Culture of Guangzhou. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

The Yuexiu Park is the most beautiful place in the city and one of the most visited attractions. Founded in 1952, it remains the largest park in Guangzhou and occupies an incredibly wonderful and hilly territory. There are seven hills in the park and three gorgeous artificial lakes. Besides the rich collection of plants and flowers, the lovely park is also famous for its historical monuments. The most famous monument in the city and remains of the preserved fortification walls are also located in Yuexiu.

Many outstanding landmarks in Guangzhou have a religious origin, and the Site of Kingdom Palace is one of these places of interest. It is hard to imagine, but it took more than a thousand years to find the tomb of the legendary king Nanyue. It was believed that an incredible number of jewels and treasures were stored in the tomb. Scientists managed to discover it relatively recently, in 1983. However, ancient articles of jade turned out to be the most valuable “treasures”. Nevertheless, the tomb was completely restored, and now it is one of the most interesting architectural landmarks in the city. A part of the old building was converted into a fascinating museum.

Tourists, who are fond of excursions, will find it incredibly interesting to attend the Qinping Market , the largest outdoor market in the city. Many travelers consider a walk in the market equal to a museum visit. Indeed, the diversity and uniqueness of items available for sale, including rare medicinal plants, make the market an absolutely one-of-a-kind place. There are more than 2,000 stalls in total at Qinping, and most of them offer truly unique goods. It’s the place where one can buy literally anything, from exquisite works of art and medicines to living scorpions. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

The Six Banyan Tree Temple is located not far from the market. This Buddhist temple is one of the most beautiful and oldest religious landmarks in the world - the age of the temple is nearly 1.5 thousand years. The Pagoda of a thousand Buddhas remains its main attraction. This unusual name is easy to explain - the Pagoda indeed keeps nearly 1,000 Buddha statues.

It is also worth mentioning the Memorial Hall of Sun Yixian among the outstanding attractions of Guangzhou. The gorgeous hall is dedicated to the distinguished statesman. It is difficult to imagine, but the construction of the fabulous building was funded solely by donations of residents. Luxurious interiors are an essential part of the Hall of Memory. Currently, the building regularly hosts important social and political events.

The Chen Family Temple is a must-see destination of numerous tour programs. It is an amazing temple, the construction of which was completed in 1867. The old temple looks more like a gorgeous museum rather than a temple. The abundance of hand-made decorations is one of its main distinguishing features. At Chen Family Temple, visitors will have an opportunity to see a collection of nice statues, wooden panels, and paintings that depict historical figures and heroes of legends.

The city is also rich in modern attractions that tourists will find interesting to visit, and the Guangzhou Opera House is one of them. This ultra-modern cultural center, located in an incredibly fascinating building, is a true paragon of the futuristic style. The size of the venue is more than 46,000 square meters, and that makes it one of three largest theaters in the country. Guangzhou Opera House can accommodate up to 1 800 spectators at a time. As one of the walls is transparent, visitors can admire a panoramic view of another symbolic sight of Guangzhou, the Pearl River, through it.