South · DESTINATION GUIDE

Guangdong 广东

Guangdong is a southern coastal province whose closely connected Pearl River Delta cities form only part of a much wider cultural geography. Guangzhou, the capital, and Shenzhen offer different urban experiences; Foshan and Shunde add their own heritage and food; eastern Chaoshan, inland Hakka communities and the western coast deserve separate attention. Begin with a regional cluster and let its neighbourhoods, meals and architecture shape the route. The province's varied speech and settlement traditions become clearer through well-chosen stays than through a rapid series of railway-station transfers.

Location of Guangdong in China

About Guangdong

Guangdong at a glance

Population
128,590,000Year-end resident population, entire provincial-level administrative area · 2025Source ↗
Income per person
53,669Mean annual disposable income per person, all residents · 2025 · CNYSource ↗
Languages & dialects
Mandarin; Cantonese/Yue (粤语), Hakka (客家话), Chaoshan/Teochew and Leizhou Min varieties.Major regional traditions; migration makes urban language use more varied.Source ↗
Geography
Northern mountains descend toward the Pearl River Delta and the southern coast, with separate eastern and western coastal regions.Source ↗
Elevation
Mostly low terrain; northern Shikengkong reaches 1,902 m.Shikengkong is a high point, not the altitude of Guangdong's coastal cities.Source ↗
Main gateway
GuangzhouProvince
Chimelong Safari Park · 长隆野生动物世界
Chimelong Safari Park · Guangdong · Dltl2010 · CC BY-SA 3.0

Discover Guangdong

Choose between Guangzhou and Shenzhen's urban rhythms

In Guangzhou, rice-roll breakfasts, Chen Clan Academy and the lanes around Yongqing Fang connect Cantonese food with craft and residential history. Shenzhen presents another rhythm through Nantou's historic settlement and contemporary activity, alongside waterfront leisure at Shenzhen Bay Park. Both are substantial cities rather than interchangeable bases. Select accommodation for the neighbourhoods and transport connections you will use, and allow time to return to a district after the main sightseeing has finished.

Give food and village heritage their own outings

Daliang in Shunde offers a culinary focus within Foshan, including double-skin milk and the distinct salty product called niuru. Kaiping's diaolou towers tell another story through fortified village architecture shaped by overseas connections. Neither place is a neighbourhood of central Guangzhou. Choose a particular district or village cluster and arrange the onward transfer accordingly. A meal-led stay or a focused architecture outing is easier to appreciate than squeezing both between distant urban appointments.

Treat eastern Guangdong as a separate journey

Chaozhou combines old-city streets, the Han River, Guangji Bridge and gongfu tea in a setting distinct from the Pearl River Delta. It deserves its own time rather than an assumed short detour from Guangzhou. Shenzhen's wider Dapeng area also needs a different plan from the central waterfront. Rail and metro networks help within the main cities, but do not erase the scale of the province. Choose the regional chapter first, then the station, hotel and local connections.

Explore Guangdong

Core places to explore, with English and Chinese names.

Guangdong local specialties

广东特色美食 · 242 specialties to discover

Har gow shrimp dumplings · 虾饺 · AI dish illustrationHar gow shrimp dumplings 虾饺AI illustration · AI 示意图

The dumpling has a delicate, slightly elastic skin and a crisp-tender shrimp bite. A well-balanced filling tastes savory and marine without overwhelming the shrimp's own sweetness.

Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Photograph of Rice rolls (布拉肠).Rice rolls 布拉肠

The rice sheet is silky and tender, with a slight elasticity; meat or shrimp fillings add firmer bites beneath the smooth surface.

Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Photo: Takeaway · CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo adjustments

EXIF orientation applied where present; resized proportionally to at most 640 px on the long edge and encoded as WebP. No crop, retouching, recoloring or subject changes.

Photograph of Shrimp wonton noodles (鲜虾云吞面).Shrimp wonton noodles 鲜虾云吞面

The noodles should have a fine, springy bite, while the wontons are tender and juicy. The broth adds concentrated savory depth in a small volume.

Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Photo: avlxyz from (optional) · CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo adjustments

EXIF orientation applied where present; resized proportionally to at most 640 px on the long edge and encoded as WebP. No crop, retouching, recoloring or subject changes.

