CITIC Plaza skyscraper (391m) near Guangzhou East Station
Guangzhou
Guangzhou is one of the largest cities in China with 10 million people. Location is 120 km North West of Hong Kong. Tianhe is the Central Business District. Tallest building in Tianhe is the CITIC Plaza (391 meter). Other attractions in Guangzhou are Shamian Island in the Pearl River and Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall.
Guangzhou Trade Fair
The Chinese Export Commodities Fair (Canton Fair) is held twice a year in spring and autumn. It’s China’s largest trade fair. Trade days are Apr.15-30 and Oct.15-30. There are two large exhibition complexes: the Pazhou Complex and the Liuhua Complex. The Pazhou is the largest in Asia with ground area of 400.000m². Official website of the Pazhou Complex is www.21cantonfair.com. The Liuhua Complex (170,000m²) is in the city centre near the railway station. Besides the famous Canton Fair many other exhibitions are organized in both complexes. Note that hotel prices can rise during the fairs up to three times the usual price.
Guangzhou hotels
Central Business District (Tianhe)
International hotels in the Tianhe District (Central Business District) are Sofitel Sunrich, Fraser Suites, Sheraton Guangzhou Hotel, The Westin, Hilton Tianhe and Marriott Tianhe. A prestigious Chinese brand name is Jianguo Hotel.
Popular hotels
The 5-star White Swan Hotel is one of the most famous hotels in Guangzhou. It is located on Shamian island and overlooking the Pearl River. Popular hotels are the Guangzhou Baiyun Hotel (3145 reviews, 7.6), Asia International Hotel Guangdong (1261 reviews, 7.1) and the Crowne Plaza Guangzhou City Centre (1076 reviews, 8.4).
Airport subway, bus and taxi
Baiyun International Airport is 28 km of the city centre. The airport has international flights to Singapore, Manila, Kuala Lumpur, Delhi, Sydney, Tokyo, Los Angeles and New York. Subway line 3 connects Baiyun Airport with downtown and East Railway Station. A ticket is 7 Yuan. At the airport are 11 bus lines to the city. A bus ticket cost 16-20 Yuan. Taxi fare from the airport to Central Station is 100 Yuan and to Guangzhou-East Station it’s about 150 Yuan.
Boat between Guangzhou and Hong Kong
SkyPier at Hong Kong International Airport provides ferry services to Guangzhou for transit passengers. There are also ferry services between China Hong Kong City Terminal and the ferry terminals in Guangzhou (Lian Hua Shan, Panyu and Nan Sha)
Bus to Hong Kong
Express coach services between Hong Kong International Airport and Guangzhou City. Check the website of the Hong Kong airport for Transport Connections; the latest bus time schedules between Hong Kong, Guangzhou and many other cities in Guangdong Province.
Train
Guangzhou Railway Station
This station is in the old centre and has trains to Shenzhen, Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, Chengdu and Wuchang. Subway line 2 and line 5 have a stop at the railway station.
East Railway Station
The East Station has trains to Meizhou, Shantou, Xiamen and high-speed trains to Shenzhen. East Station is also the terminus for through trains to Hong Kong. About 12 through trains are going every day to Hung Hom Station in Hong Kong. Traveltime to Hong Kong is less than 2 hours. The immigration office is in Hung Hom station in Hong Kong.
South Railway Station
High-speed trains connect Guangzhou South Railway Station with Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Beijing and Shanghai.