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China Travel Guide » Places in China » Guangdong Province
Places in China: Guangdong Province
This province allows visitors to see remnants of the old "Canton" as Guangzhou used to be called. The language in this province is Cantonese and many old Cantonese customs and foods are found largely in Guangdong Province.
The province is north of Hong Kong and Macao, which are very upscaled areas of China. Guangdong is likewise quite modern, only slightly behind Hong Kong and Macao. Nightlife is still more active in Hong Kong, but Shenzhen and Guangzhou are working toward catching up.
The better times to visit Guangdong are the spring and fall. Summers are wet and hot in this subtropical province. Many beautiful areas in the province attract visitors. Among them are lots of locales along the Pearl River, Danxia Mountain, Luofu Mountain, Xijiao Mountain and Dinghu Mountain. As one can see from the list, mountains are plentiful and attractive in Guangdong.
Guangdong has seen its share of western travellers and traders. It has also been the first recipient of Buddhism, which came in from Viet Namese traders.
Among cities in the province with attractions worth noticing are the capital city of Guangzhou, Foshan, Shenzhen, Zhaoqing and Meizhou.
Guangzhou became quite important when the Silk Road merchants began considering taking their wares by sea in addition to using the Silk Road to the north. Guangzhou on the South China Sea became the ideal port area. The province also became a favourite port of the British East India Company for their opium trade. Soon thereafter, though, Hong Kong became the favoured port and was leased to the British. Guangzhou then began losing trade domination with the outside world.
The largest trade fair in China takes place at the Canton Fair biannually. That is when the city of Guangzhou becomes quite crowded. Quiet places are available in the province if crowds are not your thing. The quiet island of Shamian, the green Yuexiu Park or one of the many memorial gardens may be more to your liking.
A large street market in Guangzhou attracts 60,000 shoppers daily. Many types of animals may be bought live or they can be slaughtered on the spot for you to take with you. There is also a Chinese medicine area. Be sure to visit Qingping Market.
In Foshan, Shenzhen or Zhaoqing are many attractions that tourists enjoy. Museums, temples, parks, factories and memorial gardens are among those options. Three of the cities in the province make up a Special Economic Zone where about twelve percent of China's national output is produced.
Travel to and from Guangdong Province is relatively easy with modern highways, a good railway system and airline facilities.
Major cities in Guangdong:
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