Temple of the Six Banyan Trees (Liurong Temple)

First built in 537 AD., it is a famous Buddhist temple in Guangzhou. Originally called Bao Zhuang Temple, the temple’s name was changed to Liurong (Six Banyans) in Ming Dynasty after it was found that the dissident poet-governor Su Dongpo had paid a visit to it in 1100 and wrote down the two Chinese characters “Liurong”, which was inscribed on the two stone steles in the temple.

The most popular attraction is the 55m (184 feet) octagonal Flower Pagoda, which is the tallest in Guangzhou. From the outside it appears to have only nine stories, but inside it has 17. The pagoda was constructed in 1097.

Bright Filial Piety Temple

One of the earliest and largest Buddhist temples in Guangzhou possibly dates to the 4th century built by an Indian monk. The place has particular significance for Buddhists because Hui Neng of the Zen Buddhist sect was a novice monk here in the 7th century. The original buildings were destroyed in the fire in the mid-17th century. The main hall is a deep and impressive construction equipped with golden figures. 

The Chen Family Temple

The Chen Family Temple, also known as Guangdong Folk Art Museum, was built in the 1890s and has nine halls and six courtyards. Its windows, doorframes, and pavilions are lavishly decorated with intricate carvings and sculptures. It is now the largest and best preserved and decorated ancient architecture existing in Guangdong province. The decoration combines woodcarving, brick carving, stone carving, clay sculpture, ash sculpture, brass and iron foundry, grotto, New Year painting, and other art forms. The special historical, artistic, and scientific aspects of the temple have made it an important attraction in Guangzhou.

It was built with donations of members of the Chen family who lived in the 72 counties of the Guangdong province. After its completion, the temple was used to provide lodgings for Chen family candidates who came from all over Guangdong to in order to prepare for the national examinations to be held in Guangzhou. Hence it was also called the Chen Clan Academy.

Sun Yatsen Memorial Hall

Situated in the original site of Sun Yat-sen’s Presidential Office on the southern slope of Yuexiu Hill, it is a memorial building completed in 1931 with the funds raised by the local people and overseas Chinese in memory of Sun Yat-sen, the pioneer of China’s democratic revolution. It was designed by the well-known architect of modern China, Lu Yanzhi, who was also the designer of the Sun Yatsen Mausoleum in Nanjing. The building complex is composed of the arch over the gateway, the auditorium, and the several-storied buildings to the east and west. The auditorium is octagonal--in the shape of the palace hall. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall has become a symbolic building of Guangzhou.

Southern Yue Tomb Museum

It is the tomb of the second ruler of Southern Yue kingdom called Zhao Mo during Han Dynasty dating back to 100 B.C. The tomb was originally 20m under Elephant Hill and was discovered in 1983. More than 1000 burial objects were excavated, among which are a chariot, gold and silver vessels, musical instruments, and sacrificial human remains. It is an excellent museum with English explanations.

Yuexiu Park

As the largest park in Guangzhou, Yuexiu Park covers 93 hectares including some well-known attractions like the Sculpture of the Five Rams, the Zhenhai Tower.
The Sculpture of the Five Rams built in 1959 is the symbol of Guangzhou. It is said that long ago five celestial beings wearing robes of five colors came to Guangzhou riding through the air on rams. Each carries a stem of rice, which they presented to the people as a suspicious sign from heaven that the area would be free from famine forever. Therefore, Guangzhou got another name from the myth - City of Five Rams or just Ram City.

Standing on the top of Yuexiu Hill, the 28-metre-high five-story tower, the Zhenhai Tower (also known as the Five-Story Pagoda) was built under the orders of Zhu Liangzu, the Yongjia Marquis of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), to flaunt his power and the obsession that he was able to shake the seas and mountains. A magnificent building, it commands a bird’s-eye view of the whole city. The tower now houses the City Museum; its exhibits chronicle the history of Guangzhou from Neolithic times till the early part of the 20th century.

The South China Botanical Garden

The South China Botanical Garden is one of the world’s largest botanical gardens affiliated with Chinese Academy of Sciences. It was founded in 1956, covering 300 hectares. Situated at Longdong in the northeastern suburbs of Guangzhou, it has over 6,000 species of tropical and subtropical plants introduced from home and abroad. Its displays include a collection of palm, bamboo, orchid, pteridophyte, and shade plants.