CHINA ADVENTURE CLUB JOURNEYS
The Pearl River: Guangzhou’s Trade Past and Present
Explore China Adventure Club journeysJourney at a glance
- Day 1 Arrive in Guangzhou
- Day 2 Guangzhou
- Day 3 Guangzhou
- Day 4 Guangzhou
- Day 5 Depart Guangzhou
About this Journey
Travel through time while remaining in the present by following the opaque waters of the Pearl River as they wend peacefully through the heart of China’s third-largest metropolis, Guangzhou.
As water is to life, the Pearl River is to Guangzhou. It was here that the bows of foreign ships pushed to rest against sandy shores and that the smoking wartime cannon balls finally settled on a silty floor. It is here that local fishermen throw in their hooks hoping to catch a dinner-worthy fish while upstream millions of shipping containers embark on journeys to the farthest reaches of the globe. The river is the heart of the city, shaping around it an array of different livelihoods, each of which provides a new understanding of the city and its people, if only you know where to look.
Tour Highlights
- Stepping behind the curtain to see inside a factory that makes bags for some of the world’s leading brands
- Tracing Guangzhou's past and present through its architecture
- Learning gongfu (kung fu) from a master in a hidden inner-city studio
YOUR JOURNEY
Route Map
Select a route section to explore the map. Tap a stop for its location or use the directions link for the next leg. Flights, trains, cruises and hiking arrangements follow your itinerary.
- 1GuangzhouDirections to Donghaochong Canal
- 2Donghaochong CanalDirections to Ou Ancestral Hall
- 3Ou Ancestral HallDirections to Qingping Market
- 4Qingping MarketDirections to Enning Road
- 5Enning RoadDirections to Huangpu Ancient Port
- 6Huangpu Ancient PortDirections to Changzhou Island
- 7Changzhou IslandDirections to Shiling
- 8ShilingDirections to Guangzhou
- 9Guangzhou
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive in Guangzhou
Upon arriving in Guangzhou, your local guide will meet you in the arrivals hall with your private vehicle on standby ready to take you to your hotel for check-in.
Day 2 Guangzhou
Stroll along the Donghaochong Canal and Greenway, a tree-lined path through the heart of the old city • Visit the Ou Ancestral Hall, a shining example of Guangzhou’s Lingnan style architecture. • Step into a hidden inner-city gongfu (kung fu) studio and explore its foundations and movements as an acclaimed master shares the secrets of this renowned martial art. • Soak up the city’s character at the local market with a Cantonese snack or a sip of traditional Guangzhou tea. • Pass by People’s Park, observe or even engage in people’s recreational activities. • Immerse yourself in history as you walk past Gothic, Baroque, and Neoclassical architectural styles of this former concession and discover bars and cafes with views over the Pearl River. • Delve into Guangdong’s unique food culture as we explore the food stalls at Old Qingping Market. • Explore the arcade-style buildings at Enning Road, especially a lion dance academy, a Cantonese Opera museum and the ancestral home of Bruce Lee.
Day 3 Guangzhou
Stroll the lanes of the Huangpu Ancient Port and Village, an open-air museum for the maritime Silk Road. • Take in the view of Guangzhou on a bike. • Hop on a ferry to Changzhou Island (10 minutes) • Weave through the past and present of the island, and explore the canaled neighborhood. • Embark on a short hike to the island’s highest point for panoramic views over the island.
Day 4 Guangzhou
Go on a one-hour drive up north and you’ll arrive at Shiling district, the epitome of Chinese industry. Go off the beaten path and explore another side of China, one that fuels much of the world’s wants and needs. • Visit the BSK Bag Factory, which has produced over 10 million of the world’s bags (and counting) and witness “made in China” in action. • Sit down and treat yourself to a delectable selection of local Cantonese delicacies. • Take a walk through the manufacturing neighborhood, where factories, wholesale markets, living quarters, and shops intermingle to create a bustling ecosystem that supplies the world with various products. • Visit several different types of factories on this walk.
Day 5 Depart Guangzhou
Your local guide will escort you to the airport and help you check in for your flight home.
Your Accommodation
Photos
LN Hotel Five, Guangzhou Contemporary Luxury Presiding over the Pearl River, LN Hotel Five is Guangzhou’s answer to contemporary luxury. Watch the sun set over the city from the elegant lounge bar.
Photos
Details
What’s Included
- Services of an English-speaking local English-speaking guide
- Accommodation based on double occupancy with breakfasts included
- All overland transfers with private chauffeur and in-transport refreshments
- Private chauffeur service to and from airport at start and end of your trip
- All admission fees and activity expenses, as noted in the itinerary
- Meals as noted in the itinerary with complimentary drinking water
What’s Excluded
- International and domestic flights, domestic trains, plus relevant taxes
- Chinese tourist visa, which is required for most foreign passport holders
- Travel and medical insurance
- Meals, apart from those included in the itinerary, and alcohol
- Expenses of a personal nature
- Excursions and activities not included in the itinerary
- Discretionary gratuities for guides and drivers
TAILOR-MADE TRAVEL
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