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Published: April 18th 2012
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The thing about the sleeper trains is that you save money on accommodation while getting to the next destination but the only sleeper we could get was leaving at 5.35am and wasn’t to arrive in Guangzhou until 8pm that evening. So to be completely scabby about the whole thing we decided to hang around the hostel til 12am, then at the train station til the train left. It wasn’t easy trying to stay awake all night! John was particularly struggling. We were lucky enough that we had our own compartment the whole way so no interruptions, just sleep!
We arrived in Guangzhou on schedule and darkness was upon us. We thought Nanning was busy but my oh my the sheer size and bustle around the train station was a sight to behold. The night sky was lit up with neon lighting, McDonalds and KFC signs. We grabbed a taxi to our hotel which was located on Shamian Island. This is a small restored area in on the water edge of the city. It was where the Chinese government allocated for foreign merchants in years gone by and the buildings reflect that, they are not typically Asian. The whole island is
so removed from the buzzing city, it’s quiet, very peaceful, organised in its layout and pretty. Each day while we were there the island was busy with locals doing exercise, visitors checking out the streets, brides and grooms getting photos taken (either before or after the actual wedding, not on the day), fashion photo-shoots and the like. It was unbelievable how much of this was going on! The photo-shoots are pretty funny to watch because the models or brides/grooms are told to hold themselves in the strangest positions, so unnatural looking!
The next day we went wandering around the city. We first walked by a local market area that was full of Chinese medicine shops (I mean not 10, 20, more like hundreds). I really don’t know how they can make money cos there are so many of them?! We also walked along a street that was selling some meats such as a turtle, sea horses, snakes and scorpions!! Live scorpions, scary stuff! In this area it was reported that there is a larger live market that is known for its cruelty in killing dogs, cats, skinning snakes alive but we didn’t come across it and we didn’t search
too hard either. That could have been disturbing!
We hopped on the metro bound for a shopping centre John had found on trip advisor but got very side-tracked at another shopping centre at one of the metro stops. This was to be our introduction into the Chinese pastime of shopping. There are shops literally EVERYWHERE. You think a shopping centre cannot get any bigger and there is another floor or a hidden nook! And they are busy; people obviously have some cash to spend! We headed off in search of John’s infamous shopping plaza, miles away. There was no sign of it, the map must have been wrong or something, then we come across this crappy looking little shopping centre…. Let’s just say the slagging was pretty intense!!
After this we headed towards the Canton Tower, a large TV tower that is also a tourist attraction! It is pretty spectacular. It is all lit up in multi-coloured lighting that changes and sparkles. Beautiful! We didn’t go up to the top as it is pricey but we then walked down to the river front and again were met with stunning architecture and lighting across the river at the opera
house and its surroundings. It was clear that Guangzhou has clearly made an effort with its buildings and the overall night skyline views!
The next day we had another day around the city but mainly spent this shopping again! We had to pick up some gifts for a family we were due to visit at our next stop in Shenzhen. In the evening we went on a river cruise down the Pearl River to take in the beautiful views along the banks. The lighting was not just concentrated around the Canton tower but all along the route. This must be a Chinese feature of the cities perhaps. It certainly adds to the feel of the city and is very pretty. The boat was a nice trip; we even tried duck legs (a Chinese couple sitting next to us offered them, why not!). They were very tasty and spicy.
After the cruise we walked along the river back to our hotel. A theme has started to emerge here in China. All along the riverbank were people walking, rollerblading, cycling. There is a real sense of community even in such a large place….. The atmosphere is also something of happiness;
people seem to really be having fun. It is refreshing to find this in a country so large but that is also known for its political issues, good or bad!
We are off on a bullet train to Shenzhen tomorrow! Squeezing lots in to our few days!
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