Maggie Tulliver
With so much prosperity in commerce, tourism, dining and finance, Guangzhou draws a sizeable crowd of tourists from across the world. Located along the south coastline of China, Guangzhou is a prosperous metropolis full of live spirit. It is the capital of Guangong Province. Needless to state, the province is home to many place you must not miss at any cost.
This is probably one of the busiest commercial pedestrian streets in China. You can find this located in the old town of Xiguan. This 1218 metre-long street shelters over 300 shops. Here you can see the uniquely Chinese style in architecture, cuisine and folk customs. The architecture is quintessentially South European and Cantonese. They are very much a sight for sore eyes. Tourists take delight in walking across restaurants and food stores. The street is of course an excellent combination of traditional as well as modern food plus Chinese influence. If you stay at somewhere like Ascott Guangzhou, one of the Luxury Hotels in Guangzhou, getting to Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street is a piece of cake.
The Pearl River is the third longest river in China with a length of more than 2,000 kilometers, your tourist guide will enlighten you. The river consists of four separate river systems. They join hands in Guangzhou and flow for about 70 kilometers. It will subsequently pour into the South China Sea.
The evening light shows reflect on the river, ultimately offering a charming night view. A cruise ride on the river will give you a memorable experience as well. The 'Scenic Corridor' alongside the river, which is about 23 kilometers (14 miles) long, could be a perfect place if you want to go for a walk. The bonus is that you will get to enjoy the gentle breeze in the evening.
This is located on Changzhou Island of Huangpu District, Guangzhou. The Whampoa Military Academy was initiated in 1924 by Sun Yat-sen to produce more quality military officers. The academy teaches revolutionary military talents at the time. Chiang Kai-shek was the first commandant of the academy and Zhou Enlai, the first Chinese Prime Minister was one of the instructors in the academy's political department.
The former site of Whampoa Military Academy faced a devastation during the War of Resistance against Japan (1937-1945). It was later restored in 1964.
Inside the premises, you come across the Sun Yat-sen Monument, old school buildings and an exhibition of the historical records of the Whampoa Military Academy.
Sacred Heart Cathedral is also known as Stone House. This Roman Catholic cathedral is one of the oldest churches in Guangzhou. It is one of the largest churches too in southern China. Nestled on the north bank of the Pearl River, the church stands majestically in the centre of the busy old town.
The cathedral is about 35 meters wide and 78.69 meters long. Its twin towers are 58.5 meters high. It is the largest Roman Catholic church in the Gothic style in China and Southeast Asia. Historians sometimes refer to this as 'Notre-Dame de Paris' in the East.
The cathedral was consecrated in 1888 following a 25-year construction. The construction is said to have been quite challenging. None of the workers had seen a western cathedral before, let alone built one. The Chinese workers also found it difficult to communicate with the French clergy who were in charge of the building's construction.