Claypot rice · 煲仔饭 · AI dish illustrationClaypot rice 煲仔饭AI illustration · AI 示意图

The meal combines moist, flavored grains above with crunchy toasted rice below. Topping juices contribute much of the aroma.

Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Photograph of Double-skin milk (双皮奶).Double-skin milk 双皮奶

The dessert is creamy, smooth and milk-forward, with delicate surface layers and restrained sweetness in a traditional version.

Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Photo: Guanlin (Gary) He · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo adjustments

EXIF orientation applied where present; resized proportionally to at most 640 px on the long edge and encoded as WebP. No crop, retouching, recoloring or subject changes.

Photograph of Daliang milk chips (大良牛乳).Daliang milk chips 大良牛乳

The pieces are distinctly salty with a milky, slightly tangy flavor and a firm-to-crumbly texture. A very small amount seasons a mouthful of plain food.

Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Photo: Hhaithait · CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo adjustments

EXIF orientation applied where present; resized proportionally to at most 640 px on the long edge and encoded as WebP. No crop, retouching, recoloring or subject changes.

Photograph of Gongfu tea (工夫茶).Gongfu tea 工夫茶

Small servings concentrate the tea's aroma, while successive brews reveal changes in strength, sweetness and astringency. The tea chosen matters as much as the equipment.

Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Photo: Neptunati · Public domain
Photo adjustments

EXIF orientation applied where present; resized proportionally to at most 640 px on the long edge and encoded as WebP. No crop, retouching, recoloring or subject changes.

Cantonese siu mai · 干蒸烧卖 · AI dish illustrationCantonese siu mai 干蒸烧卖AI illustration · AI 示意图

The bite is firm and springy, with a thin wrapper and savory meat juices; shrimp can add a sweeter, more elastic texture.

Source ↗Read the dish guide →
All dish names · 全部菜名 (242)

Top sights in Guangdong

Trip.Best · Best Things to DoChecked 2026-09-20

  1. Zhuhai Chimelong Ocean Kingdom · 长隆海洋王国TOP1

    Chimelong Ocean Kingdom 长隆海洋王国

    Show on map
    珠海市

    4.8 / 5 · Trip.com

    Chimelong Ocean Kingdom is an ocean-themed amusement park in Fuxiang Bay on Hengqin. The layout is divided into named areas, combining aquariums and animal habitats with rides and entertainment. Ocean Avenue forms the entrance…

    View guide →
  2. Chimelong Safari Park · 长隆野生动物世界TOP2

    Chimelong Safari Park 长隆野生动物世界

    Show on map
    广州市

    4.8 / 5 · Trip.com

    Chimelong Safari Park occupies part of the resort area in Dashi, Panyu, south of central Guangzhou. Its defining feature is the division between a walking zone and a vehicle-based safari zone. Seeing animals from these two…

    View guide →
  3. Guangzhou Chimelong Tourist Resort · 广州长隆度假区TOP3

    Guangzhou Chimelong Tourist Resort 广州长隆度假区

    Show on map
    番禺区

    4.7 / 5 · Trip.com

  4. Canton Tower · 广州塔TOP4

    Canton Tower 广州塔

    Show on map
    广州市

    4.6 / 5 · Trip.com

    Canton Tower rises from the Haizhu bank of the Pearl River with a lattice structure that narrows into a twisted waist. The building was designed around rotated ellipses, so its outer columns appear to tighten and then open out…

    View guide →
  5. Window of the World · 深圳世界之窗TOP5

    Window of the World 深圳世界之窗

    Show on map
    深圳市

    4.5 / 5 · Trip.com

    Window of the World is a theme park in Shenzhen’s Overseas Chinese Town area built around reduced-scale versions of international landmarks. Its skyline includes an Eiffel Tower replica, while reproductions of the Egyptian…

    View guide →
  6. Nanyue King Museum-The Site of King's Tomb · 南越王博物院王墓展区TOP6

    Nanyue King Museum-The Site of King's Tomb 南越王博物院王墓展区

    Show on map
    越秀区

    4.6 / 5 · Trip.com

    Nanyue King Museum Royal Tomb Exhibition Area (南越王博物院王墓展区) is a museums, art & science entry in Yuexiu District, Guangdong.

