of the Republic of China. A wood and steel complex combining western and Chinese features from the early 20th century.

Transportation:
-Take Metro Line 2 and stop at Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall station
-Take bus 2/27/42/56/62/74/80/83/85/133/185/204/209/224/229/261/276/283/284/289/
293/297/305/518/543

(Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall)

Guangdong Customs Building (粤海关大楼) Also known as Clock Tower (大钟楼), a landmark building in Guangzhou previously used as the Guangzhou Customs office at the beginning of the 20th century.

Transportation:
-Take bus 31/38/103/105/110/181/528 and stop at Wenhua Park station

(Guangdong Customs Building)

Guangzhou Post Museum (广州邮政博物馆) A comprehensive museum for collecting, displaying and selling stamps.

Transportation:
-Take bus 31/38/57/102/103/105/106/110/123/131/238/281/538 and stop at Wenhua Park station

(Guangzhou Post Museum)

Shamian Buildings (沙面建筑群) This small island is a reminder of Guangzhou's colonial past with numerous European-style buildings, most of which were used by foreign companies and consulates.

Transportation:
-Take Metro Line 1 and stop at Huangsha station
-Take bus 823

(Shamian Building)

Old Xiguan Houses (西关大屋) Xiguan refers to Liwan district. Liwan is one of the oldest and most traditional districts in Guangzhou. Here visitors shall find traditional buildings and well a numerous Cantonese restaurants, tea houses, and shops selling local snacks.

Transportation:
-Take Metro Line 1 and stop at Changshou Lu station.
-Take bus 2/3/6/82 and stop at Baohualu station.

(Old Xiguan Houses)

(By Hong Yin, David Keyton)