About Guangzhou
Guangzhou, the South Gate of China, is a prosperous metropolis full of vigor.
Location: Located in the middle south of Guangdong Province, north of the Pearl River Delta. It lies close to the South China Sea, Hong Kong, and Macau.
Area: Covering an area of 7434.4 square kilometers (2870 square miles)
Population: More than 11 million people, including a 3.7 million transitory population.
Climate: Guangzhou's average high temperature in January is a pleasant 17°C (64°F), with overnight lows drooping to around 10°C (51°F). Still, temperature statistics alone don't really indicate just how cold it can feel when you consider the high relative humidity. Temperatures have dropped to 1°C (34°F) in December and January.
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Scenery Spots in Guangzhou
Bright Filial Piety Temple
Situated at the north end of Guangxiao Road, Bright Filial Piety Temple (Guangxiaosi) is among the
grandest and most influential temples in China with a history dating back more than 1,700 years. In fact, it is said that "The Bright Filial Piety Temple existed before the birth of Guangzhou City". In 1961, the temple was designated by the State Council as a Key National Cultural Preservation Site.Initially built during the Western Han Dynasty (207 BC - 24 AD) as a private house, it was used as a lecture hall before being dedicated completely to the function of a Zen Buddhist Temple during the Southern Song Dynasty (1127 - 1279). The many noted monks and sutra-translators who have resided there have contributed greatly to the spread of Buddhist culture. The pride of the temple is Hui Neng, the famous sixth master of Zen Buddhism, who had his hair cut and was initiated into monkhood there.
Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall
Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, situated on the southern slope of Yuexiu Hill, was constructed between
1929 and 1931, a monument to Dr Sun Yat-sen, the forerunner of Chinese democratic revolution, by the people of Guangzhou and overseas Chinese. The hall, a grand octagon building of typical Chinese architectural style, looks brand new because of reconstruction in 1998. The masterpiece of architecture history is created with a span of 71 meters (about 78 yards) without a pillar but significant outlooks and delicate interior designs. As an important place for conferences and performances, it can hold thousands of people with sound equipment. In the hall there is also a display gallery showing pictures and letters of Sun Yat-sen.
Local Food
Cantonese Cuisine
Guangzhou delicacies are the main representatives of Yue Cai (Cantonese Cuisine), which includes Guangzhou dishes, Chaozhou dishes and Dongjiang dishes and enjoys great popularity all over the country. Guangzhou cuisine uses a wide range of ingredients from the sky, the earth, and the water. They also use seasonings sparingly. Compared with other Chinese cuisines, Guangzhou dishes use few thick spicy dressings in order to keep from masking the original taste of the food.