    View guide →
  7. Pearl River Night Cruise · 珠江夜游TOP7

    Pearl River Night Cruise 珠江夜游

    Show on map

    4.5 / 5 · Trip.com

  8. Chimelong Spaceship · 长隆飞船乐园TOP8

    Chimelong Spaceship 长隆飞船乐园

    Show on map
    香洲区

    4.9 / 5 · Trip.com

  9. Nan'ao Island · 南澳岛TOP9

    Nan'ao Island 南澳岛

    Show on map
    汕头市

    4.4 / 5 · Trip.com

    Nan’ao is a coastal island reached from Shantou by a road bridge. Its attractions are scattered around the coast rather than concentrated beside one landing point. Houzhai is the main town, while historic sites include Song Well…

    View guide →
  10. Ancient City of Chaozhou · 潮州古城TOP10

    Ancient City of Chaozhou 潮州古城

    Show on map
    湘桥区

    4.5 / 5 · Trip.com

    Chaozhou's old city is the historic core of Chaozhou in eastern Guangdong, within Xiangqiao District, the municipality's central-southern district. Its north-south axis is Taiping Road, an alignment kept since the Tang and Song, and its eastern side is closed by the Guangjimen gate tower with the Han River beyond.

    View guide →
View more on Trip.com →

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Ranking source & photo credits

The first ten entries of Trip.Best Best Things to Do. Rankings reflect platform recommendations, not counts of international visitors. Read on 20 September 2026; platform pages may use cached snapshots.

  • Chimelong Ocean Kingdom: Source: Trip.com · Resized and WebP compressed; fitted to the ranking card.
  • Chimelong Safari Park: Source: Trip.com · Resized and WebP compressed; fitted to the ranking card.
  • Guangzhou Chimelong Tourist Resort: Source: Trip.com · Resized and WebP compressed; fitted to the ranking card.
  • Canton Tower: Source: Trip.com · Resized and WebP compressed; fitted to the ranking card.
  • Window of the World: Source: Trip.com · Resized and WebP compressed; fitted to the ranking card.
  • Nanyue King Museum-The Site of King's Tomb: Source: Trip.com · Resized and WebP compressed; fitted to the ranking card.
  • Pearl River Night Cruise: Source: Trip.com · Resized and WebP compressed; fitted to the ranking card.
  • Chimelong Spaceship: Source: Trip.com · Resized and WebP compressed; fitted to the ranking card.
  • Nan'ao Island: Source: Trip.com · Resized and WebP compressed; fitted to the ranking card.
  • Ancient City of Chaozhou: Source: Trip.com · Resized and WebP compressed; fitted to the ranking card.

Our place guide directory →

EXPLORE THE NEXT LEVEL

Cities, counties & districts in Guangdong

21 areas belong directly to Guangdong.

21 areas

Prefecture-level city

Guangzhou 广州市

Guangzhou, also known as Canton, is the capital and largest city of Guangdong in southern China. Located on the Pearl River, about 120 kilometres (75 mi) northwest of Hong Kong and 145 kilometres (90 mi)…

11 local areas →Prefecture-level city

Shaoguan 韶关市

Shaoguan is a prefecture-level city in northern Guangdong Province (Yuebei), South China, bordering Hunan to the northwest and Jiangxi to the northeast.

10 local areas →Prefecture-level city

Shenzhen 深圳市

Shenzhen is a prefecture-level city in Guangdong, China. A special economic zone, it is located on the east bank of the Pearl River estuary on the central coast of Guangdong, bordering Hong Kong to the south…

9 local areas →Prefecture-level city

Zhuhai 珠海市

Zhuhai is a resort city located on the west bank of the Pearl River estuary, near Macau on the east shore of Zhongshan Island, of the central coast of southern Guangdong, China, on the southeastern edge of…

3 local areas →
View all 21 areasShow fewer areas
Prefecture-level city

Shantou 汕头市

Shantou, alternately romanized as Swatow and sometimes known as Santow, is a prefecture-level city on the eastern coast of Guangdong, China, with a total population of 5,502,031 as of the 2020 census…

7 local areas →Prefecture-level city

Foshan 佛山市

Foshan (UK:, US also; Chinese: 佛山) or Futsan is a prefecture-level city in central Guangdong Province, China. The entire prefecture covers 3,848 km² (1,486 sq mi) and had a population of 9,498,863 as of the…

5 local areas →Prefecture-level city

Jiangmen 江门市

Jiangmen, alternately romanized in Cantonese as Kongmoon, is a prefecture-level city in Guangdong Province in southern China.

7 local areas →Prefecture-level city

Zhanjiang 湛江市

Zhanjiang is a coastal city in southern China, located on the Leizhou Peninsula in Guangdong province. It is a prefecture-level city which administers the entire Leizhou Peninsula and lies directly opposite…

9 local areas →Prefecture-level city

Maoming 茂名市

Maoming, alternately romanized as Mowming, (Maoming Yue: [mɐu22 mɪŋ21]) is a prefecture-level city located in southwestern Guangdong province, China.

5 local areas →Prefecture-level city

Zhaoqing 肇庆市

Zhaoqing, alternately romanized as Shiuhing, is a prefecture-level city in Guangdong, China. As of the 2020 census, its population was 4,113,594, with 1,553,109 living in the built-up (or metro) area made of…

8 local areas →Prefecture-level city

Huizhou 惠州市

Huizhou is a city in east-central Guangdong Province, China, forty-three miles north of Hong Kong. Huizhou borders the provincial capital of Guangzhou to the west, Shenzhen and Dongguan to the southwest…

5 local areas →Prefecture-level city

Meizhou 梅州市

Meizhou is a prefecture-level city in eastern Guangdong province, China. It has an area of 15,864.51 km² (6,125.32 sq mi), and a population of 3,873,239 as of the 2020 census.

8 local areas →Prefecture-level city

Shanwei 汕尾市

Shanwei, or Swabue, or also sometimes known as Hailufeng is a resort city in eastern Guangdong province, China. It borders Jieyang to the east, Meizhou and Heyuan to the north, Huizhou to the west, and looks…

4 local areas →Prefecture-level city

Heyuan 河源市

Heyuan, also known as Ho Yun, is a prefecture-level city of Guangdong, China. As of the 2020 census, its population was 2,837,686 whom 1,051,993 lived in the built-up (or metro) area made of Yuancheng urban…

6 local areas →Prefecture-level city

Yangjiang 阳江市

Yangjiang (simplified Chinese: 阳江; traditional Chinese: 陽江), alternately romanized via Cantonese as Yeungkong, is a prefecture-level city in southwestern Guangdong Province in the People's Republic of China.

4 local areas →Prefecture-level city

Qingyuan 清远市

Qingyuan, formerly romanized as Tsingyun, is a prefecture-level city in northern Guangdong province, China, on the banks of the Bei or North River.

8 local areas →Prefecture-level city

Dongguan 东莞市

Dongguan is a prefecture-level city in central Guangdong Province, China. An important industrial city in the Pearl River Delta, Dongguan borders the provincial capital of Guangzhou to the north, Huizhou to…

Explore the area →Prefecture-level city

Zhongshan 中山市

Zhongshan, alternately romanized via Cantonese as Jungsaan, is a prefecture-level city in the south of the Pearl River Delta in Guangdong province, China.

Explore the area →Prefecture-level city

Chaozhou 潮州市

Chaozhou, alternatively Chiuchow, Chaochow or Teochew, is a prefecture-level city in the Teoswa region of east Guangdong, China.

3 local areas →Prefecture-level city

Jieyang 揭阳市

Jieyang (simplified Chinese: 揭阳; traditional Chinese: 揭陽; pinyin: Jiēyáng; Chaozhou dialect: gig4 iên5; Jieyang dialect: gêg4 ion5) is a prefecture-level city in eastern Guangdong Province (Yuedong), People's…

5 local areas →Prefecture-level city

Yunfu 云浮市

Yunfu (simplified Chinese: 云浮; traditional Chinese: 雲浮; pinyin: Yúnfú), formerly romanized as Wanfow, and historically known as Dong'an (simplified Chinese: 东安; traditional Chinese: 東安; pinyin: Dōng'ān)…

5 local areas →

Arrive, stay & get around Guangdong

交通枢纽、住宿与天气

YOUR ARRIVAL GATEWAY

Guangzhou广州

This Guangdong entry uses Guangzhou as its selected gateway city. It does not describe transport coverage across the entire region.

Airports

Railway stations

Metro & city transport

GET AROUND BY METRO · 地铁出行

Guangzhou Metro Network 广州轨道交通线路图

Zoomable map · 可放大

The metro connects the airport, main railway gateways and city sights. Use the official route map to plan transfers across the large network.

  1. 1Find your stations确认起点与终点站
  2. 2Check interchanges查看换乘线路与站点
  3. 3Follow exit signs到站后按站内标识出站
Guangzhou rail network diagram · 广州轨道交通线路图Explore the full network查看站名、线路与换乘Enlarge map点击放大线路图

Check the legend for closed, reserved or future sections. 停运、预留与规划区间，请按图例辨识。

Map edition: 2026-07 · Diagram reviewed 2026-09-06

Map: Tim Wu (TimWu007) · CC BY-SA 4.0

Map coverage & sources 图示范围与来源说明

Guangzhou–Foshan metro, tram and intercity station network. Printed version 20260724 / July 2026; Commons file revision 2026-07-30. Grey future route segments are explicitly non-operating: retain original legend. Line 12 remains two separate operational segments; Chigang station opened 2026-02-13.

Rasterized or resized to supplied image; white background where necessary; lossless WebP conversion. Network content unchanged.

Official information ↗
Amap · 高德地图Apple Maps · 苹果地图

Coaches, ferries & onward travel

Transport reference review: 2026-09-06. Consult the operator for current services and timetables.

More about getting around

Guangzhou and Shenzhen are major air and rail gateways, and the delta is well suited to travel by train and metro. Kaiping villages and rural sights require onward road travel. Check the station's location against your destination before selecting a train.

Stay in Guangdong

Choose a Guangzhou base near a metro station and the neighbourhoods you want to walk. Shenzhen's spread makes district choice significant. A night near Kaiping allows village visits at a calmer pace; in Chaozhou, balance old-town access against street noise.

Find hotels on Trip.com →

Change your destination, dates and guests on Trip.com.

Guangzhou weather

The current-hour forecast loads when this section is visible. It uses MET Norway model data for the named city, not station observations.

Seasons & when to go

Long, humid summers favour early walks and indoor breaks during the hottest part of the day. Heavy rain and tropical storms can affect coastal travel. The cooler months usually make city exploration more comfortable, although northern hills can feel distinctly chilly.

Local life & communication

Guangzhou's sociable Cantonese table, Shenzhen's contemporary public spaces, Shunde's culinary confidence and Chaozhou's tea-and-craft traditions give the province several identities.

Food provides a useful introduction to regional differences: Cantonese dim sum, Chaozhou tea traditions and Hakka cooking belong to different local settings. Guangzhou's opera and craft museums add context. Kaiping's architecture records the movement of people and ideas across oceans.

Language & communication

Cantonese is prominent around Guangzhou and much of the delta; eastern Guangdong also has Teochew and Hakka speaking communities. Mandarin helps across the province, especially in Shenzhen. Save Chinese addresses: older neighbourhoods may have several English spellings or translated names.

Useful local tips

  • Plan Guangdong as a choice of regional clusters: Guangzhou–Shunde–Kaiping, Shenzhen and its eastern coast, or Chaozhou in the east. Do not book one hotel expecting every place to be a short outing.
  • Give each culinary region its own meal. Traveler accounts distinguish Shunde's steamed chicken and porridge meals from eastern Guangdong hotpot and goose, while also showing that sauces vary by kitchen.
  • Use Longjin Road in Liwan or Tongfu Road in Haizhu as food-street search areas, then confirm the individual shop and menu on the day.
  • Shenzhen Bay Park is a long waterfront. Choose a start and finish before traveling there; Dapeng is a separate excursion.
  • Treat historic quarters as living neighborhoods: keep entrances clear and ask before photographing people or craft work at close range.

Written by China Revealed · Editorially updated 2026-09-07

Sources & useful links